Tickets on sale for Haitian Heritage Educational Scholarship Gala
The Haitian-American Community Coalition of SWFL is gearing up for one of its major fundraisers, the fourth annual Scholarship Gala.
Haitian-American Community Coalition of SWFL President Beatrice Jacquet-Castor said he organization began in 2015 because there was a need for a voice in the Haitian community.
With between 25,000 to 35,000 Haitians living in the Southwest Florida community, a voice was needed, especially when practicing their voting rights.
“We saw the need to become the voice for the population that we call ‘the invisible.’ Nobody knows about them,” Jacquet-Castor said, adding that they wanted to be a political voice, so they could get resources within the Haitian community.
“In 2015 we were able to get three of the Lee County school board (members) elected into office. This is when Haitian people started understanding in order for their voice to be heard, they needed to participate in voting, knowing their candidates and going out and voting for people that care for their community,” she said.
With the election they were able to make sure the Haitian students received the resources they needed to be successful, Jacquet-Castor said. This was important because fewer than 50 percent of the Haitian students were graduating with high school diplomas.
When Haitian students came to the district they were given assessments in English, rather than in their native language, resulting in not passing, or understanding, the assessment.
When Spanish-speaking people integrated here “they were given an assessment test within their language, which allows them to be successful, verses the Haitian kids that were relocating to Florida,” Jacquet-Castor said.
Things have changed since the organization began, which includes a partnership with the School District of Lee County school board.
“Right now I have a meeting scheduled with the director of the ESOL department. We have several of the school board members that are members in the organization,” she said. “We do have the school implementing the resources needed to be successful and be able to graduate and get a full secondary education. This is what has led us to have a scholarship gala.”
The fourth annual Haitian Heritage Educational Scholarship Gala will be held from 5 to 9:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 21, at Broadway Palm Theatre, 1380 Colonial Blvd., in Fort Myers. Advance tickets are $60 and $30 for those 13 and younger. Tickets are $70 at the door. They can be purchased at www.eventbrite.com under Haitian Heritage Educational Scholarship Gala.
There are also sponsorships available, $2,500 for platinum, $1,000 for gold and $500 for silver. Businesses and organizations can also purchase ads for the souvenir booklet with costs ranging down to $25. Deadline is Sept. 23.
“All the proceeds that come in from the scholarship gala does go to the kids. The more support that we get from the community the more we are able to give,” Jacquet-Castor said. “We are encouraging the community to partner up with us and support.”
The gala will include a dinner, networking opportunities and a great evening of fun while learning about the Haitian community. The event will include a guest speaker from Miami who will share issues, and a Haitian comedian. Scholarships will also be provided.
Last year four $1,000 scholarships were given to Haitian-American students.
Students have to write a 1,000-word essay expressing why they should be selected and how a scholarship would help them. They also need letters of recommendations from guidance counselors and teachers.
The scholarship chair is Betsy Vaughn, a member of the school board.
“Hopefully we can fill up Broadway Palm this year. We are seeing a great need,” Jacquet-Castor said, adding that they are seeing great gains with GPAs. “The Haitian community, they have GPAs of 5.0. We are seeing an interest. We can only provide scholarships based on the amount we have come in at the gala.”
For additional information, visit haitianamericanccf.org.