Notre Dame Club of DC Helps Haiti

Cheryl Igiri ('99) with The Road to Fondwa co-director Justin Brandon ('04) and friends

This past Monday, in celebration of Martin Luther King's legacy of service and selflessness, the Notre Dame Club of Washington, D.C., along with a few ND Black Alum organized an event to raise money and awareness for the crisis in Haiti. Co-organized by ND Club of DC President and Cheryl Igiri BA (c/o 1999), and BA Board Historian Arienne Thompson (c/o 2004), the fundraising event featured the work of yet another Domer- filmmaker/actor Justin Brandon's (c/o 2004) The Road to Fondwa.

The Road to Fondwa is a powerful film that in the course of just thirty-five minutes tells the story of a rural Haitian community working towards a future for Haiti that's worlds different from its troubled past.

Monday's event at Columbia Height's CommonWealth GastroPub offered two screenings of The Road to Fondwa, and in turn asked for a $10 donation from viewers to be given to the American Red Cross.

Jerry Fenzel ('72) Arienne Thompson ('04) and Jerry Hogan ('72)

Amelia Thompson ('08) and Jerry Hogan ('72)

Gearing up for the first screening of The Road to Fondwa

Co-director Justin Brandon says a few words before screening #2

Domers show how to Donate Like Champions!

Well, the response from ND Alum, Family/Friends was incredible, and the event raised nearly $1400 in donations! A huge thank you to Sandy Lewis, the owner of CommonWealth GastroPub, who not only donated the space and refreshments for the event, but also contributed $500 to the funds raised. What an amazing gesture!

Congratulations to these DC Domers for coordinating such an outstanding event! This effort truly embodies the Notre Dame spirit.

For more information on The Road to Fondwa, and to find out how you can donate to the people of Haiti, visit the website.



We would love to hear how other Black Alumni around the country celebrated the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday or supported the Haiti effort! Comment away, Domers :)