More than 200 guests gathered to support the Gift of Writing Foundation last month at a fundraising event celebrating the nonprofit, which was founded by a Uniondale assistant principal who turned his journey from Haiti into a mission to give back.
The 12th annual Fundraising Dinner Dance Celebration was held March 21 at Verdi’s, in Westbury. The event featured performances by the Haitian American Student Association, and honored eight individuals for their contributions to the foundation.
Frantz Dorsainvil, assistant principal of Northern Parkway Elementary School, who grew up in Haiti, established the nonprofit in 2013. It provides school supplies, meals and educational support to students abroad, while also offering scholarships to local students.
“The gala was excellent — it was well attended,” Dorsainvil said. “We always have a nice program.”
The fundraiser, he said, generated about $25,000 from ticket sales and donations, though a last-minute venue change and associated costs reduced the amount the foundation will keep to about $5,000.
“We had to change the venue midway through the event,” Dorsainvil said. “That kind of got in the way of our goal — it was a space issue they just couldn’t accommodate.”
The event was originally planned for Mirelle’s Restaurant and Catering Hall in Westbury, where ticket costs were $125, but, Dorsainvil explained, the space could not accommodate the larger-than-expected crowd, forcing the organizers to pay $25 out of pocket per ticket at Verdi’s.
With just two weeks left until the fundraiser, all other potential locations were booked.
“Verdi’s were very accommodating and understanding especially,” Adeola Tella-Williams, vice president of the foundation and dean of students at Lawrence Road Middle School, said. “Especially after we told them that we are a nonprofit organization and what we do.”
Tables were decorated with Haitian-themed centerpieces, including soccer-inspired designs that reflected Haiti’s recent qualification for this year’s FIFA World Cup, the country’s first appearance since 1974.
The ceremony recognized eight contributors to the foundation for helping it advance its mission over the years. “We have people who have been there since day one,” Dorsainvil said.
Students receive help in Haiti
The foundation grew out of relief efforts following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, when Dorsainvil helped collect and deliver supplies to those affected. After he returned, he said, the question became how to continue that work long-term — leading to the creation of the organization.
Its work in Haiti centers on a school in Arcahaie, 30 minutes west of Port-au-Prince. The school has about 400 students, and they receive support in the form of school supplies, meal funding and educational programs.
Dorsainvil said the organization has remained committed to the school despite ongoing political unrest and security challenges, continuing to provide resources and stability for students throughout the year.
“In Haiti we used to support four schools,” he said. “And due to what’s going on with insecurity and political unrest, we only focus on one school in Arcahaie.”
The quality of Haiti’s education system, he said, varies widely depending on access, with private schools offering rigorous instruction in math and science, while public schools often face challenges such as limited resources and inconsistent teacher pay. He noted that students who attend well-established schools in Haiti often perform at a high level in the U.S. once they adapt to learning in English.
According to the website of the international nonprofit WE Charity, over 80 percent of Haitian schools are privately run. They do not receive any financial support from the government, and are often run by private companies or religious and other non-government organizations.
At the school The Gift of Writing Foundation supports, Dorsainvil explained, most students’ families cannot afford tuition, and in some cases, the meals they receive at school may be their only food for the day.
“I was just kind of juxtaposing that with the United States, where our students get literally three free meals a day,” Tella-Williams said. “And here it is that we have to send me for these children to eat – it’s very interesting.”
Students receive help in Nigeria
In addition to its work in Haiti, the foundation has expanded its efforts to West Africa.
Tella-Williams who joined the organization in 2018, is originally from Nigeria’s Oyo State, and came to the United States at age 11 in 1987.
The foundation has supported two schools in rural areas of Oyo state — Olivet Secondary School and Ilora Grammar School — providing school supplies and financial assistance. It also paid $2,000 for exam fees for 14 students there who could not afford the tests required for college admission.
Tella-Williams said that financial barriers often prevent students from advancing, and the organization hopes to expand its efforts there, including a trip planned for 2027.
