Floating Doctors

Floating Doctors meets immediate medical needs and implement sustainable approaches to living healthier in underserved coastal areas around the world.  The mission is "to reduce the present and future burden of disease in the developing world and to promote improvements in health care delivery worldwide."

The organization is a nonprofit with goals that include:

• Providing free acute and preventative health care services and delivering donated medical supplies to isolated areas.
• Reducing child and maternal mortality through food safety/prenatal education, nutritional counseling and clean water solutions.
• Studying and documenting local systems of health care delivery and identifying what progress have been made, what challenges remain, and what solutions exist to improve health care delivery worldwide.
• Using the latest communications technologies to bring specialist medical knowledge to the developing world, and to share our experiences with the global community and promote cooperation in resolving world health care issues.

Floating Doctors stay in operation through donations.  A $5 donation provides 30 children with a month supply of multivitamins. One hundred dollars will microfinance a surgery. The more you give, the more the medical team can accomplish.

Founder Dr. Benjamin LaBrot is featured as a 2012 CNN Hero.

Raise a Glass for Healthy Hearts

On Tuesday February 28, 2012, The Eric De La Cruz Hope for Hearts Foundation will be hosting, Raise A Glass, a wine mixer and benefit. This event will take place at Vinatta Project, 69 Gansevoort St., NY, from 6 to 9 P.M. The benefit is to raise funds for heart transplant patients.

Along with a night of celebrating February as National Heart month, with MSNBC’s Veronica De La Cruz and other special guests, a silent auction will be conducted and all the proceeds will be towards the Hope for Hearts Foundation.

“The Eric De La Cruz Hope For Hearts Foundation has been formed to honor the memory of Eric De La Cruz and fulfill his wish that no heart transplant patient would ever again have to suffer because of a lack of insurance or the inability to pay for life-saving medical treatment.”

For more information or to make a reservation visit: http://www.hopeforheartsfoundation.org/raise.html

http://twitter.com/veronicadlcruz

@VeronicaDLCruz

February 28. Save the date and help a heart patient!

Source

KIND: Kids in Need of Dentistry

A child with a toothache is a child in debilitating pain. Eating, sleeping and concentration are all affected, and school work becomes a daunting task. Kids In Need of Dentistry (KIND) has spent the last century helping children achieve a healthy mouth.

KIND is a nonprofit organization providing "high-quality, affordable dental care to children in need throughout Colorado." Since 1912, KIND has helped thousands of children each year get the dental services they need at affordable rates.

The Chopper Topper program puts volunteer dental professional in schools. Young students receive oral health education, dental screenings and sealants at no charge.  The Miles for Smiles program is dentistry-on-wheels with a mobile unit that travels into rural areas and other places in Colorado with limited access to oral health care.

Learn more by visiting the Kids in Need of Dentistry website.

The Morgan Center: Daycare for Children with Cancer

Children with cancer often face isolation as chemotherapy suppresses the immune system and leaves them open to other illness that could complicate and even risk their lives further.  Nancy Zuch saw her toddler, Morgan, go through this as the 2 year old underwent treatment for leukemia. Zuch opened the Morgan Center, a New York-based preschool, to provide a clean environment for kids with cancer so the little ones wouldn't miss out on learning and making friends.

THE MORGAN CENTER is a 501(c)(3) not for profit charitable organization dedicated to providing preschool age children who are undergoing treatment for cancer the opportunity to interact and socialize, in a safe environment that stimulates cognitive and social development. Children on chemotherapy treatment have a suppressed immune system, and could otherwise risk infection and serious illness by attending typical age appropriate preschool programs.

The program has been so successful that another New York center is in the works, and Zuch has been approached by other states to reproduce her model of care around the country.

CNN Heroes spotlights The Morgan Center and what Nancy Zuch has made possible for children battling cancer.

