When Julie Grimes saw the harrowing headlines following a string of deadly storms that battered a fragile Haiti last year, the local hotelier knew she could not simply sit idle. But Grimes, the owner-representative of Miami's Doubletree Grand and Hilton Bently on South Beach, wanted to do more than the usual relief drives. She wanted to build something that would save lives and help Haitian families better weather future storms.

``I felt we needed to create a more sustained response,'' she said.

So Grimes, 50, reached out to friends and associates. She also teamed up with World Vision, an international humanitarian organization, and the city of Miami. Operation Hope for Haiti was born.

With a wide network of people from the community -- including honor students at Miami Dade College and local firefighters -- Grimes is helping raise awareness and funds for Haiti's Central Plateau region, where World Vision has been working to create a sustainable village near Hinche, a community of about 52,000.

So far, $200,000 of a $500,000 goal has been raised. The money will help shore up the Guayamouc River, which overflowed and killed several residents and left 750 families homeless. Efforts also will focus on the training of residents on environmental protection and emergency management, and the planting of 175,000 trees.

Grimes has used her hotels to help her new cause. When local Puerto Ricans wanted to celebrate the selection of Sonia Sotomayor as the first Hispanic justice on the U.S. Supreme Court, Grimes turned the occasion into a fundraiser for Haiti that raised $5,000.

Coming up: MDC honors students are recruiting runners to collect donations for the ING Miami Marathon in January, with pledge money going to Grimes' project and World Vision.

Marie Florence Bell, board member of Operation Hope for Haiti, traveled to Haiti with Grimes and welcomes her dedication.

``Julie gave me the opportunity to hope and dream again for a better Haiti,'' Bell said.

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