Utah doctor's work for Haitian orphans inspires students to raise funds

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SALT LAKE CITY -- A Utah doctor is back home after more than a week in Haiti, returning first to Florida with 80 orphans. KSL caught up with her helping the children from her church school raise money at a bake sale.

Dr. Tawnya Constantino, a neurologist, and her husband, Greg, an attorney, have had a connection to Haiti for several years now since the adoption of their two children.

She is working to educate more families about how they can now do the same.

The orphanage, Maison Des Enfants de Dieu, is still standing but in need of food and supplies. Dr. Constantino spent more than a week there and just returned to the U.S. with 80 orphans. Because of red tape, they were delayed for several days in Orlando. But the work goes on.

Dr. Constantino said, "We still have another 29 children with matched adoptive families who are working very hard to get them home as well."

Back home in Salt Lake City, she continues her work on behalf of Haitian orphans.

"I want to continue to have a voice, if possible, for the future of the orphans in Haiti because this issue is still not resolved. There's still a lot that needs to be worked out politically."

The doctor's work inspired the students at Summit Christian Academy, of which she is chairman of the board. The students have raised hundreds for Haiti by selling cookies and cupcakes to benefit the Red Cross and a Haitian orphanage.

"I think it's fabulous," said Laura Van Hook, who shopped at the bake sale. "I came by last Thursday and they were out here, and so I was excited to see them out here again."

Ariet Ocwor, a student at Summit Christian Academy, said although many people have come to support the sale, they still need more.

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The school's pastor says this connection to Haiti has galvanized more than one congregation.

Pastor Bernie Anderson of the Wasatch Hills Adventist Church said the sale has "drawn together the whole church, and not only this particular Seventh-day Adventist church, but all Seventh-day Adventist churches in the Salt Lake Valley. They've come together. We've raised about $10,000 in the last couple of weeks, just to go to Haiti."

And Dr. Constantino says the earthquake has brought an even deeper relationship between two countries.

"Haiti is now part of America, and America will be part of Haiti long-term," she said, "I really believe that that connection, that intertwining, I hope, will go on for generations to come."

The children at the bake sale said they had raised equals amounts for both the Red Cross and the orphanage in two weeks: $950.

Many Utah kids hosting fundraisers

Summit Christian Academy's fundraiser is just one of many efforts by children in Utah to raise funds for Haiti.

Lynette Peck's 3rd and 4th grade class at Ensign Elementary School in Salt Lake City is another group that put on its own fundraiser for earthquake victims.

The class presented a check to the American Red Cross. The students collected $2,789.15 in one week during a fundraiser they called "Hugs for Haiti."

E-mail: cmikita@ksl.com