Phoenix Multisport: choosing health and sobriety

Scott Strode offers choice to people recovering from alcohol and drug addiction.  Strode battled addiction himself and knows one of the struggles is tearing away from social circles that help perpetuate continued substance abuse.  He founded Phoenix Multisport as a place for those facing these sorts of challenges.  The name is Phoenix alludes to the the mythical creature rising new and alive from its own ashes.  Stode's sports club welcomes anyone with 48 hours of sobriety free of charge.  Participants have instant camaraderie and a range of activities that promotes healthy living and fun.

"Life should be better once you get sober," said Strode, 38. "(We want to) help people build a new life, a new self-image and have fun without getting high." (CNN)

More than 4,700 people have participated in Phoenix which Strode started in 2007.  He is now featured as one of CNN's Heroes for 2012.

Heart Healthy Tips for Heart Health Awareness Month

The Eric De La Cruz Hope for Hearts Foundation raises Heart Health Awareness this month through social media.  Small changes in lifestyle and behavior can lead to better heart health.  Tips include:

• Cooking more at home
• Getting a check-up and having your cholesterol checked every 5 years
• Adding green tea to your daily diet
• Getting proper sleep
• Laughing more
• Choose whole grain breads
• Taking a tech break
• Raising heart health awareness by sharing tips via social media.

Hope for Hearts founder Veronica De La Cruz explains in this public service announcement how you can be heart smart while shopping:

The Hope for Hearts Foundation's was created in memory of Eric De La Cruz (Veronica's brother) who died while waiting for a heart transplant.  The organization helps people navigate the medical and financial hurdles heart transplant candidates face.  Presently Hope for Hearts is working with a new patient, Colby Salerno, who is waiting for a heart. He is celebrating his 24th birthday this month.

"We are trying to organize a donor drive online for him, since there are a shortage of organs and he has been waiting for a heart now for more than a year. His arteries are hardening and his heart is turning into scar tissue. The only thing that can save him is a heart transplant."  --Veronica De La Cruz, founder

If you're interested in helping Colby you can donate here.

Mama Hope: Community, Hope & Progress in Africa

Africans and Americans come together in celebration of Mama Hope's Campaign: Stop the Pity. Unlock the Potential. The organization believes the essential first step in changing the world is telling the story of connection instead of contrasting images of wealth and developing nations and showing human potential instead demoralizing poverty.

People everywhere have talent and capacity, and people everywhere share a desire to be able to use those gifts to improve their lives and the lives of the people they care about. To learn more about the projects we undertake to unlock this potential and get involved: ‪http://www.mamahope.org

Mama Hope was founded after Nyla Rodgers lost her mother and visited Kenya to visit a young man whose education was made possible by her mother's sponsorship.  Rodgers learned hundreds were actually helped through her mother's efforts.

Thus far, 76,000 people have benefited from Mama Hope projects in agriculture, food security, water, health, education, shelter, women’s empowerment and the environment.

One Spirit Lifting the Lakota People

While the world reels in apprehension about global markets, one North American nation experiences 87% unemployment and an average life expectancy of 50 years.  The people of the Lakota Nation live with hunger, heart disease, diabetes, cancer and malnutrition on an epidemic scale.

One Spirit works in partnership with the Lakota people on Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota to care for those in need through food, heat, art and youth programs..

Despite constant hardship and unrelenting adversity, the Lakota preserve their cultural and traditions for their children and the world:

• About 1/3 of the population still speak the Lakota language
• Almost all maintain their traditional spiritual and cultural beliefs
• They are leaders in knowledge of environmental preservation.
• They are a sharing society - when one eats, they all eat - or they all do without.
• Their exquisite beadwork, quillwork, quilting, sewing, painting is art at its best.
• They wish to find ways to be self-sufficient. (Source)

One Spirit provides opportunities for anyone to directly sponsor an elder, families, children and a Safe House.

One Spirit is recognized as a top notch nonprofit by Great Nonprofits (dot) com.

World Clothes Line: a mission to clothe the world

 

Basic human needs include food, water, and shelter, but clothing matters, too.  A young woman, Mallory Brown, realized the import of proper clothing after encountering truly impoverished people in Laos.  Clothing protects a body from sun and wind burn, frost bite, and insect bites.  A habit many of us take for granted, changing into clean clothes every day promotes good health by preventing infection, chafing, skin disorders, and the spreading of viruses.

