Education is the cornerstone of individual and community success and it’s fundamental to a community’s economic prosperity: a well-educated workforce attracts world-class jobs.

40% of Haiti’s population of over nine million people is school-aged children. However, one in four children did not attend school before the catastrophic earthquake.

The limited number of schools in the impoverished nation also meant that over a 2.25 million young people will drop out of school thereby closing the door of opportunity.

We cannot emphasize enough that education is the key to any nation’s productivity and global competitiveness. We cannot stand idle and allow the door of opportunity to close for a generation of bright young children. For we know and can predict with a high level of certainty that a higher level of education can lower a country poverty and unemployment rate.

Now more than ever, the children of Haiti need our help. Are we going to stand on the sideline and watch a generation of children forego their opportunity and future through no fault of their own? Now is the time to invest in the most precious asset of the country of Haiti, its children. As Maya Angelou stated “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.” We may not be able to fight all the woes of the country of Haiti; however, we can deal a significant blow to the fight on literacy. Will you help us in our fight?

We have a multitude of ways you can get involved:

• Donate to our Haiti disaster relief fund.

• Spread awareness by updating your Twitter and Facebook profile with a www.sfdsf.org helphaiti image.

• Get involved by putting a "Help Haiti" banner on your Web site, blog or social network site.