Yank Barry, Philanthropy at its Finest

1. Yank Barry, Philanthropy at Its Finest Yank Barry, Philanthropy at Its Finest April 16, 2010 "God is not going to judge you by how much money you have, He's going to judge you on how you help people," says world renowned philanthropist and humanitarian, Bahamian resident Yank Barry. Champion Celine Dion says, "Everyone should take Yank as an example." And Muhammad Ali says, "I am honored to call him my friend." Mr. Barry explained to me his first reaction on how he immediately helped Haiti Mr. Barry explained to me his first reaction on how he immediately helped Haiti after its recent disaster. In a subdued tone he said, "I remember jumping into my jeep and my wife Yvette following in her car and making our first stop at Robin Hood, where I purchased all the cases of water that was on the floor, all of the 20 pound bags of rice, all the baby formula and all of the corn beef that was on the shelves." "We then went to Bahamas Food Service, where my friend Audley Aritis met me with his flat bed truck and I purchased one hundred 50 pound bags of black beans and one hundred 50 pound bags of rice." And with a faint smile he black beans and one hundred 50 pound bags of rice." And with a faint smile he Yank Barry with his 48 newly adopted children of the Divine Mercy uttered, "And then we visited Lowe's Pharmacy and purchased medication and Orphanage in Haiti medical supplies." "God bless the owner of Lowes, Billy, and his doctor for helping me." The following day, Mr. Barry flew to Haiti alone on a private 19-passenger plane, There was no where for them to sleep because the building had been extensively There was no where for them to sleep because the building had been extensively which had the payload for everything he had purchased. He was given a one time damaged. However, it was the safest place for them to be, because they were pass by the United Nations that was on the ground and was met by Mr. Surena, surrounded by a wall that enclosed the compound and protected them from any Head of Haiti Disaster Relief and Mr. George Nicholas, Rotary President. unwanted rebellious outsiders. I was honored to join Mr. Barry on a private plane from Nassau to Port-au-Prince to witness his most recent efforts in Haiti. "Now they all appear to be vibrant and healthy children that sleep in real beds, eat three nutritional meals a day, look healthy and play happily" he says with a smile I went to see with my own eyes what was really happening in Haiti. And secondly, I went to see with my own eyes what was really happening in Haiti. And secondly, while holding Yvan, an obvious favorite. after weeks of research on Global Village and Mr. Barry, to see what impact they had on the ground. There was no more influence from the media, just a 'bird's Mr. Barry kisses all the children and says goodbye. Mr. Barry kisses all the children and says goodbye. eye' view from the plane that carried us there. What an incredible but shocking sight to see, unmoved mountains of rubble and sea of tents that stretched for Our next stop was the Adventist Hospital. When we arrived at the hospital we Our next stop was the Adventist Hospital. When we arrived at the hospital we miles. We landed at the UN section of the airport greeted by UN representatives immediately sort out the director who greeted Mr. Barry with a hug. His eyes lit up and Mr. Surena. Expeditiously the cargo was quickly off-loaded from the plane when Mr. Barry told him what medication he had brought. He summoned three or onto the trucks. It was like clock work. A few skeletal remains of once lively onto the trucks. It was like clock work. A few skeletal remains of once lively four of his staff to immediately retrieve the medication from the SUV we were in, bodies were visible along the way, while almost lifeless bodies walk about which they needed desperately for secondary care. Looking around I was almost in a daze wondering where the next meal was coming from. Our first stop overcome with the sight of so many amputees. Mr. Barry painfully remembers was Divine Mercy Orphanage, which Mr. Barry has grown to love and cherish from holding a little girl's hand as her left leg was being amputated from the knee his previous visits. So much so, that he adopted all 48 children that live there. down. All she was given for the pain was Motrin, because that's all they had. The down. All she was given for the pain was Motrin, because that's all they had. The They all joyfully rushed to his side at the same time, kissing him and tugging at Adventist Hospital and University has between 30,000 to 50,000 people living in his pants, waiting to see what surprises he had for them. "Each one of these kids tents on the grounds. As we continue to hand out nutritional bars, gum and is special in their own little way." is special in their own little way." lollipops, you can tell that Mr. Barry is well known and will never be forgotten. They have benefitted greatly from his continued efforts. Mr. Barry explained to me that when he first visited the orphanage, all of the children were malnourished and extremely dehydrated.There was no where for As we head back to the truck, my eyes were swelled with tears that them to sleep because the building had been extensively damaged. However, it overwhelmingly were eventually released. was the safest place for them to be, because they were surrounded by a wall that enclosed the compound and protected them from any unwanted rebellious Again leaving dust behind and heading back to the plane, I then thought to myself, outsiders. "There goes my motivation, to tell the story of a man that has no boundaries and won't stop or take no for an answer." "Now they all appear to be vibrant and healthy children that sleep in real beds, eat three nutritional meals a day, look healthy and play happily" he says with a smile We returned to Nassau safely. For Mr. Barry it was another day of helping more We returned to Nassau safely. For Mr. Barry it was another day of helping more while holding Yvan, an obvious favorite. people and giving them hope. But for me, it was a life altering experience that I will cherish and never forget. Thirteen trips, 10 million meals, 30 palettes of Mr. Barry kisses all the children and says goodbye. water, and millions of dollars in medical supplies later, Mr. Barry says, "I have to thank Carolyn Turnquest and her dedicated staff at the Bahamas Red Cross." I Our next stop was the Adventist Hospital. When we arrived at the hospital we Our next stop was the Adventist Hospital. When we arrived at the hospital we ask Mr. Barry to comment on his numerous humanitarian awards and the immediately sort out the director who greeted Mr. Barry with a hug. His eyes lit up distribution of 420 million documented meals. He humbly says, "I got by with a when Mr. Barry told him what medication he had brought. He summoned three or little help from my friends."[The Beatles] little help from my friends."[The Beatles] four of his staff to immediately retrieve the medication from the SUV we were in, which they needed desperately for secondary care. Looking around I was He mentions his friend Sandy Schaefer. Who has been a big help. He says overcome with the sight of so many amputees. Mr. Barry painfully remembers giggling, "Imagine two white Jews leading the charge, who would have thought." holding a little girl's hand as her left leg was being amputated from the knee "If my legacy at the end of the day is that I made a positive difference in peoples down. All she was given for the pain was Motrin, because that's all they had. The down. All she was given for the pain was Motrin, because that's all they had. The lives, I will be very happy," he said with a big smile. Adventist Hospital and University has between 30,000 to 50,000 people living in tents on the grounds. As we continue to hand out nutritional bars, gum and By Kencovia Ingraham – The Nassau Guardian lollipops, you can tell that Mr. Barry is well known and will never be forgotten. They have benefitted greatly from his continued efforts.