Friends of Humanity Corporation is led by a board of directors composed of individuals who share a dedication to helping the people of northwest Haiti.
Our Board of Directors 2013-2014
Renel Noel, President
Renel Noel is a native of La Pointe des Palmistes, Port-de-Paix Haiti. He moved to the US in 1974 and has resided in Miami, Florida since then. He owns and operates Lawn Sprinkler Wizard, Inc. and is a contractor specializing in irrigation and low voltage landscape lighting. He is also the designer of a unique mosquito repellent system. Mr. Noel is an active volunteer member of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary and provides civil assistance during military training exercises with foreign partner governments. In 2012, he participated in training members of the Haitian Coast Guard. He is also a member of the Miami Rotary Club.
Since 1994, Mr. Noel has taken numerous humanitarian trips to many impoverished countries, including Haiti. He oversees several trips a year to his hometown of Port-de-Paix where he delivers food and supplies to House of Hope and Beraca Medical Center. In 2004, he installed a domestic water system providing fresh drinking water to the compound and local village. He returned recently during a cholera epidemic to cut off a source of contaminant savings thousands of lives. In 2012, Noel formed Friends of Humanity to create broad based support to help ease suffering in this devastated region. He is grateful for the support he has received and is looking forward to making an even greater impact in the future.
Craig Swanson, Vice President
Craig Swanson is a former business owner, and currently an Account Executive with Franklin Dodd Communications. He owned and successfully operated Swanson Printing for 25 years. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Florida, and a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Miami. Craig also served his country honorably in Viet Nam as a Lieutenant in the Marine Corps.
Mr. Swanson is a longtime member of the Miami Shores Presbyterian Church, and currently serves as a Ruling Elder within the church. Craig’s involvement with the church is what brought him in contact with Renel, also a Ruling Elder within the church. Craig has the utmost respect for Renel and the work he does with the underprivileged of Haiti.
Craig has also served on the Board of Directors for the University Club, the Beach Colony Club, and the Printing Association of Florida.
Name, Vice President
Information to come soon.
Alice Burch, Secretary
Alice Burch is a civic activist in the Miami Shores area who has been involved with an ongoing effort by the Miami Shores Presbyterian Church to assist Haitians for over two decades. She worked with the Church and other organizations to disseminate solar cooking in Haiti, and from there, came to know the need in Northwest Haiti through Church colleagues. In 2003, Ms. Burch helped procure an ambulance for the region, and made the trip to deliver the vehicle. She has come to know and appreciate the direct contacts that the Church uses that ensure that every dollar and every shipment of supplies lands at the doorstep of the needy of the region.
Ms. Burch holds a degree in Nursing from Barry University. She is a founding board member and secretary of Doctors Charter School of Miami Shores, a municipal charter school serving grades 6-12. Her other civic involvements include: Miami Shores Chamber of Commerce Board and the Noise Abatement Advisory Board for Miami International Airport. She has served on numerous educational and civic boards and committees, including: Miami Country Day School, Miami Shores Presbyterian Church School, Brockway Memorial Library Board of Trustees. Ms. Burch’s special interest is infrastructure improvement, and she obtained a Safe Routes to School grant for a sidewalk in a school zone in 2007.
Jean Rene Noel, Treasurer
Information to come soon.
Kathleen Monahan, Board Member
Kathleen Monahan is President of 12th Ward Productions, an entertainment company specializing in the development of non-fiction and reality television programming. A writer and producer, she also holds a law degree and is a member of the Florida Bar. She has served on various boards including the Viscaya Foundation, Florida Shakespeare Theater, the Utopia Association and is a current member of the Zoological Society’s Women of the Wild.
Ms. Monahan has been a longtime supporter of the House of Hope. In the summer of 2012 she accompanied Friends of Humanity President, Port-de-Paix native Renel Noel, on a visit to the children’s home and the Beraca Medical Clinic. “I was floored by the poverty, overwhelmed by the need, and humbled by the loving spirit of the Haitian people. As we delivered food, clothing and nurturing hugs, I experienced first hand the life-saving role Friends of Humanity plays in this impoverished region.”
Regina Blunker, Board Member
Information to come soon.
Helene Apollon Noel, Board Member
Helene Apollon Noel has been a teacher at Silver Ridge Elementary in Davie, Florida since 2000. She earned a bachelor degree in Exceptional Student Education at Barry University. Later, she obtained a Masters Degree from University of Miami in Reading and Exceptional Student Education. Ms. Noel developed a passion for working with children with disabilities while working at Goodwill Industries, as an administrative secretary, whose mission is to provide people with disabilities and special needs with the necessary skills to obtain and retain gainful employment. She currently serves as secretary for the Missions Committee at Miami Shores Presbyterian Church.
Ms. Noel joined Friends of Humanity because it was an opportunity to work with like-minded individuals towards improving the lives of others. Friends of Humanity was founded for the sole purpose of providing assistance to the most vulnerable, such as the children at the House of Hope and the people seeking treatments at Beraca Medical Clinic. Helene made several missionary trips to the area and saw firsthand how one hundred percent of the donations are put to use for the betterment of the children at the House of Hope who have endured many hardships, yet continue to exude hope, joy, and love.
Bill Tenney, Board Member
Information coming soon.