"However, in cases of extreme poverty, clothing is often one of the first needs to be ignored. Statistically, more than one billion people in the world live on less than one dollar a day. Almost 2.7 billion people (that's 40% of our population) survive on less than two dollars per day. In such circumstances, daily necessities like food and water take top priority. Clothing, which can be reworn, therefore is reworn. Day after day. After day..."  --World Clothes Line

Brown decided to found a clothing company with a "buy one, give one free" business model. While World Clothes Line is a for-profit venture, profit is not its mission.  Success is measured in philanthropy.

RxArt: Brightening the Lives of Hospital Patients

Hospital rooms can be dreary and completely void of the touches of a home-like atmosphere.  RxArt exists to  brighten up a gloomy, clinical environment using some paint and colorful, contemporary art.

"The New York based nonprofit was started in 2000 by Director Diane Brown with a project at Rockefeller University Hospital in New York. Brown attributes her inspiration for RxArt to her own fear of hospitals."

RxArt is a non-profit organization seeking to promote healing and inspire hope in patients, families and staff.

Street Medicine: Healing the Homeless

Video Courtesy: Invisible People TV

The homeless live in unsheltered conditions on the streets, under bridges, in parks and various other public places.  Exposure to the elements causes its own set of ailments, but many homeless people suffer from mental illness, addictions, HIV/AIDs and physical disabilities.  Too many go untreated.  Invisible People caught up with Dr. Jim Withers of Operation Safety Net in Pittsburgh.  Withers administers Street Medicine by canvassing areas likely to be occupied by the homeless.  Withers is committed to honor the dignity of every person that comes in his care.  Homelessness is often tied to having no where to go after being released prison, foster care, or mental institutions.

The BeCause Foundation follows Withers' work in the documentary, "One Bridge to the Next."

Water for People: the current of change

Water For People combines the ingenuity and talent of entrepreneurs, civil society, governments, and communities to find solutions for safe water systems. The people who benefit build and maintain the projects empowering everyone involved. Lives are transformed by improved health and economic boosts which in turn frees families and communities from the grip of poverty.

Clean water is essential to life, health, and prosperity. Uganda, Rwanda, Malawi, India, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador are all benefiting from collaborative Water for People projects.  The make up of volunteers is global.  World Water Corps monitors projects in the field.  Young people from around the world are invited to propose solutions to sanitation problems with the World Water Youth Initiative.

Garden on the Go: a Farmers Market on Wheels

Indiana University found people in poverty have access to the worst kinds of food, for example, fast food and convenience stores.  The USDA indicates nearly 70% of low income areas are "food deserts" barren of affordable, healthy choices. IU-Health's Garden on the Go remedies the lack of access in poor neighborhoods with a mobile fruit and vegetable market.

IU-Health partners with a vending company year round offering regular and reliable service to people who often lack transportation.  The goal is to fight obesity rates and lower risks for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer by making healthy food available.

Garden on the Go accepts cash, credit cards, and SNAP/EBT.

Girls on the Run: Empowering Girls with Self-Respect

The core values of Girls on the Run:

• Recognize our power and responsibility to be intentional in our decision making 
• Embrace our differences and find strength in our connectedness
• Express joy, optimism and gratitude through our words, thoughts and actions
• Nurture our physical, emotional and spiritual health
• Lead with an open heart and assume positive intent
• Stand up for ourselves and others

Healthy attitudes and lifestyles during childhood can equip young girls to make positive decisions and avoid dangerous risk-taking during adolescence.  This is why Girls on the Run focuses on the development of girls eight to thirteen years old. The organization's program combines training for a 3.1 mile run and workouts that build both stamina and self-esteem.

Girls on the Run envisions a world where every girl "knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams."

