The results are in from Chapel Hill's Haitian Relief Day, held yesterday. Once all the proceeds from local business receipts and corporate and personal donations were tallied, $4,588.53 was raised to help relief efforts following an earthquake in Haiti two weeks ago.Toby Barfield and Beth Deacon of the American Red Cross with Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt.

Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt presented the check to the Orange County chapter of the American Red Cross this afternoon at The Siena Hotel. The new mayor said that, during times like these, "my chest just busts open with pride in our community." He added that the area's response to crises like the one in Haiti reinforce the region's reputation for leadership. 

Anthony Carey and Prateek Chandak of The Siena Hotel led the community effort. Participants included the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce, A Southern Season/Weathervane, The Carolina Inn/Carolina Crossroads, Lark Home Apparel, Sheraton Chapel Hill/Shula's 347, The Siena Hotel/Il Palio, Top of the Hill, Town Hall Grill, Chapel Hill Magazine and WCHL 1360. Participating businesses gave a percentage of yesterday's sales to the cause and/or collected employee donations.

Jay White, vice president of customer relations at A Southern Season, said he was particularly moved when one employee returned items that he had purchased recently so that he could buy them again and help the relief effort.