News & Events
Updated 1-29: Haitian orphans find respite at Holy Family Insitute; HFI launches Children's Fund
January 29, 2010.
 Residential homes at Holy Family Institute's Emsworth, PA, campus
Some 12 children from Haiti are finding temporary shelter at Holy Family Institute in Emsworth, PA, near Pittsburgh. The children, ages 11 months to 10 years in age, were among the 54 orphans airlifted from Haiti to Pittsburgh last week from the BRESMA orphanage in Port-au-Prince. A group of 18 arrived at Holy Family Insitute on Jan. 21; since then, four children have been placed with adoptive parents and two are awaiting the arrival of their adoptive families. The remaining 12 children are living at HFI's residential program until adoptions can be finalized. As HFI prepared its facilities to receive the youngsters, volunteers and donors asked what they could do to help. The result was an outpouring of donations and supplies, including some 50 rocking chairs. "Sr. Linda was quoted in the news media as saying we could use some rocking chairs. Our facilities house children from nine to 19, so we had no rockers, yet we were going to be taking infants into our care. So we received 50 rocking chairs, more than met our need, and now we're working to find a place for our excess," an HFI spokeswoman noted. This illustrates why financial donations are so helpful -- the staff can use donations to meet needs as they surface. On Jan. 27, Holy Family Institute announced the launch of the HFI Children's Fund Campaign to assist the newly arrived orphans from Haiti and provide for the needs of all children in the care of HFI. "For well over 100 years, the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth have been providing for the physical and spiritual needs of the children in Pennsylvania and around the world," said Sr. Linda Yankoski, president and CEO of HFI. "I feel privileged that we can follow in that century-old tradition by opening our arms and homes to these children from Haiti. They are receiving the same loving care and attention that Holy Family provides to hundres of Pennsylvania-area children every day." HFI board member Ken Melani, M.D., president and CEO of Highmark Inc. and chair of the Children's Fund campaign, noted, "I just returned from a trip to Haiti, and having seen the devastation first-hand, I understand the dire need for assistance. To see 18 of the orphans rescued and brought to Holy Family was a great relief. I know they are in good hands at Holy Family." To make a donation to the Holy Family Children's Fund Campaign, please click here Holy Family Institute, founded in 1900 by the CSFNs, today serves thousands of children and families at more than 15 program sites. It provides residential care, in-home family counseling, special and alternative education and community-based services to more than 6,000 children and families each year. It serves some 50 children in residential facilities. For a previous update from Sr. Linda Yankoski, CSFN, CEO of HFI, please click here For stories from the Pittsburgh media, please visit these links: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10023/1030590-82.stm http://kdka.com/local/McMutrie.story.orphans.2.1442203.html http://kdka.com/local/haiti.orphans.adoptions.2.1444042.html http://www.wpxi.com/news/22309214/detail.html
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