Marion Austin, HFC’s founder and president, brings thirty-seven years of experience working in diet therapy to her efforts in Haiti. She has received an Honorary Doctorate of Public Service from Gordon College for dedicating her retirement years to serving the orphaned children of this area.

Since HFC’s inception in 1989, Marion had a vision to expand her work as a missionary to Haiti by building an orphanage to house some of the many needy children.

Her vision led to the founding of two orphanages: the first, Bless The Children of Haiti, was located in Bongnotte where HFC was a partner in its development. As a result of the valuable knowledge gained from this partnership, a second orphanage was constructed and dedicated in the section of Port-au-Prince called Bolosse in October 1996. The Bolosse orphanage is managed solely by HFC. The managing director of this orphanage, Dr. Jacob Bernard, holds a Ph.D. from the University of North Texas, and was referred to Marion by Pastor Soliny Vedrine, a leader in the Haitian community of Boston, MA.

Prior to his affiliation with HFC, Dr. Bernard, his wife Claudette and daughter Rachel demonstrated their love for children by taking orphaned children into their own home. When he found out about the availability of a parcel of land near the Baptist Seminary where he teaches, Dr. Bernard notified members of HFC’s Board of Directors, who began the process of purchasing the land that has become the site of the latest orphanage and school.

Most of the children who live in the orphanage are without one or both parents because of death or abandonment. Other children arrive as the victims of severe neglect due to a variety of family and economic problems. 

Fifteen years after its humble beginnings, Hope for the Children of Haiti continues to care for and educate needy children. Dr. Bernard leads the coordination of the orphanage’s activities while receiving guidance from the stateside Board of Directors. The day-to-day activities are managed by a committed staff of about forty Haitians, including a supervisor, maintenance worker/guard, cooks, laundresses, caretakers, and  teachers. In addition, a trained nurse visits the orphanage regularly.

A Birthday Gift

When most people think of Haiti, they find a renewed appreciation for many of the things that most of us take for granted, such as food, water, a clean environment and a peaceful government.

The story of young Jacques O’Bain brings to mind another thing that we assume everyone can take for granted -a birthday.

Jacques was brought to the orphanage in the summer of and her staff, after being abandoned in a hospital in Port-au-Prince. Not only was Jacques without parents, but there wasn’t any record of his birth date. To rectify this situation, Marion provided Jacques with her own birth date, Sept. 5, and the year 1990 was chosen for his approximate birth year. Jacques will always hold a special place in Marion’s heart.  You can see what Jacques Obain now looks like if you follow this link: Jacques Obain

Can HFC meet the needs?

HFC’s objective is to continue to improve and stabilize the current level of care at the orphanage and to reach out to other needy children in the region. The organization is limited by what it receives, and its greatest need is money. Contributions may be made periodically or on a one-time basis. Donations can also be designated for the general operating budget or to meet a specific need.

There is also a need for volunteers to assist with a variety of projects. The aim of HFC is to use its available resources in the most efficient manner possible.

"The needs of Haiti seem overwhelming," Marion Austin remarked. But she draws strength from the words of a Haitian woman, who said, "The Lord didn’t tell me to conquer the world. But if I did something for one person, I did something."