UPDATE: FUNDRAISING AND MATCHING GRANT FOR FRONTLINE CARE OF VULNERABLE PATIENTS AND CHILDREN AT RISK

Recent events in Ukraine and natural disasters affecting a number of places on our planet, on top of Covid, have made support for humanitarian efforts helping those at risk even more critical.

In that context, Advancing Compassion Project (ACP) co-sponsored a Florida-based couple (Mary B and John H) who’ve committed to traversing a mountainous version of Spain’s Camino de Santiago in September, and are dedicating their efforts to help support organizations providing critical care to those in need. Their journey is made even more meaningful by the fact that John was saved by doctors on their prior pilgrimage – a reminder to all of us that we depend on the caring of others, even when we don’t expect to need it.

Building on their goal to raise at least $10,000 for those in need, ACP’s co-founders established a $10,000 matching grant program to double the impact of all supporting donations for two of the most effective organizations delivering critical care to vulnerable patients and to children at risk: Doctors Without Borders and SOS Children’s Villages.

In a little more than a month since the campaign was launched, more than $20,000 in support has been raised – and additional matching grants have increased overall program support to nearly $30,000.

You can still join Mary, John and all of us in these important efforts — with 100% of donations going to support these critical programs!

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) / Doctors Without Borders is a global organization bringing urgently-needed medical assistance to people affected by conflicts, epidemics, disasters or exclusion from healthcare. MSF brings together thousands of participating healthcare professionals and others who are dedicating their efforts to helping those in need – based on medical ethics and the principles of impartiality, independence and neutrality.

As a non-profit, self-governed and member-based organization, MSF relies almost entirely on individuals and private funding. Their support from diverse sources helps to ensure MSF’s independence and flexibility to respond at a moment’s notice to urgent crises – including those that are under-reported or neglected. Please visit MSF for additional information on some of their key programs.

SOS Children’s Villages / Aldeas Infantiles (SOS) is the world’s largest non-governmental organization focused on helping children at risk – including those who are homeless, neglected or abused, or who have been affected by natural or man-made disasters.

In addition to Children’s Villages, which provide temporary and alternative family settings for children lacking parental care, SOS operates a range of programs designed to help at-risk children stabilize their lives – both mentally and physically – and over time to recover their critical access to educational and other opportunities. Please visit SOS for additional information on some of their key programs.

Advancing Compassion Project is an all-volunteer public-benefit organization supporting projects that address human, societal or environmental challenges.

ACP supports community-based projects with volunteers and other resources, and supports global projects by providing matching grants to promote charitable fundraising efforts and to enhance the impact of donors’ contributions.

ACP’s ProPhilanthropy program partners with microfinance organizations in more than seventy countries by providing zero-interest credit support for funds that are used to help launch or expand a small business or enable individuals to obtain vocational or other training.

UKRAINE UPDATE:

Both Doctors Without Borders and SOS Children’s Villages are currently providing critical assistance to patients and children in Ukraine, as well as addressing ongoing needs elsewhere.

Doctors Without Borders has been staffing and operating emergency “medical trains” helping to treat and evacuate patients wounded by bombings and other attacks.

SOS Children’s Villages has been actively involved to help children affected by the war, through a network of mobile teams within Ukraine, as well as resettlement and assistance outside of the conflict zone through centers in Poland and elsewhere.

Donations can be made through Paypal’s secure payment system using the links below. Please contact us if you would like to make your donation by a different method (such as check), or if you prefer that your contribution be used for only one of the two organizations being supported in this campaign.

Many thanks from Mary, John and ACP to everyone who has joined in these efforts – and most importantly on behalf of the patients and children who’ll benefit from receiving critical care thanks to your help!