Peg Downing Scholarship
Peg Downing, an avid supporter of the Haiti Plunge since the program's inception in 1984 died on February 24th, 2020. Peg was a lifetime educator, first as a teacher at St. Joseph Central Catholic High School in Pittsfield, MA, then as its principal. She dedicated her life to shaping young people, and she provided many children living in the villages HPI serves the opportunity to go to school.
Memorial donations were received by HPI to set up a scholarship in her memory. A fitting tribute to Peg, the Peg Downing scholarship is awarded to a Haitian student interested in pursuing a nursing career. The Haitian student selected receives the scholarship annually for four years until she graduates from nursing school.
To donate to this scholarship fund, please submit via the donate button and place (PDS) on the form or you may mail in contributions to Haiti Plunge Inc/ PDS, P O Box 376, Adams, MA 01220.
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The 2020 recipient is May Meeclean Jean, also known as Mimi Jean. Mimi will attend nursing school at UNITECH in Port au Prince.
A whole new world is opening up for her. She will be living with one of our staff members, Despagne, while attending university. Once she has finished this four-year program, MiMi plans to help the community by serving as a nurse in the clinic in Desab. It is also her dream to be a part of a traveling clinic to assist the people high in the mountains and work alongside Dr. Gabrielle.