BELLE GLADE – Grammy nominated songwriter, Ali Tamposi, one of the most celebrated pop songwriters in America today, helped celebrate the holidays at the First Haitian Baptist Church’s Children’s Christmas Gift Giveaway and the unveiling of its new Enrichment Center in Belle Glade. The event took place at the church, Sunday, Dec. 20.

The event was held outdoors and celebrated the upcoming groundbreaking of the long-awaited First Haitian Baptist Church’s Children’s Enrichment Center scheduled for February 2021. The new 4,500 sq. ft. Enrichment Center replaces the old 1940s building that has housed the after-school program for children, ages kindergarten – 8th grade for the last 25 years.

Ali Tamposi’s Creative Waves Foundation is contributing $50,000 to fund the Music Room at the new Enrichment Center, which includes 50 guitars and microphones already received. Furthermore, Tamposi’s Foundation has created a program called Song Start, part of Creative Waves, which will provide an online music education platform and curriculum led by A-list artists and industry professionals.

A native of Palm Beach, who is now based in Malibu, Calif., Tamposi is best known for co-writing Kelly Clarkson’s 4x multi-platinum selling single “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” which topped fifteen Billboard charts and earned nominations for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Solo Performance at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards.

Children received essentials, such as shoes and socks donated by the In Jacob’s Shoes Foundation; toys for the younger kids and gift cards for the older children was donated by the Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem Knights Hospitaller of the Palm Beaches (SOSJPB.) Each year, the children receive donated gifts.

SOSJPB and the church have raised $600,000 to fund the new Enrichment Center with the Church. This includes donations from notable Palm Beach charitable organizations and individuals such as, the Kirkwood Foundation, Cathleen McFarlane Foundation (Denis Coleman), Solomon Brothers. co-founder, Richard J. Schmeelk, and the Palmer Foundation. However, approximately $600,000 more is needed to complete the new center.

When completed the Enrichment Center will contain six classrooms, office, entry area, music room, covered patio, adjacent kitchen, playground greenspace and a parking area that will include a basketball court. Children will receive help with homework, a hot meal, career training, music, coding, and teacher training. They are picked up from school and taken home afterwards. More importantly, they will be safe. A great deal of expense has been included for fencing/gates, impact-proof windows, lighting, security cameras and other protection.

The church is asking the community to help by donating what they can to SOSJPB.org/donate. All funds are restricted to go directly to the Belle Glade project. For more information contact, Elaine Meier, 561-602-6160.

About the First Haitian Baptist Church of Belle Glade Enrichment Center:
In 1994, a children’s program began in a trailer in Belle Glade. Its purpose was to tutor children in the community with their homework and to keep them safe and off the streets. This after-school program helped parents, who often do not speak English and worked long hours in the fields nearby. This program was started by the First Haitian Baptist Church of Belle Glade.

Later, the church bought the property, which included a late 1940s building that was originally a house that was later converted to apartments. With renovation, it offered a place to hold classes and a grassy area for the children to play.

The existing Development Center is beyond repair even though it still holds classes for approximately 85 students, from kindergarten to 8th grade. They are transported by the church’s van. Middle-high school students, plus college and young adult volunteers help tutor the young ones at the Center expanding its reach in the community. Grandparents, and others, volunteer to feed the kids and organize activities. The Center boasts alumni and other graduates of the program who are now attending college and becoming leaders in their community, such as retired NFL player, Pierre Garçon.

The First Haitian Baptist Church and the Enrichment Center is owned by the Church and managed by Pastor Morales St Hilaire and his family – wife Anne, daughter Mona, Education Director, and son Morana, Assistant Pastor and church members. Pastor Morales worked as an outreach worker with the State of Florida for 29 years, where he served the migrant and seasonal farmworkers, whose children are the main demographic for the after-school program. Pastor Morales and his family are well-known and respected in the community.

The First Haitian Baptist Church is constructing a new multi-purpose Enrichment Center in response to the growth and needs of the children in the Belle Glade community. Established as a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization in 2013, the Church has final permits and plans that will include classrooms, a kitchen, (all students are fed,) restrooms, multi-purpose room, storage, office, covered pavilion and parking area that will also serve as a basketball court when not in use.

It is estimated that $1.25 million is needed, which will include in-kind donations from the construction trades, private donations, and corporate support. Approximately, $600,000 has been raised to date.

It is expected that the greater Palm Beach County community will support the First Haitian Baptist Church of Belle Glade to build this Enrichment Center for the children of Belle Glade.