Money Raised: $23,642.62  Campaign Goal: $33,000.00

About Britney Gengel

In many ways, Britney Gengel from Rutland Massachusetts was a typical 19-year-old young woman, but her humor, passion and deep sense of caring for those less fortunate made her memorable to all who met her. It was her compassion for others that brought Britney to Haiti on January 11, 2010, just a day before a catastrophic earthquake claimed an estimated 230,000 lives and rocked the small, poverty-stricken country. Britney had spent the day visiting a Haitian orphanage where she and fellow students of Lynn University on a “Journey of Hope”, met the Haitian orphans they had traveled so far to help. Just a few hours later, Britney, three of her fellow students, and two Lynn University professors lost their lives in the rubble of the Hotel Montana in Port-Au-Prince. Britney was missing for 33 days before her remains were recover  Fortunately, Britney’s dream did not die with her. Only hours before the earthquake, Britney sent a text message to her family that read:

“They love us so much and everyone is so happy. They love what they have and they work so hard to get nowhere, yet they are all so appreciative. I want to move here and start an orphanage myself.”

These forty words would sustain Britney’s family through the tragedy and, ultimately, serve as the driving force behind the establishment of Be Like Brit and the decision to build an orphanage in Grand Goâve for the children of Haiti. The mission of the BLB is “To serve the children of Haiti by sustaining a safe and nurturing Children’s Home rooted in the virtues of Faith, Hope, and Love, while developing a sense of social responsibility, community involvement, and unconditional love

  Be Like Brit is an official U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Tax ID# 27-1857525

Be Like Brit Today

Be Like Brit was founded by Len and Cherylann Gengel to continue the work of their daughter, Britney, who died in the earthquake in Haiti on January 12, 2010 while on a service trip with her university.  Britney sent a text to her parents just hours before the earthquake, describing how much the work she was doing meant to her and how she wanted to start an orphanage there.  Her parents decided to dedicate their lives and resources to honoring her final wish, and urging others to emulate her dedication.  They set up a non-profit organization with assistance from the greater Worcester community.  With the help of a Haitian pastor living in Boston, they identified and purchased a plot of land near the fishing community of Grand Goâve (Brit had been scheduled to go to Grand Goâve to work with food for The Poor on the day after the earthquake hit).  After two years of constant work and logistical struggles, the Be Like Brit Children’s Home, a 19,000 square-foot structure with surrounding gardens, playgrounds and infrastructure, was constructed and opened in January 2013.  

The Children’s Home provides a nurturing permanent home for 66 orphaned children, with play space, classrooms, medical/dental clinic and a structured, supportive, culturally sensitive setting. The children attend local schools and then return to the Home in the afternoon for educational and social enrichment – with educational support, instruction in computer skills and English language, music lessons and physical education.  Evenings are devoted to play, group activities, and homework. The Haitian staff is dedicated to creating an environment where children can develop and become the next leaders of their generation.