Small Businesses Helping Haiti

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As discussed in a recent post, various businesses such as Coca Cola, Amazon.com and Bank of America Corp. have taken steps to provide the much needed relief to earthquake victims in Haiti, through donations of money, products and services.

Big businesses however, are not the only entities that can help.  Many small businesses, some in our own backyards, are also doing their parts to further the relief efforts in Haiti, specifically Port-au-Prince, the country’s capital, which is located near the epicenter of the quake.

Tigeorges Laguerre , owner of Tigeorge’s Chicken in Glendale, California, which is well known for its Caribbean cuisine and Haitian products, decided to use this time to raise awareness of the situation in Haiti and provide education to unknowing Americans, while simultaneously raising funds.  Through his fundraiser, which was held on Thursday, January 14, 2010, $14,000 was raised to send to Haiti, $7,000 of which was donated by a single contributor of Haitian descent.

Proceeds from Tigeorge’s event were divided between four organizations; Yele, Fonkoze, Ebenezer International and Friend of Croix Des Bouquets, Haiti.  “These are organizations that have been trying to help Haiti for over 20 years,” said Laguerre.

On Tuesday, January 18, 2010, the South Bay Nightlife Industry teamed up with Fahrenheit Restaurant-Lounge in San Jose, California to hold a “Together for Haiti” fundraiser event.  100% of the proceeds were donated to the Yele Organization and to the Red Cross.  The event featured a special opening set by Haiti native, DJ Dynamic which included reggae as well as traditional Haitian music.  Attendees who made donations received free entry and a drink token.

Small business owners in California aren’t the only ones holding fundraisers for Haiti relief.  After being contacted by the North East Wisconsin Red Cross, Kris Larson, along with his fellow co-owners, decided to use his business, Becket’s restaurant in Oshkosh, Wisconsin to hold a fundraising event.  The event, which will take place on January 27, 2010 at 8:00 p.m., will feature $13 bottles of wine, local radio celebrities and live music from Oshkosh Jazz group, the Jazz Orgy, 10 percent of all of the proceeds will go to the Red Cross.

“It was very sad to watch people we know struggle with not being able to reach their families,” said Larson, who was vacationing with his wife on an island 90 miles north of Haiti when the earthquake hit and knows many of the islanders.

As awareness spreads, it is hoped that even more small business owners will use their businesses as tools to provide relief to the countless earthquake victims.