Carrying forward a mission of faith, service, and partnership with St. Michel Parish in Boucan-Carré, Haiti
Since 1999, the Haiti Outreach Program (HOP) of Knoxville has served as a vital bridge between the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and our sister parish, St. Michel, in Boucan-Carré, Haiti. Through prayer, generosity, and partnership, HOP has helped provide education for thousands of children, supported life-saving healthcare at a medical clinic, and strengthened the faith community of St. Michel and its rural chapels.
Earlier this year, long-time volunteers Bill Fuller and Leslie Adams agreed to serve as co-chairs, bringing renewed focus and energy to this important ministry.
Leslie Adams
Born and raised in Knoxville, Leslie Adams has been part of Sacred Heart since her baptism in 1975. A graduate of Sacred Heart School, she met her future husband, Jerrod, there in grade school, and the two have
been married for 25 years. Leslie went on to graduate from Bearden High School, earn her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at the University of Tennessee, and complete a master’s in medical science at Emory University.
As a physician associate, she has spent more than 20 years serving patients in primary care and occupational medicine. She is also a proud mother to two daughters, Emily and Lauren. Faith and service have always guided Leslie’s path, leading her to the Haiti Outreach Program (HOP) in 2012 through the parish bulletin. Since then, she has joined six mission trips, including an all-women’s medical team in 2017, and served as HOP treasurer from 2017 to 2020. Today, she is grateful for the chance to continue serving through HOP as co-chair, joining faith with action to support the people of Boucan Carré.
Bill Fuller
Bill Fuller has been a parishioner at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus since 1997. He and his wife, Eileen, are the proud parents of three daughters, all now married, and they love spending time with
their seven grandchildren. A graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Bill served four years in the U.S. Navy before building a 34-year career with ExxonMobil. Now semi-retired, he treasures time with family and enjoys fly fishing, travel, and giving back to his community.
Bill has long been active in charitable work in Knoxville, volunteering with organizations such as the Haiti Outreach Program, Fly Fishers of Men, the Chairman’s Club, and Random Acts of Flowers. His dedication reflects a strong belief in putting faith into action. As co-chair of HOP, Bill is eager to work alongside Leslie Adams to help sustain the program’s life-changing impact in Boucan-Carré.
Looking Ahead
The new leadership team is eager to build on the strong foundation laid by those who have faithfully served before them. Among their goals are:
- Sustaining teacher salaries, school supplies, and meals for over 1,200 students.
- Continuing medical support through salaries for doctors and nurses, vaccines, and prenatal care.
- Strengthening parish ties and supporting the faith life of St. Michel and its rural chapels.
As HOP enters this new chapter of leadership, the organization remains rooted in faith and guided by Christ’s call to love and serve. “Together, with our brothers and sisters in Boucan-Carré, we look forward with hope to all that God will continue to do through this partnership,” said Fuller.