Dr. James Morgan (left), co-founder of Lamp for Haiti, with Tom Mullane, recipient of the 2026 Lamp Lighter Award, during Lamp for Haiti’s 20th Anniversary Gala on October 9, 2026, at Glen Ridge Country Club. Mullane was honored for his longstanding volunteerism, generosity, and dedication to Lamp’s mission. Photo credit: Keith Lapinski

What connects the tree-lined streets of Montclair, New Jersey, to one of the
most underserved communities in Haiti?

For more than two decades, the answer has been Lamp for Haiti.

The nonprofit with strong ties to Montclair has helped provide healthcare to families in one of Haiti’s most underserved communities for 20 years.

Lamp for Haiti celebrated this milestone on October 9 with a gala at Glen Ridge Country Club, bringing together donors, volunteers and longtime supporters who have helped sustain the organization’s work in Cité Soleil, a densely populated neighborhood in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area.

Providing Vital Healthcare

Co-founded by Dr. James Morgan following a 2005 mission trip to Haiti, Lamp for Haiti was established in response to the lack of access to medical care for families living in extreme poverty.

Since then, the organization has grown into a healthcare provider supported in large part by donations, fundraising events and volunteers from Montclair and surrounding communities.

Lamp for Haiti employs an all-Haitian medical team that provides essential healthcare to residents who might otherwise have limited access to treatment. The organization has also expanded its services through mobile medical clinics and an additional healthcare facility in a neighboring community.

Its work has continued despite increasingly difficult conditions in Haiti, including political instability, natural disasters and gang violence that has made travel dangerous and complicated the delivery of medical services.

Marianne Sweeney(L) Alan Epstein (ML) Arlen Epstein (MR) William Sweeney (R) Photo Credit Keith Lapinski

The anniversary celebration recognized the partnership between the Haitian medical professionals providing care and the New Jersey supporters who help fund their work.

Among those attending were longtime supporters William and Marianne Sweeney, along with donors, volunteers and community leaders who have been involved with the organization over the years.

During the event, Lamp for Haiti presented its 2026 Lamp Lighter Award to Tom Mullane in recognition of his volunteerism, generosity and longstanding commitment to the organization.

The gala also helped Lamp for Haiti reach its anniversary fundraising goal, according to the organization.

As Lamp for Haiti enters its third decade, it plans to continue providing healthcare to families in Cité Soleil, where poverty, inadequate sanitation and ongoing security concerns remain significant barriers to medical care.

The organization credits its sustained work to the dedication of its Haitian medical staff and the continued support of individuals and families in Montclair and the surrounding area.