On January 18, 2018 client- and vendor-side marketing researchers will again join the Marketing Research Education Foundation (MREF), an organization that brings the MR community together to focus resources on educating children worldwide, on a vision trip to Haiti. But why is a group of researchers headed to the poorest country in the Western hemisphere? The main objective: visit the Joseph School in Cabaret, Haiti. The Joseph School is a primary and secondary school providing Haitian children with the opportunity to receive a world-class education, founded by marketing researcher Jim Bryson.

The Joseph School

Shortly after the 2010 earthquake that devastated Haiti, Bryson was asked by his pastor to go to Haiti and see how their church could help with the resulting orphan crisis. “The answer seemed to lie in educating future Haitian leaders to lead their country to solve the nation’s problems,” says Bryson. “True solutions must come from Haitians themselves.”

This realization ultimately led to the opening of the Joseph School on September 27, 2015 with a class of 30 first graders.

Today the school has 92 students enrolled in three grades. The plan is to continue to add a grade every year for the next 10 years, taking students through high school. As 90 percent of Haitian schools are privately operated, students throughout the country are required to pay for tuition, books and uniforms. At the Joseph School, students are provided with school supplies, books, curriculum, uniforms and shoes, along with transportation to and from school, two meals a day per student and one meal a day per teacher/staff member.

The MR connection

To provide this quality education, the Joseph School turns to individuals and organizations for student sponsorships. The MREF is one of those sponsors. Earlier this year, the organization decided to sponsor the incoming first-grade class – made up of 30 children – with the goal of sponsoring them through graduation. The money is put toward books, uniforms, teacher salaries, school supplies, two meals a day, bottled water and transportation.

The Joseph School’s commitment to educating Haitian youth as a way to assist in lifting the country out of poverty makes it a good fit for MREF funds, which looks to give out grants to inspiring organizations that are helping underserved children, says Don Marek, a member of the MREF board of directors, currently serving as the co-chair of the nonprofit’s philanthropic committee.

Steve Schlesinger, CEO of Schlesinger Associates, is also a member of the MREF board of directors and has been involved with the MREF since its founding. “The MREF’s mission is to support the education and wellness needs of children,” says Schlesinger. “The Joseph School is doing just that in a very meaningful way.”

Schlesinger and Marek were both drawn to the MREF because of their interest in tying philanthropy to the MR industry.

“From the beginning the mission of MREF really resonated with me. The idea that we as an industry can give back to those in need, especially children, was really compelling,” says Schlesinger. “I am at a place in my life where giving back is high on my list. The ability to tie this to our industry, which I love so much, made it a real no-brainer.”

After retiring from his position as executive director of the Market Research Institute International (MRII), Marek decided to get involved with the MREF. “My MRII work with the University of Georgia’s Principles of Market Research courses made me appreciate the importance of adult education to our industry,” says Marek. “That appreciation drew me to education for children and youth. In addition, the enthusiasm shown for MREF by Steve Schlesinger, Steve Quirk, Howard Gershowitz and Jim Bryson was infectious. I was especially impressed with the work Jim Bryson was doing with orphanages and the Joseph School in Haiti.”

Marek has a unique connection to Haiti, as he was raised on a sisal plantation in Caracol, Haiti. “When I returned to Haiti with the MREF in 2015, it was the first time I had been to Haiti in 51 years,” says Marek. “I was amazed by the devastation left by the 2010 earthquake in Port Au Prince. I was very impressed by the resilience of the Haitian people and the good work Jim Bryson was doing with the Joseph School. Since then, I have been back to Haiti three times.”

Long-term support

The Joseph School is built on the philanthropic model of providing aid with a focus on investing in the potential of the existing community. This model helps create lasting change.

“The Haitians are happy people and have a wonderful culture. That should be embraced and enjoyed,” says Schlesinger. “What they do need is support for some of the things that are still a challenge there.”

Marek mirrored this sentiment, saying, “The Joseph School represents the best we have seen … it is a steady, no-nonsense, sharply focused, well-thought-out effort to help Haitians.”

The MREF is asking for your continued support so the nonprofit can reach its goal of sponsoring the first-grade class through graduation. To learn more about the MREF’s efforts visit www.mrgivesback.org.