Portland Press Herald Is First Recipient Of Maine Friends of Haiti’s Special Recognition Award

Periodically the Maine Friends of Haiti group will recognize a particular individual, family, group, business, or organization, etc. that has made a major impact in raising awareness or encouraging involvement in assisting Haiti.

The Portland Press Herald has been chosen as the first recipient of this

special award.

Dear Portland Press Herald:

It has been gratifying to witness the amazing response of so many Mainers who have stepped forward to help in assisting Haiti after the devastating Jan. 12 earthquake.

I would like to commend the Portland Press Herald for its extensive and phenomenal coverage of the situation in Haiti. Hats off to editor and publisher Richard Connor, executive editor Scott Wasser, city editor Noel Gallagher, deputy managing editor Angie Muhs, and the editorial staff, and to reporter Matt Wickenheiser, photographer Gregory Rec, columnist Bill Nemitz, and all those who were involved in this work.

The decision of your newspaper to send writers and a photographer to Haiti, has provided opportunities for Mainers to learn firsthand about the situation. In a country like Haiti,

where conditions are often incomprehensible and bleak, the Portland Press Herald managed to capture the spirit and resilience of the Haitian people as well as the compassion and strength of the Mainers helping on the frontlines.

Certain images, comments, and background of Haiti that your paper presented are now ingrained in my memory. With each article I read, a sense of gratitude to the Mainers involved in Haiti became even more pronounced. Your portrayal of the work of Konbit Sante, Fr. Marc Boisvert, Rev. Joe Corriveau, Greg Brooks and the crew of the Sea Hunter, and many others, has made a lasting impression.

Maine individuals, businesses, places of worship, schools, and organizations have conducted so many creative fundraisers to help with Haitian relief. When I attended a Konbit Sante briefing recently I witnessed the involvement of many medical professionals, volunteers, Mayor Nicholas Mavodones, and photographer Greg Rec and writer Matt Wickenheiser from your newspaper. Although the misery and challenges faced in Haiti can seem overwhelming, I felt as though our state of Maine has really become involved in efforts that are producing formidable results.

Mainers are known for their independence, strength of character, and willingness to help others. While occasionally one might hear a comment about the need to concentrate solely on helping those in need within our own state, Mainers have demonstrated the importance of understanding and compassion for helping those in crisis on an international level, as well.

Whether intended or not, through its extensive, informative, and outstanding coverage of the situation in Haiti, the Portland Press Herald, in my opinion, has educated and indirectly encouraged Mainers to step forward and to become socially-conscious global citizens. For this, our family thanks you.

With Appreciation,

Mary Doyle

Maine Friends of Haiti

Stories from the Sea Hunter

1Dedicated crew shows its heart on epic mission
March 8, 2010
2Heart and soul in Haiti
March 7, 2010
The Rev. Marc Boisvert went to the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere 12 years ago, and knows he will spend his life – all of it – helping on this island.
3Sea Hunter's supplies reach the hands of Haitian people
March 6, 2010
4At last, Sea Hunter
offloading Haiti relief supplies

March 5, 2010
The Sea Hunter's 12 crew members and volunteers, after weeks of storms and bureaucratic delays, are all smiles as the unloading operation began.
5Still stalled, relief ship's owner tries ultimatum
March 5, 2010
6Column: Relief delivery to orphanage tantalizingly close
March 4, 2010
7Haiti official: Sea Hunter can offload its cargo
March 3, 2010
A local customs official will board the ship Thursday morning to verify that relief supplies aboard the ship match those listed in packing lists handed over today.
8Sea Hunter arrives at 2nd Haitian port
February 2, 2010
If all goes as planned, the ship will spend the next few days offloading almost 200 tons of food, clothing, medicine and other relief supplies onto small vessels here.
9Owner of Sea Hunter at the end of his rope
February 28, 2010
10‘Pastor Bob’ buoys spirits as relief ship is kept at bay
February 27, 2010
11Ship's mission to Haiti back on course
February 24, 2010
12For Haiti-bound Sea Hunter, permission granted
February 23, 2010
Finally shipshape and cleared to sail, Sea Hunter now faces a trial by sea
13Maine shipmaster says aye to Sea Hunter mission
February 22, 2010
14As cynics feast, hopeful crew won't give up the ship
February 21, 2010
15Audio Slideshow: Sea Hunter waits off the coast of Miami
February 18, 2010
16New shipmaster steps in for Sea Hunter
February 17, 2010
The new volunteer tentatively agrees to join the mission to Haiti after the vessel's owner e-mails him photos of the ship and its cargo.
17Concern over captain's health tempers crew's excitement
February 16, 2010
MIAMI; Preparations shifted into high gear in Haiti on Monday for receiving the estimated 200 tons of donated relief supplies aboard the Maine ship Sea Hunter, while hopes rose aboard the ship that its five days in limbo here could finally end today.
18Haiti or bust, Sea Hunter's crew keeps eyes on goal
February 14, 2010
MORE INSIDE
19Stymied ship unsnarls sticky knot in red tape
February 13, 2010
20Mainer's voyage to Haiti now uncertain
February 11, 2010
Coast Guard officials question the qualifications of Greg Brooks' crew as he tries to deliver relief supplies.

