News and Alerts
HAITI UPDATE - 9:00PM Monday, February 22, 2010
The Eagles Wings Pathfinders Task Force receives letter of commendation for their work at Haitian Hospital.
To whom it may concern:
As Executive Director of the State University Hospital of Haiti, I want to take this opportunity to
extend my most sincere appreciation to The Eagles Wings Foundation, under the leadership of
Scott Lewis, for being instrumental in restoring to working condition, the main emergency room
building at the hospital following The earthquake of January of 2010. Coordinating crews of
workers, the Pathfinder Team rehabilitated our damaged primary entrance facility, the trauma
area, pediatric section, a pharmacy, and a lab area back into being our main resources. This
operation has been all extremely important event for the medical community at the hospital and
most importantly for our patients. since most of the medical care provided by the hospital after
the earthquake has been taking place in Tents, yesterday alone, over 1,000 new patients were
treated in the tent facilities highlighting the need for the restoration just completed by the Eagles
Wings.
Earlier in the week Eagles Wings coordinated the installation of a satellite dish at the same
building. The satellite dish and its services, from Hughes Network Systems, was acquired and
installed by ResponseForce1, with support by NetHope via Accenture. The activation of the
satellite will provide communications capabilities that will allow the hospital to provide better
care for our patients. Almost immediately it will afford us capability of consulting with other
medical experts worldwide.
I write this letter in commendation of the outstanding volunteer work done by members of the
Eagles Wings Foundation. ResponseForce 1. Hughes Network Systems. Accenture and Net Hope
who invested Time, money and extraordinary effort following our catastrophic earthquake here in
Haiti.
Dr. Alex Lasagne
Executive Director
Hospital de l' Universite D' etat D'Haiti.
HAITI UPDATE - 7:00PM Tuesday, February 16, 2010
First I would like to say, thanks to the generosity of our donors, we have already raised $57,100 towards our Challenge Grant Goal of $250,000.
Because of their advanced training and skills, Pathfinders team members have been able to assist other agencies in Haiti when called upon. Today our team worked at one of Port-au-Prince's largest hospitals, installing a satellite communications system that we had transported to Haiti to assist with the lack of reliable communications on the island. While on the hospital's roof, Berdy and Jean received an emergency call from American doctors at the hospital to translate for a Haitian mother whose 9-month old baby was in need of emergency care. Sadly the baby was severely ill, and despite the heroic efforts of the doctors, died while being treated, it was heart rending for all concerned.
Scott and David met with top Government and UN officials regarding food distribution and sheltering needs of the earthquake survivors. Other team members searched for suitable base site locations and began mapping damage with our cell phone based damage assessment system.
To make a contribution online with PayPal, click on the “Donate” button below..
Remember all donations made before March 1st are deductible on your 2009 taxes.
We thank you for your support and generosity,
Scott Lewis - Founder
The Eagles’ Wings Foundation
Tel. (561) 304-8509
Fax. (561) 689-3534
HAITI UPDATE - 10:00PM Thursday, February 11, 2010
Announcing $250,000 Challenge Grant
for Haiti Relief Efforts
Dear Friends of The Eagles' Wings Foundation,
I am happy to announce we have enough funding to return to Haiti to continue our relief efforts as requested by the Haitian Government, but we need your help to stay as long as possible. On our first mission the Foundation's funds were exhausted after 16 days of food distribution and the response teams were forced to return home.
The amount of time we can stay this time will depend entirely on you. Funding is needed for ground transportation, trucks, drivers, and fuel. We can assure you that 100% of your gifts will be used for the relief work, as the foundation is run completely by volunteers and has no paid employees. Donations will go to hiring local resources and transportation to distribute much needed food and supplies into the hands of the victims of this disaster. The use of local resources will further help the ailing economy of this nation, and instill pride with Haitians helping Haitians.
On our first mission to Haiti a team of only 8 volunteers were able to distribute 2.3 million meals at an average cost of $0.035 per meal; yes that is 3 1/2 cent per meal!
Scott and Carol Lewis, co-founders of The Eagles Wings Foundation, have announced the receipt of a $250,000 contribution arranged as part of the settlement of litigation in which they have been involved for over a decade. The Foundation has earmarked the funds as a "challenge grant" for the Haitian relief effort and is challenging the public to match this contribution to raise the available total to half a million dollars. This latest cash infusion will enable the Foundation to respond immediately to a written plea from the Haitian government that they return.
Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, P. A., which has been assisting the Lewises from the outset of their epic legal battle and was instrumental in negotiating the charitable contribution to The Eagles Wings Foundation, has kicked off the challenge grant response with its second contribution of $2,500.
