Compassion International Takes Immediate Action in Wake of Earthquake Devastation

Response Team En Route to Haiti

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Jan. 13, 2010—Providing urgent relief to those affected by yesterday's devastating earthquake, Compassion International is working through their full-time teams who serve 64,000 children and additional relief teams en route to Port-au-Prince.  The team led by Doug Bassett, director of Central American countries for Compassion, will coordinate Compassion's supply of clean water, food, medical care, supplies and adequate housing to aid those who have been affected by the quake.   

Soon to be on the ground in Port-au-Prince are Compassion International President Wess Stafford, Compassion Central America director Doug Bassett along with other compassion team members.   

Today, Compassion has 230 child development centers in Haiti that serve more than 64,000 children, many in Port-au-Prince.  The child relief and development organization has been working in Haiti since 1968.

INTERVIEWS:

• Port-au-Prince native Edouard Lassegue, Compassion International's regional vice president for Latin America and the Caribbean, is available by phone and via satellite from Miami
• In Haiti:  Doug Bassett, Compassion International's director of Central American countries, is available by phone and potentially via Skype
  

PHOTOS & VIDEO: 

• Photos will be available as soon as possible.  To request photos or video, please email Christy Lynn Wilson.

Compassion is urging those seeking to assist in its Haitian relief efforts to:

• Visit its website to give any amount or can choose one of two standard donation amounts
• $35 to help one family receive emergency supplies of food and clean water for about one week
• $1,500 to help rebuild a home in Haiti
• Text "disaster" to 90999 to give $10
  

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ABOUT COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL

Compassion International is the world's largest Christian child development organization that permanently releases children from poverty.  Founded in 1952, Compassion successfully tackles global poverty one child at a time, serving more than 1 million children-pre-natal through higher education - in 25 of the world's poorest countries.  Recognizing that poverty is more than a lack of money, Compassion works through local churches to holistically address the individual physical, economic, educational and spiritual needs of children - enabling them to thrive, not just survive.  Compassion has been awarded eight consecutive, four-star ratings by Charity Navigator, America's largest charity evaluator.

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BIO

Edouard Lassegue

Edouard has served as Compassion's vice president of the Latin America & Caribbean Region since January 2007.  Prior to this position, he served as the country director of Haiti for nearly 11 years.

As a result of his personal and professional experiences, Edouard can discuss matters of natural disasters, child poverty, health issues, cultural issues, gang violence, drug trade and the political situation in Latin America.

 

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