Stories from ground in Cap-Hatien

1Letter from Haiti: Haitians' pride, faith amaze doctor
March 8, 2010
2Program finds Maine sponsors for Haitian children
January 24, 2010
A Maine woman and her church help students get an education -- and vaccinations and meals.
3Quake spotlights nation's distress, nonprofit's resolve
January 24, 2010
''People here are used to dealing with incredible challenges all the time. These are bigger.''
4Making a difference for poorest of the poor
January 21, 2010
REPORTING FROM HAITI
5Maine-based efforts, donations help hospital run more smoothly
January 20, 2010
6Portlander reeling after chaotic weekend
January 19, 2010
Judy Carl, in Cap Haitien to teach English at a hospital, helps caregivers aid dozens of victims.
7Reporter's Notebook: Open troughs, tower climbs and a baby is born
January 19, 2010
8Disaster draws attention to Mainers' ties with Haiti
January 18, 2010
9Konbit Sante builds on background of trust
January 18, 2010
Justinian Hospital treats scores of quake victims, and the Portland-based nonprofit is there to help.

Local Stories

1Local Haiti Dispatches
February 14, 2010
2Mainers persevere to get paralyzed victim treated
February 11, 2010
After going to great lengths to keep the man alive after he was rescued, they now hope to bring him to Maine.
3Businesses unite to find best ways they can aid Haiti
February 9, 2010
Once the greatest needs are identified, the coalition of Maine companies will provide money, materials or expertise.
4Reviving Haiti brick by brick, mind by mind
February 9, 2010
The Portland professor also proposes that his students design houses that can be quickly and easily built.
5Doctor's regret: 'My work here is not done'
February 7, 2010
A psychiatrist treating anguished quake survivors finds there is still a great need for 'comfort and consoling.'
6Benefit dinner highlights Colby efforts to help Haiti
February 7, 2010
Colby students hope to raise $25,000 for the Stand for Haiti Campaign of Partners in Health.
7Mainer gathers data to help Haitians who lost limbs
February 5, 2010
8Community welcomes newest members
February 2, 2010
About 50 people celebrate the adoption of two Haitian children at the Elks Lodge in Pittsfield.
9Shock lingers as Haiti recovers
January 30, 2010
'TV doesn't do justice to how widespread the damage is,' Maine's Coast Guard commander says.
10Quake hastens Maine families' growth spurt
January 28, 2010
Two couples collect their new children as Haitian orphanages turn to the less fortunate.
11Instrumental in helping Haiti
January 25, 2010
The symphony opens a rehearsal to gather relief donations, its first such fundraiser for another organization.
12'Earth had turned to Jell-O' during quake, Mainer recalls
January 23, 2010
Austin Webbert of Wayne says the slum where he'd been volunteering has yet to see much relief.
13Mainers prepare to help Haiti amputees
January 23, 2010
Adam Cote of Portland heads to Haiti next week to gather data on the 2,500 to 3,000 quake survivors who need artificial limbs.INSIDE
14Konbit Sante response aid hits $141,000
January 22, 2010
MORE INSIDE
15This time Mainer's not hunting treasure, he's delivering it -- to Haiti
January 22, 2010
16Maine couple desperate to get daughter home
January 19, 2010
The baby, whose mother died in the earthquake, is being cared for by her father's family in Haiti.
17Maine student weathers quake
January 18, 2010
Jessica Frick of Eddington and her Colby roommate cut short their plans for a month in Port-au-Prince.
18Maine man evacuated to Dominican Republic
January 16, 2010
19Mainers help water flow to Haitians
January 15, 2010
20Haitians in Maine wait and pray
January 14, 2010
21Updates on family trickle in
January 14, 2010
Some Mainers learn their relatives in Haiti are OK, but others suffer through a difficult wait for news.
22Local ties to Haiti good route for aid
January 14, 2010
Money, not volunteers or supplies, is what aid groups most need in response to this crisis.