When translated, Haiti’s national motto says “Unity makes strength.”
And in the aftermath of last week’s earthquake, uniting is exactly what UF students will be doing at Club Creole’s Spring Gala Saturday.
The formal-attire event, held at the Turkey Creek Golf & Country Club at 6 p.m., will feature traditional Haitian kompa music, a catered buffet and an art auction displaying original Haitian works.
By paying the $30 admission, attendees donate to Project Haiti, which establishes temporary clinics and brings medical supplies to adults and children.
According to the project’s official Web site, the team works on the border of the Dominican Republic and Haiti, which volunteers refer to as a win-win situation.
“There’s a bit of irony about how gala has correlated with the disaster,” co-director Urielle Renelus said.
Since last week’s earthquake, ticket sales for the gala have drastically increased.
Club Creole, UF’s Haitian Student Association, chose this year to be “Journey on the Red and Blue Carpet — Fulfill Your Destiny.”
“We are trying to portray Haiti in a positive light,” gala co-director Raquel Saint-Hilaire said. “This title expresses what we want people to see.”
Scheduled to speak is Aaron Jackson, co-founder of Planting Peace, a nonprofit group that sends medical supplies to Haiti.
Jon Bougher and Roman Safiullin, two UF students who were in Haiti during the earthquake, will also be attending, Renelus said.
A moment of silence to honor the lives that were lost in the earthquake has been added to the event’s program.
“I hope people aren’t too down,” Renelus said. “When tragedy happens, we pick up our feet and move on.”
