The Earthquake in Haiti
The devastating earthquake that hit Haiti on Tuesday has had aftershocks all over the world. I am currently at our Harbor Beach Marriott in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where more than a third of our associates at this hotel are Haitian and have been directly affected by this terrible disaster.
I talked to several of our associates who are from Haiti. They are struggling with trying to find out what has happened to their families and loved ones. They are very tender and loving people and they are extremely saddened and concerned. They have a group get-together for prayer and song every morning and our hearts go out to them all. Many of these associates and numerous other Haitians on staff at our hotels around the world have suffered heartbreaking losses, and my heart goes out to each and every one of them.
In the days following the quake, there has been a tremendous outpouring of support and volunteers are working around the clock to provide relief to this Caribbean nation. We want to do our part as well, so that’s why today, through The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation named after my parents, we are sending $500,000 to the Red Cross Haiti Relief and Development Fund to aid with immediate relief efforts such as providing water, medical supplies, food and shelter.
We do not currently have any hotels in Haiti but our hotels in San Juan, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic are serving as staging areas for the relief efforts underway in Haiti. Many of our hotels are offering other support as well. Thankfully, none of our hotels in the Caribbean suffered damage due to the earthquake.
This was a very, very tragic situation and the days and weeks ahead will be difficult for those people around the world with roots in Haiti. My thoughts and prayers are with all of those who have been so affected.
I talked to several of our associates who are from Haiti. They are struggling with trying to find out what has happened to their families and loved ones. They are very tender and loving people and they are extremely saddened and concerned. They have a group get-together for prayer and song every morning and our hearts go out to them all. Many of these associates and numerous other Haitians on staff at our hotels around the world have suffered heartbreaking losses, and my heart goes out to each and every one of them.
In the days following the quake, there has been a tremendous outpouring of support and volunteers are working around the clock to provide relief to this Caribbean nation. We want to do our part as well, so that’s why today, through The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation named after my parents, we are sending $500,000 to the Red Cross Haiti Relief and Development Fund to aid with immediate relief efforts such as providing water, medical supplies, food and shelter.
We do not currently have any hotels in Haiti but our hotels in San Juan, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic are serving as staging areas for the relief efforts underway in Haiti. Many of our hotels are offering other support as well. Thankfully, none of our hotels in the Caribbean suffered damage due to the earthquake.
This was a very, very tragic situation and the days and weeks ahead will be difficult for those people around the world with roots in Haiti. My thoughts and prayers are with all of those who have been so affected.
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