HAITI UPDATE - 10:00PM Monday, February 8, 2010
Open Letter from Haitian Government requesting the return of Eagles Wings Volunteers.
Due to the necessity of food aid and relief supply urgently needed by the population, I would request the return of the Pathfinders' team which accomplished so much in its deployment, cut short due to lack of funding...
Click Here to View Letter from Haiti's Minister of Commerce
HAITI UPDATE - 11:00AM Sunday, February 7, 2010
Haiti Aid Efforts Go Awry in the 'Convoy to Nowhere' - Wall Street Journal
By CHRISTOPHER RHOADS
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti—Scott Lewis hoped to deliver more than one million meals to Haitians on Wednesday via a 15-truck convoy brimming with beans and rice.
Instead, "It was the convoy to nowhere," Mr. Lewis said. Well after dusk, the 52-year-old founder of a U.S. disaster-relief organization had barely delivered any food, other than some bags left at a missionary hospital, and a few more bags that got looted from the convoy as it crawled along crowded streets.
...Mr. Lewis's plan Wednesday morning seemed simple enough, and he had reason to be confident. His team was well seasoned from responding to brutal hurricanes in southern Florida the past decade. It had already made more than eight food drops over the preceding days, amounting to 2.2 million meals, or more than 20% of the WFP total as of Wednesday. He had Mr. Minyard, the former Army Ranger, leading his 15-truck convoy. He had a unit from the 82nd U.S. Airborne providing security....
(Click Here to Read Full Article)
HAITI UPDATE - 10:00PM Wednesday, February 3, 2010
We are proud to say that the Government of Haiti has requested our return and we are in the process of raising money so we can continue our mission to provide relief to the people affected by this disaster. Until then we are continuing to stay in constant contact with all the wonderful people and organizations we worked with and are assisting them in their missions. Thanks to your donations, along with help from local Haitians, the United Nations, and the World Food Programme, our Pathfinder team was able to distribute over 400 metric tons of food to the survivors for a total of 2,302,000 meals in just 8 days. We did this by hiring over 150 Haitians thereby giving them not only a way to earn a wage, but also the pride of knowing they are helping their own countrymen to recover. The Eagles’ Wings Foundation is run completely by volunteers and 100% of donated funds went directly to the people of Haiti.
Even though the team is currently back in the states does not mean we are idle, currently we are working on projects including acquiring and arranging the shipment of 1000s of tents, and the transportation of food, water, and other sorely needed supplies to other organizations in Haiti.
HAITI UPDATE - 9:00AM Monday, February 1, 2010
HAITI UPDATE FROM SCOTT LEWIS - 10:00 pm Monday, January 25, 2010
We have distributed 1,962,000 meals in 6 days. Thousands of Haitians lined up outside the Palace in Port-au-Prince to receive food and supplies.
We display this video to show the difficulties we face and the desperation of the people we are serving, not because we condone the soldiers' actions or agree with the viewpoints expressed.
Video provided by Miami Herald News
HAITI UPDATE FROM SCOTT LEWIS - 8:00 pm Sunday, January 24, 2010
The Eagle’s Wings Foundation distributes 1,542,000 meals in 5 days
The Eagle’s Wings Foundation’s Pathfinders Task Force continues to make sure the supplies in Port-au-Prince are reaching the people of Haiti by distributing the equivalent of 1,542,000 meals in 5 days provided by the World Food Programme since January 21st. They have also expanded their operation by handing out 14,600 crank powered portable radios. Eagle’s Wings was able to accomplish this mission with a volunteer leadership team of 8 people managing over 150 Haitian citizens who are paid a daily wage to man the distribution points. They are receiving crowd control assistance from UN Troops.
The Eagle’s Wings “Pathfinders” concept consists of sending small teams of volunteers who have disaster management, fire-rescue, and military command experience to help coordinate the activities of the unaffiliated volunteers and charities in a disaster area.
The Eagles Wings Foundation, Inc. is a multi faith-based, 501(c) (3), not-for-profit, public foundation based in West Palm Beach, Florida that was created to aid disaster survivors throughout the United States and the Caribbean region.
