Five Years Later, Britney Gengel's Mission Lives on

Family of the Rutland, Massachusetts, teen killed in the 2010 earthquake that hit Haiti is keeping her dream alive, with 66 children now in the Be Like Brit orphanage.

Britney Gengel's legacy lives on, five years after the Rutland, Massachusetts, teen's tragic death in Haiti. Her family members have dedicated themselves to honoring her memory by building the Be Like Brit orphanage outside of Haiti's capital.

"We have 33 boys and 33 girls," Britney's father, Len Gengel, told NECN.

Britney, who was from Massachusetts, was a college student in Florida when she went to Haiti to help the poor. On this fifth anniversary of the massive earthquake that killed her, her family just returned from Haiti with family members of other classmates and professors who also died.

"It was like a pilgrimage," said Len Gengel.

The family is spending this anniversary at Britney's college in Florida for a special ceremony and a moment of silence at the time the earthquake hit. Her family's focus, this milestone is marked, is to help the orphans in Haiti and honor the humanitarian work Britney wanted to.

Just before she died, she had sent a text message in Haiti to her mom that read, "They love us so much and everyone is so happy. They love what they have and they work so hard to get nowhere, yet they are all so appreciative. I want to move here and start an orphanage myself."

"The heartache never goes away," said Britney's aunt, Christine Steinwand, who is a board member of the foundation.

The Be Like Brit Foundation is based in Worcester. It is financed through private donations, and volunteer missionary trips. To learn more about the organization click here.

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