My deepest sympathies, condolences, and prayers for Emmanuel. It is a terrible tragedy to lose a child. Likewise to everyone else who has lost a loved one in Haiti, and my prayers and best wishes to Ricardo Sopin to find his daughter.
Things like this are the reason I have stayed away from this thread. May God be with this family, and the poor people of Haiti. I am trying to find info on a friend of mine, as well.
Most of the family and close friends are staying away from this thread and that is very much as it should be. The emotions and tasks at hand are rightly focused on finding and reconnecting with family if at all possible. The rest of us need to be aware of what is going on so we can help effectively. Give space where it is needed, make a phone call and sit on hold forever, donate money to the right places... The dancers are our own community but I think everyone is looking far beyond the people they know to help. One of my chief concerns is the people here is the U.S who are looking and can't put enough money together to get back. I have been there. Thank you for your comment.
How to Help Ricardo Sopin Maksim Chemerkovskiy, Corky Ballas and others are coming together to help raise funds to help Ricardo Sopin find his daughter and return to the states. This appeal is one they are promoting on Twitter. Please help and Thank You Gentlemen. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvBFYOxsiZs&feature=youtu.be
Ricardo Sopin HAS FOUND HIS DAUGHTER!!!!! Ricardo Sopin has found his daughter and is now working to bring her back to the U.S. Thanks to Maksim Chemerkowskiy for passing the info along.
Hi Linda - This is excellent news. Just wanted to mention that I visited the link in your earlier post and made a donation -- the video talked about raising money for finding Ricardo's daughter and for bringing his injured mother to the US for medical care. So, even with this wonderful news, it sounds like donations are still needed. Just wanted to mention that in the event anyone is intending to donate. And, my deepest sympathy to Emmanuel and his family, and to everyone.
Good news indeed Linda. Interesting CNN video report here, from Jan. 19th, about Israeli field hospital in Haiti: http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/world/2010/01/18/dnt.cohen.haiti.patients.dying.cnn.html
I would just like to share that I have had contact with one bereaved family from Haiti and their grace, selflessness, spirit of gratitude and faith, is astonishing...and if that is typical of the culture, as I have heard it is, I have great hope for the ability of the people to recover...eventually
I agree. I have been talking with several Aid Workers who have come back and they report the same. A group from SOIL said that the first night, people had come together and were singing together on the street. I have nothing but admiration for their courage. We could learn a lot from them.
Thanks to Miranda Much of the early information I've received on Ricardo Sopin has come from one of his students, Miranda. Without her help, some of the money coming in for him now, would not be. She should get credit for her efforts.
In Memory of Ishaan Those who would like to post their sympathies to Emmanuel and Jasmine may do so here. http://www.steppingoutstudios.com/content/loving-memory-ishaan-pierre-antoine
Story of Ricardo's Search for his daughter The following link is a news article detailing Ricardo's search for his daughter. At the end of the page is the address for those who would like to help. http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=893262
Ricardo Sopin is having difficulty in returning http://www.cbs6albany.com/video/?videoId=63676243001&lineupId=1143371293&referrer=facebook Conditions have deteriorated in Haiti. Ricardo is struggling with some additional difficulty which makes it more necessary to get out of Haiti as quickly as possible. State Congressmen are now helping.
A student organization at an Indiana college campus has planned a ballroom dance as a fund-raiser for Haiti relief efforts. Everything I know about it is in the second half of this article from a local newspaper. Something ironic about the article: the writer implies that it's difficult to find a place for a college guy to take his girlfriend ballroom dancing. But the night before, the local USA Dance chapter conducts its monthly dance in the very same room!
