Community2Community (C2C), in partnership with Dlo Pou Viv, New York Linkz TV, Manchildblack, and Urban Buzz Magazine will host the Team C2C ING NYC Marathon Run04Haïti Kickoff on Wednesday, August 22 at 6pm at Copia NYC, 307 East 53^rd Street in New York City. The event is presenting and honoring marathoner Jonathan Eustache, a C2C volunteer, who will be running the 26.2 mile ING NYC Marathon on November 4, 2012 in order to raise funds to complete C2C’s Haïti Restoration and Transformation Pilot Project Water Initiative in Petit Goâve.

Jonathan Eustache is a Haitian American born in Brooklyn, NY. He first began running in 2008, then 250 lbs., when he was seeking relief from the pain of herniated discs and his doctor told him he had two options:  lose weight or have surgery.  He started running, changed his diet and lost 36 pounds. On January 12, 2010 Jonathan, a 911 dispatch operator, was at work when he heard the news of the horrific earthquake that hit Haïti.  After learning that a relative and close friend had passed in the tragic earthquake, he desperately tried to think of ways he could help his native country. As a child, Jonathan’s parents had taught him to help others in need in any way possible.  Taking that as his lead, Jonathan decided to run for more than good health.  His dedication to run took on an additional meaning of running to raise awareness and funds for Haïti through his partnering with C2C.

C2C’s mission is to serve as an umbrella organization that mobilizes people and resources to help build self-sufficient international communities by working with the community. The Run04Haïti fundraising campaign is one in a series of events and fundraisers during 2012 designed to bring individuals and institutions together in a collective effort to pool resources in support of C2C’s Haïti Restoration and Transformation Project and the completion of its first initiative, a water treatment system bringing clean potable water to over 16,000 people. Overall, Team C2C hopes to raise $10,000 in support of Jonathan’s marathon run. C2C planned this event to help solicit pledges towards Jonathan’s run.

Pledges are being requested in the amount of $2.62 per mile @ 26.2 miles (This is the suggested amount.  People may pledge more or less).  The first 100 to pledge $2.62 per mile will be placed in a drawing for dinner for two at three of New York’s hottest Haitian Restaurants. All proceeds from the Kickoff event will go to the project.  C2C also plans to donate a portion of the proceeds from the Kickoff event to its co-partner, Dlo Pou Viv, who is starting the first phase of implementing education on hygiene, recycling and water wells for Lecole De Blanchard, a school in the northern region of Haïti. NEW YORK LINKZ, a production of ZYNC TV, is donating their production services to C2C to capture the work that has and is taking place on the ground and to garner attention and focus to the project, creating a greater awareness in the Haitian community and Diaspora. Manchildblack, an incredibly talented recording artist, singer, songwriter, actor, and highly acclaimed DJ, is donating his services to provide the night’s music.  His sponsorship echoes his desire to entertain as well as elevate the masses. “This is about more than me. It’s a movement and I plan to be one of the leaders in the forefront of the positive change that’s coming.”  Urban Buzz Magazine, a publication and media unit that supports the gifts, talents and abilities of those in the entertainment industry, wholeheartedly supports C2C, its vision and mission.