Vassar Haiti Project

You can really get to know someone when they invite you into their home.  Donna Trimboli, DDS has been a supporter of VHP from the early years.  From VHP’s trips to Haiti in the early years, her practice has donated tooth care products for the children of Chermaitre. Donna decided to open her heart and home,  inviting VHP students and friends into her beautiful home in Rhinebeck to help Haiti once again.  A hope to visit the school in the near future helped spark her decision to do something concrete to help those in the mountain village of Chermaitre.

From our first meeting, I am marked by how generous and loyal Friends of the Vassar Haiti Project have been over the years. Donna welcomed our students into her home and we bridged the gap of strangers to friends in record time.  In line with Dr. Trimboli’s penchant for making everything ‘perfect’, The Garden Party chez elle looked like something out of a Martha Stewart’s magazine.  Colorful tablecloths surrounded the garden accented by the vibrant and colorful art of Haiti.  The food looked as beautiful as the art and the students learned how to entertain, American style….and how to make ‘gift baskets!’.

Donna understates her efforts for the event….by saying that it was her privilege to be involved with the event.  “I’m proud and privileged to work with the students and administrators of the VHP” adding that her garden and the outdoor venue really helped to bring life to the already vibrant artwork.

Freshmen from around the world helped set up the event: Tim from Swaziland, Ning from China, Huong from Vietnam brightened the mood from the start of the day. Donna’s family joined in to make things easier for us by lightening the burdens of setup by manning the kitchen. A great big thank you to Keith, Dennis and Catie for making the load seem lighter.  And, at one point, Andrew said to me, ‘do you realize that 11 of the 13 people setting up have been to Haiti with us?’  It felt like home to see recent Vassar graduates, Fiona Koch ’12 and David Bridgman-Packer ’12. They made the trek from NYC to join us and remind us that we are a family – thankfully their new lives in NYC, post-Vassar allows us to stay in close touch.

I really loved this event.  It embodied all that we at VHP hold as important to us…work closely, efficiently, relentlessly with the hope of helping Haiti. I can’t help but feel so proud of our collaborative work. There is little doubt in my mind that with the team of like-minded VHP’ers, all things are possible in this world.

Thank you Donna Trimboli!

-Lila Meade, Co-Chair