South Windsor Haiti School Movie Night a Success

At first, Tim Appleton wasn't sure if anybody would even show up. 

Supporters of the South Windsor Haiti School had organized a fundraising event at Nevers Field on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2013, which would culminate in a free screening of the movie "Madagascar" at 8:30 p.m., and premiere screening of a documentary about the school and the South Windsor community's efforts to support it beforehand (which is attached to this article. Families were invited to bring lawn chairs and friends and listen to a Reggae band beforehand as well.  

But Appleton, who serves as the online coordinator for the school's marketing and fundraising efforts, said he was unsure of the turnout the event would draw, since it was the first of its kind for the school. 

Appleton and the other organizers of the event were pleasantly surprised by the turnout, however. 

"It was really a cool night, because I wasn't sure if anyone would come...but around 6:30 p.m. or 7 p.m., I started seeing young families and parents with strollers arriving," Appleton told Patch. "And by about 8 o'clock we had about 150 to 200 people there." 

Appleton said the event, which came about through the involvement of a diverse sampling of the South Windsor community and supporters of the school, raised about $7,000 for the non-profit school,  located in the town of Lilavois that opened in October 2011 and now has 80 female students between the ages 5 to 12.

Appleton said about 98 percent of donations received go directly to support the school's day-to-day operations. 

"It was very successful and we are going to be having another one in the future," he said. 

For more information visit: www.southwindsorhaitischool.org. South Windsor Haiti School, Inc.  is a registered 501 C 3. To learn more please read the group's annual report at: http://southwindsorhaitischool.org/2012/05/2011-annual-report/