HAITI UPDATE - West Palm Beach, FL, January 22, 2010
The Eagle’s Wings Foundation assists with food distribution in Haiti
As part of continuing efforts to assist the people of Haiti, The Eagle’s Wings Foundation’s (EWF) “Pathfinders Task Force” has been asked by the United Nations World Food Programme (WPF) and the Haitian Government to assist in the distribution of food to the people of Haiti. On the first two days of this mission Eagle’s Wings was able to feed 210,000 meals to earthquake victims by distributing close to 100 metric tons of food in Port-au-Prince over the past 2 days. Eagle’s Wings accomplished this mission with an 8 person ground task force and by employing Haitian citizens to man the distribution point. By paying Haitian citizens, Eagle’s Wings accomplished this goal and further helped this crumbling nation’s economy.
The Eagle’s Wings “Pathfinders” consists of small teams of volunteers with disaster management, fire-rescue, and military command level experience who help coordinate activities of unaffiliated volunteers and charities in a disaster area.
The Eagles Wings Foundation, Inc. is a multi faith-based, 501(c) (3), not-for-profit, public foundation based in West Palm Beach, Florida that was created to aid disaster survivors throughout the United States and the Caribbean region.
HAITI UPDATE FROM SCOTT LEWIS - Port-au-Prince, January 18, 2010
We are working on establishing 10 Points of Distribution (PODs) to distribute food for The World Food Bank. As part of this mission, we have secured twenty 2-ton trucks with drivers, 60 local workers, 80 armed Haitian security guards and a POD manager.
The U.S. Embassy JMAT team has been very helpful to us.
Kings Wings is flying more volunteers and supplies to us on Wednesday. The contents of our plane will determine whether we can land in Port au Prince versus Santo Domingo.
A high priority for us today is to secure a warehouse facility.
A satellite communications team with two trucks, a satellite dish, portable HAM radio antenna, 3 cadaver dogs and 2 dog handlers are waiting to deploy.
New volunteers can assist with food distribution and mapping & tracking, using our 50 geocoded cell phones. We need to determine which roads are passable for food distribution throughout the country.
The humanitarian situation here is desperate.
Our base camp is great. We have a safe place to sleep, hot food, good water, wi fi communications.
West Palm Beach businessman reports from Haiti
We've heard from a West Palm Beach businessman, who left for Haiti last Thursday. We brought you the story of Scott Lewis and his team leaving North County Airport, west of Jupiter, bound for Haiti.
Lewis and his Eagles Wings Foundation specialize in helping governments and charities coordinate disaster relief efforts. Reached by satellite phone in Haiti, Lewis said there's not enough food and water getting to earthquake victims right now. But Lewis said he's met with the Prime Minister and President of Haiti, and hopes to establish networks for moving more supplies to the people.
"It's like a tsunami focused on one city," reflected Lewis. "That's what you've got here. It's just incredible. You can't imagine it. You smell it, you see it. And it's just incredible to hear stories of individuals who escaped."
Lewis said he encountered one tense situation-- a mob of several hundred with homemade weapons in central Port-au-Prince. But Lewis said his group was able to drive through the crowd, and was not attacked. Other than the one incident, Lewis said he feels safe. He and his group have teamed with a mission organization there, and are staying with a family near Port-au-Prince.
Local Group Heads to Haiti to Coordinate Relief
Link to News Story by Chuck Weber - CBS 12 News
Call it a relief effort to coordinate the relief effort. Thursday Scott Lewis, owner of a West Palm Beach landscaping business, showed up at North County Airport, west of Jupiter. There Lewis and a group of four others, boarded a plane bound for Haiti.
Lewis founded The Eagles Wings Foundation, an organization that helps governments and charities coordinate disaster relief. The aim of Eagles Wings: making sure donations really reach those in need.
Lewis has been responding to disasters since Hurricane Floyd hit the Bahamas in 1999. The White House even recognized Lewis for his efforts after Hurricane Katrina. Still Lewis acknowledges the situation in Haiti presents an incredible challenge.
"I think it's the worst disaster in the Western Hemisphere, in modern history," remarked Lewis. "There's a lot of tremendous suffering that nobody can imagine. I can't imagine. I've never been in something this bad."
Joining Lewis on the trip is one of his employees, Felix Jean-Baptiste. Just before dawn Thursday, Jean-Baptiste said he finally heard from his children in Haiti. All of them are okay, but two nieces and a nephew lost their lives. And Jean-Baptiste's house in Haiti collapsed.
"They lose everything," said Jean-Baptiste. "Everybody outside. You don't get shower, you don't get food. No water."
And no medical care. Just a glimpse of what lies ahead for Lewis and his group.
The Eagles Wings Foundation is looking for donations, so it can send more volunteers to Haiti to help coordinate relief efforts. If you'd like to help the group, you can call 689-6283, or 313-0226, or contact by email at carol@theeagleswingsfoundation.org.
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Resource Links
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