GRAND BAHAMA, Bahamas – In the wake of the natural disaster in Haiti, the teachers and students of Lucaya International School quickly held a casual day last week Friday to raise funds for the Save the Children Foundation to aid Haiti. At that time they were able to raise $3,200.  

In addition to this, a parent and local company owner pledged to double what was given up to $25,000. “We were overwhelmed by this news,” noted Chris Mockrish, Lucaya International School Director.  “We passed this news on to our students and parents and the donations are flowing in.”  

The Director and the LIS teachers have been particularly astounded by how the students have taken this so personally and really gotten involved.  “Every day, we witness case after case of students coming to school to fill up our water bottle with their own money, money they have raised from setting up lemonade stands or raiding their own personal piggy banks, savings and allowances.”  In addition to this the school parents have begun adding their own personal and company donations to the fundraising efforts.  As of Friday the school had collected $13,959, which meant they have raised a total of $27,918!  

In addition to the financial donations the Director’s own wife, Lotta Mockrish, is now in Haiti and working with Save the Children Foundation, who she has been working with for six years.  Mrs. Mockrish has been giving the school updates on the situation in Haiti and has promised to find other ways that the school and community can help. This includes arranging for a trailer of supplies that parent Eddie Whan has collected for the island into a viable port and checking on procedures for adopting Haitian orphans for LIS families who expressed interest in opening up their homes.  

Photo: Lucaya International school makes it a family relief effort - Combining both student and parent donations for Haiti Relief,  LIS has raised $27,918 with efforts still continuing this week. “Every day, we witness case after case of students coming to school to fill up our water bottle with their own money, money they have raised from setting up lemonade stands or raiding their own personal piggy banks, savings and allowances," said LIS Director Chris Mockrish. School parents began adding their own personal and company donations to the fundraising efforts as one family pledged to match (double) whatever the school raised.
(Photo courtesy of LIS)

Lucaya International School began in 1994, in a one building facility. LIS currently enrolls 231 students with 29 teachers with the student body being over 50% Bahamian. LIS offers the International Baccalaureate Primary Years and Diploma Programmes to best prepare its students for university. To find out more visit the school’s website www.lucayainternationalschool.com