About Us
Association for the Children of Regnier, Haiti (ACR) is a nonprofit organization established in the United States in 1995 under the 501(c)(3) provision as a charitable organization. ACR was founded after an orphan was roaming the streets of Regnier (Cayes), Haiti and was struck by a bicycle. The young man, who did not attend school, lost his leg because there were neither hospitals nor clinics in the region to provide the medical attention he required. Seeing a need to help other children like this young man, Maryse formed “L’Orphelinat de Regnier” (Regnier Orphange).
On July 18, 1995, a delegation comprised of key members of the organization visited Haiti to fully assess the conditions in the village. Their findings contained adequate information to help redirect the organization’s priorities. As a result, the members decided to rename the organization “Association for the Children of Regnier (ACR)” to encompass other essential needs for the children of Regnier.
Within the same month that the organization was formed, a generous villager named Mr. Bathold Nathan Cadet donated a piece of land for the construction of the school, “Institution Mixte de Regnier”. By November of 1995, another villager, Mrs. Dilia Dorilas offered her home as the first school for the children of Regnier.
ACR’s school began with one room in Mrs. Dilia Dorila’s house with 24 orphans, one teacher, and a cook. Currently, we are serving over 350 children from Regnier and adjoining regions. The school, Institution Mixte de Regnier, started out as a primary school. Over the years, new grades have been added. Currently, the Institution Mixte de Regnier teaches students from Pre-K to 13th Grade or (Philo).
Since its founding, the organization has dedicated itself to improving the quality of life of the unfortunate children of the region. In order to do so, ACR has been working in collaboration with many friends, parents, families, and the community at large in Haiti and abroad to raise funds to support school construction, tuition, and other services offered by ACR at the school.
Our Mission & Goal
The ACR Mission is to provide comprehensive services designed to meet the physical, educational, spiritual, nutritional, and social needs of the children in Regnier, Haiti and nearby villages within the community of Torbeck.
The ACR Goal is to nurture and inspire children, their parents, and members of the community to live a healthy and economically successful life that rises above poverty level.