It was an unthinkable event that ravaged an entire country. In 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti killing nearly 250,000 people. One of them was 19-year-old Britney Gengel. An American student volunteering in the country. Just three hours before the earthquake hit, Britney sent her father a text message that would change their lives and so many others. Britney told her father that she was going to permanently move to Haiti and start an orphanage there. Her father, Len Gengel, knew that he couldn't get his daughter back, but through his actions, she could live through him.
The family moved to Haiti and started an orphanage called Be Like Brit for 33 boys and 33 girls. It takes a great deal of courage to move forward after losing someone. The Gengel family exemplifies altruism and resilience in the face of a seemingly insurmountable challenge.
"We're going to do our little piece for Haiti. Being with the children has definitely helped us. There is no greater loss than the loss of the child. It is the most unnatural act there is," Len told CBS. "But 250,000 Haitians perished as well. We feel their pain. They know our pain. We're just trying to cope and do what's best for the children of Haiti."
Please SHARE the Gengel's family to show your support for the Be Like Brit orphanage in Haiti!
