Carrie Margolis, Journal Contributor

Everyone wants to be remembered, or immortalized, when they pass; something to represent what they stood for in life.  The Gengel Family did just that for their daughter Britney Gengel.  She and other students from Lynn University were volunteering in Haiti when the earthquake hit in January of 2010; Gengel and thousands of others were killed by this tragic disaster.

One of the last text messages the family received from her read “… I want to move here and start an orphanage myself.”  After their daughter’s death, the Gengel family founded the “Be Like Brit” foundation, a non-profit organization whose goal is to build the Be Like Brit Orphanage in Grand Goave, Haiti.

On its way, the location’s land is per chanced and the foundation is set.  The blueprints were donated to the organization.  The orphanage will be in the shape of a B, for Brit, and will be able to house 66 children.  Mr. Gengel is overseeing the construction and it is estimated to be finished by 2012.

On March 22, the family Len, Cherylann and Bernie, a freshman in at the Sawyer Business School, came to Suffolk University to present their organization to students.

“There was not a dry eye in the house at the end of their power point,” said Tracy Fersan of the Center of International Education.

Scott Reedy, director of the International Studies Program, brought the organization here to Suffolk.  He encourages people to help out any way they can by donating time or money, or just by joining the Facebook group.

The Be Like Brit Facebook page, which has over 5,000 fans and counting, gives the full mission plan.  It also explains in detail how to donate money, time, and purchase merchandise that goes directly to the organization.

www.belikebrit.org