About

Buen Samaritano's is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization whose mission is to feed the hungry, clothe the poor, and assist the needy in disadvantaged communities.

We are committed to improving the lives of people of all ages and walks of life through education, wellness, financial assistance and spiritual guidance.

Our History

Buen Samaritano's work began in 1971, when Alejandrina "Alejita" Tavárez visited Haiti for the first time. With a single photograph in hand and two of her young children in tow, Alejita set off to Port-au-Prince determined to find the group of orphans in the picture.

Forty years later, her work continues to grow: the El Buen Samaritano orphanage houses children aged 2-16 and its school educates local children.

Today our efforts are led by two protagonists of the first visit to Haiti: Jimmy Tavárez, Alejita's son and early travel companion, and Gaston Bienvenu, one of the orphans in the photograph that inspired the foundation of Buen Samaritano.

In 1989 Buen Samaritano expanded its work to the town of Nigua, Dominican Republic, where we lend support to the town's leprosarium, in addition to organizing social development programs.

Our Future

In 2005, Buen Samaritano purchased 5-acres of land in a peaceful location by the ocean.

The site, located some 50 km northwest of Port-au-Prince near the town of Williamson (Arcahié), will house a school-orphanage-hospital complex, a working farm, and a community center. Our new campus will meet the health, education and spiritual needs of a severely disadvantaged rural community and a growing population of tent city dwellers displaced after the earthquake.

Alejandrina 'Alejita' Tavarez
Founder
1931-2017

Board of Directors

Alejandrina "Alejita" Tavarez

Founder

With more than 40 years of field experience, Alejita oversees the daily operations of Buen Samaritano. She maintains constant communication with administrators and staff in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, educates and fundraises in churches, offers TV and radio interviews, and continues to work in disadvantaged communities in her native Puerto Rico.

James Tavarez

President

Jimmy's deep personal connection with Haiti began as a child, during his mother's first trip to Port-au-Prince in 1971. Presently, he administers Buen Samaritano's operations and improvements, oversees the architecture and design team drafting the master plan for the new campus in Williamson, and schedules and organizes medical and missionary trips to Haiti. Jimmy is a Senior Data Center Analyst for South Florida's Memorial Healthcare System.

Samuel Tavarez

Mission Director in the Dominican Republic

Samuel's involvement with Buen Samaritano's work in the Dominican Republic began almost immediately upon our first trip to Nigua in 1989. Presently, he oversees all operations in the country, leading the construction of community homes and churches and organizing aid, educational, and spiritual campaigns. Samuel is Senior Mail Carrier for Federal Express in South Florida.

Elizabeth "Ellie" Tavárez

Development Director

Ellie manages Buen Samaritano's fundraising efforts and public relations campaigns as well as the organization's website and monthly newsletters. Her commitment to public service has earned her various honors, including the 2006 Hispanic Women of Distinction in Broward County (FL) and the 2000 C.A.R.E. award from the South Broward Hospital District in South Florida. She has been involved with Buen Samaritano for 10 years.

Gaston Bienvenu

Mission Director in Haiti

Gaston Bienvenu was born and raised in Haiti. He was 7 years old when he was brought to the orphanage along with his younger brother. At 34, he left Haiti to study in France, where received a Law degree, got married and had a son. In 1996, while still in Paris, he received a letter from Alejita (whom he calls "Mama Aleja") with the sad news that the school in Port-au-Prince had to close, that the church was unattended and the orphanage was also suffering. At that moment, he felt called to return to Haiti to rebuild and strengthen the operations. Since then, Gaston has taken over all responsibilities of the orphanage, the school and the church, following on the footsteps of his late aunt Fifi, who raised him and who had founded, and later administered for many years, the orphanage that Alejita found on her first visit to Haiti.

Cuatro décadas rescatando vidas

Por Carlos Rosa Rosa
El Nuevo Día

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