Marcell Dareus donates over $100K to build classrooms in Haiti
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Marcell Dareus causes a wave of destruction in enemy backfields when he smashes through a wall of blockers like the Kool-Aid Man and wreaks havoc.
But for a guy for whom smashing is very good business, he’s surprisingly adept at building things and overcoming the effects of destruction as well.
Which is how Dareus found himself in Haiti dedicating a three-room wing named in his honor at the Christ-Roi School in Cammy, Al.com reports.
It is former Alabama Crimson Tide lineman’s second humanitarian visit to the hurricane- and earthquake-ravaged nation.
In his first visit in March 2017, Dareus donated $25,000 to Hope for Haiti, a group dedicated to improving the level of civilization on the island.
The charity focuses its efforts on health care, access to clean water, education, infrastructure and economic development, playing the role of the fisherman in the old chestnut about teaching a man how to eat for a lifetime.
On this trip, however, Dareus upped the ante, bringing $125,000 to contribute to the education pillar of Hope for Haiti’s mission, which is where the Marcell Dareus Wing of the school comes into the equation.
Dareus, who is from Haiti and who lost his father to prostate cancer when he was only 6 years old, has dedicated the fortune he’s earned in America to giving something back to the country that gave him his start.
“It means the world to me to have an opportunity where I can help out, give a little back,” Dareus told the Florida Times-Union last week. “I can’t change the world, but I can change a life.”
Augustin Bertrand, the director of the Cammy School, said, “This new school building will revolutionize education in the whole community. For the first time, the Cammy children will have a nice, standardized and safe place to learn.”
Since the 2010 earthquake and 2016’s Hurricane Matthew, Haiti has looked more like it just lost a war yesterday than like a growing nation that has been in a relative state of peace since the civil strife that followed a coup d’etat to depose President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in 2004 and required the intervention of a thousand U.S. Marines to restore order.
Hope for Haiti’s CEO, Skyler Badenoch, expressed gratitude to Dareus for the assistance both in terms of money and exposure.
“We are incredibly honored to have the continued partnership of Marcell Dareus and the Dareus Foundation,” Badenoch said. “We all share a fundamental belief that this type of support for education is one of the best possible ways to help Haitian children thrive. Mr. Dareus’ continued commitment to Hope for Haiti and to Haiti is inspiring and will make an immediate and lasting impact.”
Last night we welcomed @marcelldareus to #Haiti with a press conference and reception in Port-au-Prince to celebrate his $125,000 gift, which will fund the new Marcell Dareus School Wing at Christ-Roi Primary School in Cammy. #MarcellHopesforHaiti #HopeforHaitiFL @Jaguars @espn pic.twitter.com/CSgwAzpNL3
— Hope for Haiti (@HopeforHaiti) June 19, 2018
Dareus issued a release about the school as well.
“I’m overwhelmed with appreciation that Hope for Haiti and the Haitian community are welcoming me back with the dedication and construction of a school wing in my name,” he said in a statement. “More importantly, giving back to the Haitian children is so important to me because I see myself in them. Meeting the children last time has stuck with me and motivated me to continue to give back and do as much as I can to help them receive the best education possible. …
“This is something I’m extremely passionate about and something I hope will be part of my legacy long after I’m finished playing football. My first trip there was an eye-opening experience for me. There are so many selfless people there who are working to make their lives better. It’s amazing what they’re doing, and I’m glad to be a part of it.”
Whether Haiti can ever be built into a significant economic power in the Caribbean is a matter of debate.
But every little bit helps, and charities like Hope for Haiti are doing everything they can to lay that groundwork.
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