Coming Up: Events For 2-Year Mark of Haiti Quake

To commemorate the 2-year anniversary of the earthquake that struck in Haiti on January 12, 2010, Affinity Health Plan partnered with the Rockland County Haiti Relief Campaign to present a series of events aimed at keeping the hope alive for the victims and helping the rebuilding efforts.

“The medical mission to Haiti was very fulfilling because the basic knowledge that we imparted to the local first responders-in-training was life saving and very much appreciated by them, and that was a reward in and of itself,” said Affinity Health Plan Community Program Manager Bosede Akamiokhor.

Affinity has been steadfast in its support for the rebuilding and healing of Haiti. It donated $12,000 to the relief effort in 2010, half of which came from employees, and was a major sponsor of the first year anniversary week-long commemorative events organized by the Rockland County Haiti Relief Campaign in January 2011.

So far there has been a and Mass this past Thursday and on Friday there was 'Keeping the Hope of Haiti Alive' Youth Conference. Here's what's coming up:

Saturday, Jan. 14

7 - 10 p.m. 'Keeping the Hope of Haiti' Gospel Concert at Sinai Seventh-Day Adventist, 7 Johnson St., Spring Valley, NY 10977

A Gospel Concert with the participation of choirs from different churches in the tri-state area.

Sunday, January 15, 2012 

8 - 11 p.m. Charity Banquet for 'Keeping the Hope of Haiti Alive' at Suffern Crowne Plaza, 3 Executive Boulevard, Suffern, New York

The Rockland County Haiti Relief Campaign, in collaboration with Konbit Net Lakay, will hold a Charity Banquet in commemoration of the second year anniversary of the earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010. Among the evening's honorees is Bosede Akamiokhor of Affinity Health Plan, as well as Elaine Edmonds of The Link, Dr. Ernst Garcon of Rockland County Haiti Relief, Dr. Childebert Saint Louis of Hudson River Health Care and Shadrach Hepner.

Akamiokhor will be honored at the gala, and a video of her medical mission to Haiti in August 2011 will be premiered that evening.

“I feel humbled to be honored because when I do things I do them because I love to help people, and I don’t expect a reward," she said.

About the Rockland County Haiti Relief Campaign – The Rockland County Haiti Relief Campaign (RCHRC) is a coalition of Haitian-American community NGO’s and supporters dedicated to providing “people to people” emergency relief to the people of Haiti, both here and abroad. The RCHRC was formed in early 2008 when Haiti faced a serious food crisis, and was expanded after devastating hurricanes hit the island later that year. In response to the 2010 earthquake, RCHRC mobilized a county-wide effort to collect donations of food, medications, clothing, tools and other needed items. Visit www.rocklandcountyhaitirelief.org for more info.

About Affinity - Affinity Health Plan is an independent, not-for-profit organization offering quality health care coverage to underserved New Yorkers. Its programs are sponsored by New York State and include Child Health Plus, Family Health Plus, Medicaid managed care, and Medicare. Founded in 1986, Affinity serves more than 265,000 members in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland and Orange counties. For more information, visit www.affinityplan.org or follow Affinity on Facebook and YouTube.