press releases

Plant With Purpose Employs Farmers through "Cash for Work" program to Plant Over 170,000 Trees in Haiti
Nonprofit Works in 67 Villages in Haiti to Eradicate Poverty and Deforestation

SAN DIEGO- July 6, 2010- Plant With Purpose, a nonprofit working internationally to reverse poverty and deforestation among the rural poor, has employed over 2,100 farmers through their “Cash for Work” program to plant over 170,000 trees and construct over 260 miles of soil erosion barriers since the devastating earthquake. This progress will provide a vital barrier against potentially deadly hurricane storms, and is a testament to the leadership of the local staff who were on the ground at the time of the earthquake and were able to respond faster than most agencies.

Founded in 1984, Plant With Purpose has been at work in rural Haiti for 13 years. The organization focuses on holistic solutions to poverty through implementing sustainable agriculture programs, creating economic opportunity through micro-enterprise, and encouraging spiritual renewal.

Plant With Purpose currently works in 67 villages in Haiti and focuses on long-term development work to ensure that villages are more resilient to natural disasters. Due to the severity of the earthquake, Plant With Purpose is raising funds for relief efforts as well, which includes tree planting and employment opportunities.

“Our needs increased exponentially with the earthquake,” said Plant With Purpose Executive Director, Scott Sabin. “We were blessed with an over-whelming response from long-term and new donors, raising nearly $1 million for Haiti. Our donors believe in our mission and continue to support us despite the downturn in the economy, and for that we are very grateful.”

An expert on Haiti, Sabin is the author of the recently released book, Tending To Eden, where he reflects on his work in Haiti and makes the connection between poverty and the environment. For interview inquiries, or for additional information on Haiti and Plant With Purpose, including videos and photos, please contact Kate McElhinney at kate@plantwithpurpose.org.
 

Plant With Purpose Raises Awareness & a Record $2,000 at Annual Earth Day Event
Nonprofit Works to Honor the Earth Everyday through International Reforestation 

SAN DIEGO- April 22, 2010- Plant With Purpose, a local environmental nonprofit working internationally to reverse poverty and deforestation among the rural poor, raised $2,000 during their 20^th consecutive year at Balboa Park’s Earth Fair last Sunday, which is double the amount raised at last year’s event.  

This amount will go toward Plant With Purpose’s goal to plant 1 million trees this year. By donating $1 dollar to plant a tree, hundreds of people at the Earth Day event took part in reforesting the earth and transforming the lives of the rural poor.  

Plant With Purpose has planted over 4 million trees worldwide since 1984. The organization currently has programs in six countries, including Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Tanzania, Burundi, and Thailand. Just one dollar plants a tree which starts the process of reversing deforestation and poverty.

For more information on Plant With Purpose, or for photos or interview opportunities, please contact Kate McElhinney at kate@plantwithpurpose.org.

 

Plant With Purpose Executive Director Visits Haiti Relief Effort
Nonprofit works in 67 villages in Haiti to eradicate poverty and deforestation

SAN DIEGO – March 31, 2010 – Plant With Purpose Executive Director, Scott Sabin, has returned from Haiti where he oversaw and assessed the organization’s relief efforts following the devastating January 12^th earthquake. This trip is one of over 30 visits Sabin has made to Haiti in the past 13 years that Plant With Purpose has worked there, and according to Sabin it was one of the most inspiring.

“During my visit, I witnessed the Plant With Purpose local Haitian staff working alongside the rural farmers to help and oversee the programs,” said Sabin. “Because the local staff were present at the time of the earthquake, they were able to respond immediately and efficiently, and their tireless work is truly the reason our communities in Haiti are recovering so well.”

Plant With Purpose, a nonprofit organization working internationally to reverse poverty and deforestation among the rural poor, currently works in 67 villages in Haiti and focuses on long-term development work to ensure that villages are more resilient to natural disasters.  Due to the severity of the earthquake, Plant With Purpose is now raising funds for relief efforts as well, which includes seed distribution, soil conservation barrier construction, and employment opportunities.

Since the earthquake, Plant With Purpose has distributed over 250,000 pounds of rice, and has provided 79,000 pounds of bean seed to thousands of rural farmers. Additionally, the organization has employed 489 workers to construct 86 miles of soil conservation barriers, which will provide a vital barricade against the impending hurricane season.

Sabin is the author of the recently released book, Tending To Eden: Environmental Stewardship for God’s People where he reflects on his time in Haiti and makes the connection between poverty and the environment. For interview inquires, or for additional information on Haiti and Plant With Purpose, including videos and photos, please contact Kate McElhinney at kate@plantwithpurpose.org.

 

Plant With Purpose Haiti Staff Report that they are Unharmed by Earthquake

SAN DIEGO – January 13, 2010 – Plant With Purpose, a nonprofit organization working internationally to reverse poverty and deforestation among the rural poor, has just heard that most of their 40 staff members in Haiti are ok and were unharmed by the earthquake.

Guy Paraison, the Plant With Purpose Haiti Program Director, reported via email that the Episcopalian school, the church, and the guest house in the organization’s headquarters in the community of Gran Colline are severely damaged, however the Plant With Purpose office still stands unharmed and the staff members are all ok.

 “This is a tremendous blessing and relief,” said Plant With Purpose Executive Director Scott Sabin. “We are grateful that our staff is ok, but our prayers go out to our board members and the farmers who are still unaccounted for.”

Plant With Purpose has worked in Haiti since 1997 to eradicate poverty through reforestation efforts, soil conservation, and community savings and loan groups.

After the devastating hurricanes of 2008, Plant With Purpose was able to reestablish farms for 2,000 Haitian families who lost their homes, crops, and stability. The organization will be intimately involved in the intermediate and long-term recovery efforts of this natural disaster as well, and welcomes donations.

“In the days and weeks to come, the impact of the disaster will still be felt and in many ways will be more acute as those who have lost everything attempt to rebuild their lives,” said Sabin.  “This is when recovery, rehabilitation, and ultimately long-term development will become increasingly important.”

Plant With Purpose recommends that immediate relief donations to Haiti should be allocated through an agency with a professional disaster response capability such as our colleagues listed on the InterAction website.

Plant With Purpose will continue to post updates as soon as they receive them at www.plantwithpurpose.blogspot.com. To make a donation to Plant With Purpose, visit www.plantwithpurpose.org.

 

Plant With Purpose Executive Director Scott Sabin Available for Haiti Earthquake Inquiries
Environmental nonprofit works to eradicate poverty in 84 communities in Haiti

SAN DIEGO – January 12, 2010 – In response to the recent earthquake in Haiti, Plant With Purpose Executive Director Scott Sabin is available for comments and interviews regarding the organization’s work in Haiti.

Plant With Purpose, a nonprofit organization working internationally to reverse poverty and deforestation among the rural poor, currently works in 84 villages in Haiti and focuses on long term development work to ensure that villages are more resilient to natural disasters. The organization has worked with rural Haitian farmers since 1997 to eradicate poverty through reforestation efforts, soil conservation, and community savings and loan groups.

After the devastating hurricanes of 2008, Plant With Purpose was able to raise $143,000 to aid 2,000 Haitian farmers who lost their homes, crops, and stability.

Plant With Purpose has been attempting to reach their Haitian staff, most of whom are located 40 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince, by cell phone and email to assess the damage, but have not been able to connect yet. They will post updates as soon as they receive them at www.plantwithpurpose.blogspot.com.

Please contact Kate McElhinney for all media inquiries at kate@plantwithpurpose.org or office line (858) 274-3718 or cell phone (925) 872-1642.