January 14, 2010
My friends,
As you know, on Tuesday, less than 48 hours ago, the beautiful and historic island nation of Haiti was rocked by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake whose epicenter was a mere 10 miles from its capital city of Port-au-Prince and its 2 million citizens. The destruction caused by this tragic natural disaster has leveled hospitals, destroyed roadways, and, by a conservative estimate, has left over 3 million people throughout the country in dire need of help. Even the US Embassy has been severely impacted with many of its workers still missing amid the rubble.
Heart-breaking stories are emerging of grade schools collapsing, churches set afire during the aftershocks and desperate medical personal setting up makeshift triage centers in any available space. Water, food, basic medical supplies are badly needed. This is a country that was already known to be the poorest in the Western hemisphere with 80% of its population living under the poverty line. Those who already had so little are now facing a difficult, seemingly insurmountable road ahead. And these vivid descriptions are no match to the faces we see on TV and the internet, in videos and images that show, better than any words, exactly the terrible struggle these proud people are facing.
At NECO, it is our mission to work with our partner organizations and bring relief where we can, as fast as we can. NECO responded quickly to the 2009 earthquakes that shook L’Aquila, Italy and the Sichuan province of China and we will do the same in Haiti. But now, more than ever, we need your assistance. The devastation we are seeing in Haiti is so great and the need so desperate, it calls for this special plea. The images and stories no doubt have touched your heart and now I ask you to follow through with that sense of compassion and make a donation to NECO’s non-governmental organization (NGO) relief effort.
We’ve made it very easy for you to make your donation by calling NECO’s offices at 212-755-1492 to make a credit card donation or you can write a check and send it to our offices at 232 Madison Ave. Suite 900, NYC, New York, 10016.
Please, this is a critical time, a time where life truly hangs in the balance. As fast as you can, and as generously as you can, please help NECO and its partner organizations do what it does best and donate today.
Sincerely
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| Nasser J. Kazeminy, Chairman of NECO |
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