James Richard Family Fund | Abaco Relief
Donation protected
The Abacos and Grand Bahama were hit by the largest, strongest hurricane The Bahamas has ever seen. Devastation, destruction, and death are now left in hurricane Dorian’s wake. Many, many people are in need after this catastrophe and the only way that they will be able to recover and heal from this will be the support of their neighbors, friends, and fellow Earth-inhabitants. There are a number of reliable people and organizations (such as Errol Thruston, One Eleuthera Foundation, Elbow Cay Restoration Committee) that are doing the best they can to help those most in immediate need, despite complete overwhelming of governmental resources. This fund is here to help rebuild and support the Richard Family, and below is why we feel so strongly to do anything we can for this amazing family that has been in The Bahamas for decades.
Whether you know it or not, you are a part of the family of Jim Richard. This fund is being set up to help a man who has given everything to his adopted home in the Abacos (Marsh Harbour) and all of The Bahamas. A man who raised two unbelievable children on a principal’s salary, co-parenting with Leazona and Tony Bethell. Two children who, by the way, were valedictorian and the Junior Bahamian Minister of Tourism. Donte Richard, currently attending Michigan State University (Environmental Engineering ’22) and Khalea Richard, attending College of Charleston (Environmental Science and Policy ’24), respectively. It is easy to see that Donte and Khalea are Jim’s children not only by their freckles but by the way they speak, lead, and show love for their friends and surrounding communities. Jim Richard has been a community leader in Marsh Harbour for almost 20 years, spending his time as an educator of thousands of Bahamians, an outspoken activist in conservation and board member of non-profit Friends of the Environment and One Eleuthera, a mentor to dozens of teachers, and an exemplary role model for multiple generations of young people from Abaco. The Bahamas has been Jim’s home since 1997; Before he made this foundation for his family on Abaco, he was a teacher in Bimini, The Bahamas for three years.
On August 31st, 2019, Jim and his adopted son and two-time cancer survivor Alcindor (AJ) McIntosh were forced from their home. As Dorian’s 200 mph winds tore through the home that Jim and Leazona built and raised their children in, Jim and AJ fled to two separate shelters that both subsequently collapsed from severe winds and flood waters. After 72 harrowing hours, where Jim’s contagious positivity and AJ’s smile and strength helped dozens of others who also lost their homes, they were evacuated to Eleuthera. Hungry, thirsty, sunburnt, and overall battered and terrorized from Dorian’s immediate aftermath, Jim left the only home he has known for two decades, not knowing if he would ever be able to come back. His home, his truck, his school, even his bank and insurance agency have been completely destroyed.
He faces uncertainty that he has never known.
To anyone who knows Jim, or knows someone who knows Jim, nothing would surprise you less than hearing that Jim has not stopped assisting others since he was evacuated. He has worked tirelessly and tearfully to get everyone he knows on boats, planes, and helicopters for evacuation. He is making calls, sending emails, and beating down doors in order to ensure the safety of those people that he loves. Jim never, even for one second, stops to think about himself.
That is where we come in. Jim would never ask for it, but he needs our help. He escaped the wind and flood waters with minimal belongings. He has no idea what he will be able to salvage from the wreckage that is Marsh Harbour. We want him to be able to begin rebuilding his family’s life as soon as possible. Importantly, Jim has stated his long-term, first priority is to make sure his two amazing kids are able to continue with their education. Many residents of Grand Bahama and Abaco Islands lost literally everything and still need basic help. Please consider donating to the sources that will provide general aid to the people who might not have a network. However, we do have this network and we know that we can use that network directly to help an amazing family begin to rebuild after an unimaginable disaster.
Photo: Floor of Jim's home in Central Pines, Marsh Harbour after hurricane Dorian.
WHO is organizing this fund?
Enie Hensel, Marc Hensel, Vicki Richard, and Jacki Wilson. Enie and Marc are marine ecologists that are longtime friends of Jim Richard, and had Jim officiate their wedding. Vicki Richard and Jacki Wilson are Jim's mom and sister, respectively.
WHAT will the money raised on this GoFundMe be used for?
Please review the fund's updates when we can itemize exact budget needed and how these funds are used. Currently, here is a broad list of items where we know we can lessen the financial wound that hurricane Dorian has done to this amazing family.
- Khalea and Donte's yearly tuition costs (estimated at $41k annually post scholarships) as well as associated loans that are currently active.
- Mortgage for severely damaged home in Marsh Harbour
- Necessities: wardrobe, computer, phone, furniture, kitchen essentials, etc.
- Temporary funds for rent, food, travels to safety and family, and other critical living expenses.
OTHER WAYS TO DONATE
Would you like to donate but not through GoFundMe? Please contact [email redacted]. Also available on Facebook and Twitter as 'EnieHensel', instagram 'Enie.co' or at eniehensel.com.
