Moe's Southwest Grill hosts fundraiser to benefit Haitian Jacmel Children home school and orphanage

September 02. 2013 4:21PM

Moe’s Southwest Grill is inviting community members to help give “Hope for Haiti” and support the Jacmel Children Center this Sept. 14.

“The problem of orphaned and abandoned children in Haiti is very real,” said Lisa Rueff Schneider, founder of Yogaventures and Jacmel Children Center. “We must help, in any way we can.”

UNICEF estimates that 420,000 Haitian children are orphaned or abandoned, many of them after the 2010 earthquake that devastated the entire country. Lisa and her husband Phillip traveled to Haiti and witnessed the devastation first-hand.

In their journeys, the Schneiders met Jacmel community leader, Bonite Affriany, who began feeding, teaching and ministering to nearly 300 children, some of whom walked for more than an hour for the opportunity to have one hot meal that day. To ensure Bonite was not alone in providing for these vulnerable children, the Schneiders founded the Jacmel Children Center, a 12,000 square food orphanage and Montessori School for children ages 3-10.

They partnered with 501(c)3 organization Random Acts and established the Jacmel Children Center. This school and community center offers a place for the children to stay out of the weather, receive a healthy meal and focus on their education.

The social media campaign to build the center caught the notice of Shannon Slaton, RVP of Franchise Operations at Moe’s Southwest Grill. Shannon and Lisa attended high school together in Atlanta, and had remained in contact. When she learned of the Jacmel Children Center, Shannon got involved and helped raise $20,000 to see the building completed.

“Lisa and Shannon are truly inspired by their cause, and the children of Jacmel need our help,” said Larry Wilson, the largest franchise owner of Moe’s Southwest Grill in the Central New York and Northern Pennsylvania. “I am eager to help this deserving organization and their important mission in any way I can.”

Wilson is helping the “Hope For Haiti” team kick off their campaign by donating the proceeds of all burritos, chips and salsa sold at his Moe’s locations on Sept. 14.

Here’s how to help: Visit your local Moe’s Southwest Grill on Sept. 14; for a minimum donation of $10, you’ll get VIP pass granting all-you-can-eat access to Moe’s for your meal – and the proceeds fully support the Jacmel Children Center. If you are not able to attend you can send a donation to Moe’s Southwest Grill – Fundraising, 111 Grant Ave, Suite 210, Endicott, Ny 13760. All donations and VIP passes are filly tax deductible.

For more information on the facility, visit http://jacmelchildren.org/

The Following Moe’s Locations will be taking part in the fundraiser Sept. 14:

Moe’s Southwest Grill – Clarks Summit, 929 South State St., Clarks Summit

Moe’s – Market Place, 5663 East Circle Drive, Cicero, NY, 13039

Moe’s Southwest Grill - Camillus, 5256 West Genesee Street, Camillus, NY, 13031

Moe’s - Vestal Parkway, 3612 Vestal Parkway east, Vestal, NY, 13850

Moe’s Southwest Grill – Ithaca, Suite 100, 324 Elmira Rd, Ithaca, NY, 14850

Moe’s Southwest Grill – Dewitt, 3409 Erie Blvd. East Suite 230, Syracuse, NY, 13214

Moe’s – New Hartford, 4632 Commercial Dr., New Hartford, NY, 13413

Moe’s – Binghamton, 1257 Front St., Binghamton, NY, 13905

Source: southwest - Yahoo! News Search Results http://www.timesleader.com/news/news/800165/Moes-Southwest-Grill-hosts-fundraiser-to-benefit-Haitian-Jacmel-Children-home-school-and-orphanage&source=RSS