CHTAEF photographer Bill Cancellare
Bill Cancellare, a friend of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Education Foundation (CHTAEF) and long-time photographer at Caribbean tourism industry events, sported a local act of heroism by organizing and hosting a raffle and soliciting donations at his neighborhood bar, PJ Harpers pub, to raise enough funds to send Haitian scholar, Nicolas Louis Jeune (right), to the Antigua and Barbuda Hospitality Training Institute.
On August 11, 2012, Cancellare placed buckets onto the bar offering patrons the option of pocketing loose change or donating it to the cause. Along with the raffle for vacation packages, Cancellare’s efforts raised a total of $3,450.
“Bill Cancellare’s selfless act is a perfect example for those who see the good work we do and want to help, but are unsure how they can contribute,” said Tom Pas, chairman of CHTAEF.
Due to Cancellare and PJ Harper’s patrons selflessness – combined with a $2,500 donation from the Puerto Rico Hotel and Tourism Association and a $1,000 donation from the United States Virgin Islands Hotel and Tourism Association and the United States Virgin Islands Department of Tourism – Louis Jeune will be on a plane on September 6, 2012 to begin his studies in order to complete his Culinary Arts Associates Degree in Antigua and Barbuda.
Louis Jeune is a young, CHTAEF-Haiti Project student who has diligently learned English ? achieving a 70% in Michigan State University testing ? attending every class offered by the CHTAEF, training weekly alongside the inaugural Haitian Culinary Team and working at Le Plaza Hotel in Port au Prince to fulfill his life-long dream of becoming a culinary chef.
Cancellare approached the CHTAEF-Haiti Project after hearing about the extrodinary lengths participating students have been through in order to attend classes on a regular basis ? including living in tents after the January 2010 earthquake and losing family members ? in order to successfully graduate from the CHTAEF-Haiti Project program. Cancellare joined forces with the local bar to help raise enough funds to allow one of the 18 young, Haitian hospitality and tourism students accepted to associates programs based on strength and merit of application, to travel to respective Caribbean colleges and continue their studies.
CHTA Education Foundation, www.chtaeducationfoundation.com; www.caribbeanhotelandtourism.com/CHTAEFhaiti.php