Khalea Richard as Junior Minister of Tourism for The Bahamas 2018.
Donte Richard, valedictorian of Forest Heights Academy and Recipient of the Bahamas Ministry of Education's National Merit Scholarship 2017.
Whether you know it or not, you are a part of the family of Jim Richard. This fund is being set up to help a man who has given everything to his adopted home in the Abacos (Marsh Harbour) and all of The Bahamas. A man who raised two unbelievable children on a principal’s salary, co-parenting with Leazona and Tony Bethell. Two children who, by the way, were valedictorian and the Junior Bahamian Minister of Tourism. Donte Richard, currently attending Michigan State University (Environmental Engineering ’22) and Khalea Richard, attending College of Charleston (Environmental Science and Policy ’24), respectively. It is easy to see that Donte and Khalea are Jim’s children not only by their freckles but by the way they speak, lead, and show love for their friends and surrounding communities. Jim Richard has been a community leader in Marsh Harbour for almost 20 years, spending his time as an educator of thousands of Bahamians, an outspoken activist in conservation and board member of non-profit Friends of the Environment and One Eleuthera, a mentor to dozens of teachers, and an exemplary role model for multiple generations of young people from Abaco. The Bahamas has been Jim’s home since 1997; Before he made this foundation for his family on Abaco, he was a teacher in Bimini, The Bahamas for three years.
On August 31st, 2019, Jim and his adopted son and two-time cancer survivor Alcindor (AJ) McIntosh were forced from their home. As Dorian’s 200 mph winds tore through the home that Jim and Leazona built and raised their children in, Jim and AJ fled to two separate shelters that both subsequently collapsed from severe winds and flood waters. After 72 harrowing hours, where Jim’s contagious positivity and AJ’s smile and strength helped dozens of others who also lost their homes, they were evacuated to Eleuthera. Hungry, thirsty, sunburnt, and overall battered and terrorized from Dorian’s immediate aftermath, Jim left the only home he has known for two decades, not knowing if he would ever be able to come back. His home, his truck, his school, even his bank and insurance agency have been completely destroyed.
He faces uncertainty that he has never known.
To anyone who knows Jim, or knows someone who knows Jim, nothing would surprise you less than hearing that Jim has not stopped assisting others since he was evacuated. He has worked tirelessly and tearfully to get everyone he knows on boats, planes, and helicopters for evacuation. He is making calls, sending emails, and beating down doors in order to ensure the safety of those people that he loves. Jim never, even for one second, stops to think about himself.
That is where we come in. Jim would never ask for it, but he needs our help. He escaped the wind and flood waters with minimal belongings. He has no idea what he will be able to salvage from the wreckage that is Marsh Harbour. We want him to be able to begin rebuilding his family’s life as soon as possible. Importantly, Jim has stated his long-term, first priority is to make sure his two amazing kids are able to continue with their education. Many residents of Grand Bahama and Abaco Islands lost literally everything and still need basic help. Please consider donating to the sources that will provide general aid to the people who might not have a network. However, we do have this network and we know that we can use that network directly to help an amazing family begin to rebuild after an unimaginable disaster.
Photo: Floor of Jim's home in Central Pines, Marsh Harbour after hurricane Dorian. WHO is organizing this fund?
Enie Hensel, Marc Hensel, Vicki Richard, and Jacki Wilson. Enie and Marc are marine ecologists that are longtime friends of Jim Richard, and had Jim officiate their wedding. Vicki Richard and Jacki Wilson are Jim's mom and sister, respectively.
WHAT will the money raised on this GoFundMe be used for?
Please review the fund's updates when we can itemize exact budget needed and how these funds are used. Currently, here is a broad list of items where we know we can lessen the financial wound that hurricane Dorian has done to this amazing family.
- Khalea and Donte's yearly tuition costs (estimated at $41k annually post scholarships) as well as associated loans that are currently active.
- Mortgage for severely damaged home in Marsh Harbour
- Necessities: wardrobe, computer, phone, furniture, kitchen essentials, etc.
- Temporary funds for rent, food, travels to safety and family, and other critical living expenses.
OTHER WAYS TO DONATE
Would you like to donate but not through GoFundMe? Please contact [email redacted]. Also available on Facebook and Twitter as 'EnieHensel', instagram 'Enie.co' or at eniehensel.com.
Khalea Richard as Junior Minister of Tourism for The Bahamas 2018. Donte Richard, valedictorian of Forest Heights Academy and Recipient of the Bahamas Ministry of Education's National Merit Scholarship 2017.Organizer and beneficiary
Enie Hensel
Organizer
Raleigh, NC
James Richard
Beneficiary