While on a medical
mission trip to the Dominican Republic in 2007, Cortney Shepard (University of Saint
Francis graduate and founder of Formula for Life), encountered an infant being
fed only 2 crackers a day. Deeply moved,
Ms. Shepard pursued efforts to raise funds to purchase infant formula and made
arrangements for its shipment to Haiti
Throughout Ms. Shepard’s
junior year of college she raised enough money to send approximately 4,600
meals to a mother-baby hospital in Haiti
Initial efforts to raise
money solicited the involvement of other campus clubs, namely each group raised
money in a way that pertained to their club specialty. This marketing technique offered initial
success and created a university-based campaign that became known as Formula
for Life.
With more campus and
community publicity, Ms. Shepard selectively recruited an effective team of
students. In the 2008-09 academic year,
the Formula for Life student team gained support from area businesses and, in
the spring of 2009, hosted its inaugural Formula for Life 5K/silent auction
event. This has become our signature
event that has grown each year. In 2014,
we organized the 6th Annual Formula for Life 5K run/walk which
included over 400 registrations, live band, silent auction items, event t- shirts,
chip-timing, awards, and lunch for all participants. We raised over $12,000 by this one day event
that was completely organized by a small team of USF students
Formula
for Life meets Father Andre
In 2010, Formula for Life
sought advice from Linda Thieman (the woman from Ohio who travels frequently to
Haiti). We shared our mission with her
and expressed our desire to make a difference in the lives of children born
into unfortunate circumstances and that we wanted to do more than raise money
for a larger foundation. We had no
knowledge of Father Andre and really just called Linda on a long-shot. But it proved to be serendipitous…through
Linda, Formula for Life found the children we were meant to help…and Father
Andre Sylvestre learned that 15 students from Fort Wayne, IN, were the ‘answer
to his prayers’.
University of Saint
Francis students travelled with Linda Thieman to meet Father Andre and to tour
other orphanages. Their overwhelming
response was that they believed in Father Andre’s vision. They found him trustworthy and authentic;
they fell in love with his children and his vision – ie, to provide a home-like
setting for the orphaned children where their physical, emotional, and spiritually
needs could be met. Most orphanages are
institutionalized; Father Andre’s is not.
Most orphanages encourage adoptions – in particular, overseas adoptions;
Father Andre’s children are not adoptable.
His philosophy is that the home-like atmosphere and love will result in
children who develop into healthy adults who will positively impact their
future families, communities, and country.
He envisions building a better country one child at a time.
Currently Father Andre
has 27 orphans in his care (17 girls; 10 boys).
Together with 2 ‘mama’s’ (women that are hired to care for the children)
and 1 male guardian, they live in a ranch style home. This is a rental home and very
overcrowded. The children are educated –
the older ones walk to a nearby school; the younger ones stay home and are
tutored. For the most part, the children
are healthy other than repeated respiratory infections, umbilical hernias,
fungal infections, stunted growth, and psychological trauma. This is healthy for Haitian standards – ie,
they are not HIV-infected and many arrived severely malnourished, neglected,
and beaten.
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