Page 45 - FON Spring Issue

FEATURED P
masks for a burgeoning crisis called “COVID.” Project C.U.R.E. responded immediately by delivering thousands of boxes of the most needed items to medical professionals around the world. The hope was that donations would be critical to the fight and help COVID-19 to be contained overseas. Unfortunately, the coronavirus came to the United States and impacted local communities.
While Project C.U.R.E.’s mission is to strengthen health systems in under-resourced countries, it immediately began working with local hospitals and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in local C.U.R.E. Communities to respond to the shortages in personal protective equipment (PPE). Including the donations secured through the collection drives for local communities, Project C.U.R.E. has delivered approximately 400 shipments of medical supplies and equipment including ventilators, throughout the United States. That is nearly 14,000 boxes of supplies , or enough to fill 15 semi-truck trailers.
“Our firefighters, nurses, doctors and public servants needed our help, and we wanted to join in solidarity as they served us. When our state and local government agencies call and request our resources, we always will be here to protect the lives of our first responders and medical professionals.” said Dr. Douglas Jackson, President and CEO of Project C.U.R.E. “We donated all of our masks, gloves, gowns, face-shields and other items needed to fight COVID-19 to the heroes on the frontlines as the demand for PPE far outstripped supply and hospitals around the globe. As the needs are met in our communities, Project C.U.R.E. will pivot again and return to shipping cargo containers to our international partners.”
HILANTHROPY
Leaving
for Lebanon
On August 4, 2020, a large amount of ammonium ni- trate stored at the port of the city of Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, exploded, resulting in over 200 deaths, 6,500 injuries and leaving an estimated 300,000 people homeless. The blast is said to have caused nearly $15 billion in property damage.
The explosion in Beirut was so large that the United States Geological Survey considers it one of the most powerful non-nuclear explosions in history, it was felt in Turkey, Syria, Israel, Palestine, and parts of Europe, and was also heard in Cyprus, which is 160 miles away. Following this cataclysmic explosion in Beirut, Project C.U.R.E. launched an immediate response to aid the people in Lebanon and provide critical medical relief to the country,
“I remember my time at many of the hospitals in and around Beirut, meeting the doctors and nurses and visiting patients. To see what happened was absolutely heartbreaking. And this on top of COVID-19, a very difficult economic situation, refugees and regional conflict. These friends really needed our help. Project C.U.R.E. did all it could to bring health and hope to Lebanon,” said Dr. Douglas Jackson, President and CEO of Project C.U.R.E.
Thanks to a small group of dedicated Chicago physi- cians working with the support of both Rush University Medical Center and Northwestern Medical Center, Project C.U.R.E. provided 20 pallets with over 600 boxes of medical supplies and equipment for delivery to Rafik Hariri University Medical Center, American University Medical Center Beirut, and Lebanon Uni- versity Medical Center. Project C.U.R.E.’s shipment departed from their Houston facility and traveled with assistance from AIRLINK and Qatar Airlines. Everyone at Project C.U.R.E.’s Houston distribution center pitched in when the container arrived, including their medical interns, most of which had never used
a pallet jack before that day. Towards the end of the loading process, one of the interns said, “That was so fun, thanks for letting us do that!”, which just goes to the show the passion that each volunteer has for help- ing other and moving the mission forward.
By Micah McDonough, Director of Marketing and Communications, PROJECT C.U.R.E.
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