FealGood Foundation Supporting 9/11 Responders

The main focus of the FealGood Foundation is to raise public awareness about the catastrophic health effects on 9/11 first responders.  Founder and first responder, John Feal indicates health issues suffered by firefighters and police officers will soon claim more lives than the 9/11 terrorist attack. Feal's nonprofit  provides assistance to relieve these great heroes of the financial burdens placed on them over the last decade.

The Foundation is also working to create a network of advocacy on 9/11 healthcare issues. The organization  advocates for Ground Zero workers and teaches others how they can advocate for themselves and help others through grassroots activism.

A Little Girl and Charity Water

Young Rachel Beckwith hoped to raise $300 by her ninth birthday in an effort to help supply clean water to an impoverished African village.  The girl lost her life in a car accident before she reached her goal, but word spread quickly about her birthday wish for charity.  Washington state and then national news organizations picked up the story inspiring tens of thousands of donors to support her cause, Charity Water.

The fundraising campaign on charitywater.org has now surpassed the $1 million mark.  One hundred percent of these donations go directly to providing clean water to those in developing nations.

Starlight Children's Foundation

Starlight Children's Foundation has devoted their 30 year history to raising the quality of life of children facing serious diagnoses and devastating injuries.  Their programs center on entertainment, education, and family acitivities all offering coping strategies for the pain, fear, and isolation that often companions prolonged illnesses.  The foundation depends on the expertise of pediatrics, technology, and the arts to lift the lives of sick children and their families--seeing a child through diagnosis through the end of medical treatment.

Programs include:

• Starlight World-Teens connecting with other teens that are at home or in the hospital
• Great Escapes-Families enjoy ball games, cruises, picnics, spa days, and movie premieres
• Mobile Entertainment Centers-hospitalized children get access to DVD players and video game consoles
• PC Pals-laptops with educational software provided to hospitalized children

See more of the programs offered at Starlight (dot) org.  The foundation helped more than 4 million children in 2010.

The Pink Daisy Project

Judy Haley established the Pink Daisy Project as an expression of gratitude to all the people that helped her through her fight against breast cancer.  She recalls meals, gifts, good wishes, phone calls, cleaning services, and encouragement and "the co-workers I barely knew who donated vacation hours and meals."

Haley was barely 40 when she received her diagnosis.  And breast cancer gets a lot of media attention and money for research, but what about tailored assistance to meet the needs of young women often with young children?  Pink Daisy Project rises to the occasion offering:

• Housecleaning
• Groceries and meals
• Assistance with prescription costs
• Other assistance as needed

"I want to help people in a way that's not available elsewhere. To be a friend to those who need one. If I could gather up all the young women facing breast cancer who have no one to lean, on and be their friend, buy their groceries, cook their meals, clean their houses and care for their children, I would."  --Judy Haley

Haley was recently featured as one of the 2011 CNN Heroes for her efforts.

Himalayan Cataract Project: Curing Blindess

The Himalayan Cataract Project’s (HCP) cures blindness in under-served regions of the world by performing cataract surgeries.  The organization's surgical team empowers local doctors by teaching them how to perform the operation and leaves behind the medical equipment brought in on surgical missions.

Drs. Sanduk Ruit and Geoffrey Tabin are opthamologists whose unfailing passion to give sight to the blind has made possible life-altering cataract surgery for only $20 USD.  The physicians want to see unnecessary blindness eradicated in their own lifetimes.

Love Hope Strength Foundation

The current rates indicate 1 in 3 people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime (Cancer Research UK).  The disease is the number one killer worldwide as of 2010.

Leukemia survivor Mike Peters of the Welsh rock band The Alarm and President of CSI Entertainment James Chippendale founded the Love Hope Strength Foundation in an effort to give all people the critical access to the same resources that saved their own lives.

The organization hosts rock and roll concerts around the world with raising cancer awareness in mind.  Fans have taken part in more than 200 bone marrow drives at these venues.  Since 2007, The Love Hope Strength Foundation has added 10,000 plus people to the national bone marrow registry.

You can find out about events and how to get on the list by clicking here.

The Love Hope Strength Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is working with the International Coalition of Cancer (UICC) to make saliva-based bone marrow registration a global initiative.