A contracting executive has set up a special fund to help Haiti and has pledged to match up to $1 million of contributions with his own money.

James S. Ansara, chairman, founder and former CEO of Shawmut Design & Construction, Boston, has set up a new fund through The Boston Foundation in that city.

The foundation has created The Haiti Fund, to finance immediate efforts to execute short-term relief efforts and for long-term rebuilding. About 25% of the total will be earmarked immediately to procure much-needed materials, fuel, equipment and personnel for infrastructure and for construction of needed medical facilities, says Ansara.

It had previously supported efforts by Partners in Health, a Boston-based nonprofit group that has provided health care assistance in Haiti for more than 25 years, and which the government has tapped to run its major hospitals. The building contractor was ranked no. 73 on ENR’s list of the Top 400 Contractors, with $872.3 million in 2008 revenue.

Ansara has pledged personally to match all contributions up to $1 million to The Haiti Fund. He is an advisor to the fund’s disbursements and is also set to depart for the country this weekend, along with other company and construction industry participants. 

Industry participants can contribute to the The Haiti Fund in the following ways:

1. Make check payable to the Boston Foundation with Haiti Fund in the memo line. Checks should be sent to Fund Administration, The Boston Foundation, 75 Arlington Street, Boston, MA  02116.


2. Donate by credit card. Click here to access the foundation’s secure site.  Select Haiti Fund in the drop down menu.


3. Fund advisors can login to Advisor Xpress and recommend a grant to the Boston Foundation with the grant to be used for the Haiti Fund.