IEEE President Pedro Ray Announces Haiti Fund

The tragedy in Haiti is still only in the first stage of triage with valiant efforts being made to alleviate the immediate suffering and provide the basics for sustaining human life. However, challenges just as daunting lay ahead for reconstruction. One of these will be the re-establishing of engineering and technology education and professional activities in Haiti.

As a global transnational organization with nearly 400,000 members and as a leader in advancing technology for humanity, IEEE is uniquely positioned to help address these challenges. To this end, IEEE has established the IEEE Haiti Engineering Educational and Professional Development Rebuilding Fund. Individuals may contribute online or donate by check to the IEEE Foundation and mail to to the IEEE Development Office, 445 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854. Donations from OUs (societies, sections, conferences, etc.) will be made using existing governance processes. IEEE will match the first US$50,000 in donations.

Because Haiti is in IEEE Region 9, disbursements of funds will be coordinated through that Region. The IEEE Board of Directors just last November developed a policy that allows IEEE and its Organizational Units to contribute to third-party nonprofit organizations that provide disaster relief. The disbursements may be in the form of grants to academic institutions, charitable organizations, or used for such things as equipment, services, scholarships and classroom and laboratory materials. They also may be used to support programs developed for retraining or other professional activities to help engineering and technology professionals in Haiti.

IEEE continues to encourage donations to other organizations for the immediate relief effort and to help bring some semblance of stability to the lives of the people of Haiti. But we are hopeful that the generosity of our members – and others associated with IEEE -- will also add to the long-term development of Haiti through this IEEE fund.

For more information or questions regarding the IEEE Haiti Engineering Educational and Professional Development Rebuilding Fund, please direct your inquiries to the IEEE Contact Center.

Sincerely,
Pedro Ray
2010 IEEE President and Chief Executive Officer