NHF Donates $15,000 for Haitian Earthquake Relief

$15,000 for Haitian Earthquake Relief

Usings funds from our Disaster Relief Fund, we were able to donate an initial $15,000 to Haitian earthquake relief. Three organizations doing on-the-ground work in Haiti have each received $5,000: Holy Angels Hospice, Partners in Health, and the Hôpital Albert Schweitzer (Albert Schweitzer Hospital). We invite you to donate directly to these organizatons or make a contribution to NHF's Disaster Relief Fund.

Just like everybody who has been watching the heartbreaking images from Haiti, NHF’s board and staff have reacted with horror and sadness to the tragedy unfolding in that nation,” said J. Donald Schumacher, President & CEO. “We were so grateful that past donations to the NHF Disaster Relief Fund allowed us to respond quickly with cash to these three fine organizations. It feels good to know we are doing something tangible to help in the wake of such devastation.”

Holy Angels Hospice & Orphanage is located in Port-au-Prince. Although much of the capital city has been destroyed, their facility is still standing. Holy Angels is in dire need of financial resources to ramp up service provision. Prior to the earthquake, they focused exclusively on caring for children. With the enormous need created by the earthquake, Holy Angels plans to expand their services.

Partners in Health (PIH) is a Boston-based international health agency that has been working in Haiti for more than 20 years. PIH works to bring modern medical care to poor communities in nine countries around the world. The work of PIH has three goals: to care for patients, to alleviate the root causes of disease in their communities, and to share lessons learned around the world. Right now in Haiti, one of PIH’s main goals is to help with pain relief. PIH has deep roots and a major presence in Haiti, particularly in the Central Plateau region that sits northeast of Port-au-Prince.

The Hôpital Albert Schweitzer (HAS) is located 42 miles outside of Port-au-Prince and escaped damage, although buildings even further away from the capital city were destroyed. According to the hospital director, the 120-bed hospital went over capacity within minutes following the earthquake and the staff of 200 immediately shifted into a mass casualty protocol. With so many of the injured arriving with broken or crushed bones, the x-ray machines and operating rooms are in constant use.

Knowing that the need for assistance is both immediate and long-term, NHF will monitor the situation in Haiti and make additional donations during the long period of rebuilding.

Visitors to NHF Website find new features

For the first time, visitors to the National Hospice Foundation Web site will find new ways to interact with the philanthropic arm of NHPCO.

Completely redesigned and launched just last week, www.nationalhospicefoundation.org offers these new features, among others:
1. Clear and comprehensive information about what your dollars support
2. A place to “Share Your Story” and read others’ hospice stories
3. Links to NHPCO’s Twitter account and to NHF’s Facebook page
4. An easy-to-use form making monthly giving a snap
5. A wealth of information about ensuring a legacy through planned gifts

Come check it all out! We’d love to hear your feedback – send it directly to Susan Messina, Director of Development Communications, NHF.

NHPCO President/CEO and Board Chair Visit to UK

NHPCO President/CEO and Board Chair Visit to UK Includes a Meeting with HRM Queen Elizabeth II at Help the Hospices Silver Jubilee

Alexandria, Va) – J. Donald Schumacher, president and CEO of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, and Gretchen Brown, chair of the NHPCO board of directors traveled to London on March 15 for a series of meetings with international hospice and palliative care organizations and providers. A highlight of the trip was the opportunity to meet Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh at a reception marking the 25th anniversary of Help the Hospices, the leading British charity supporting hospice care throughout the United Kingdom.

The celebration at St. James’s Palace in London on March 16 brought together 600 guests that included hospice founders, staff, and volunteers from hospice programs throughout the UK as well as hospice professionals from across the globe.

“We had the honor of being introduced to Queen Elizabeth and we spoke about the vital role that Dame Cicely Saunders played with her pioneering work at St. Christopher’s Hospice in London. The Queen asked about the breadth of hospice in the US and remarked on the challenges that national organizations, such as NHPCO, must face,” said Dr. Schumacher. “She was gracious, kind and obviously well informed about today’s hospice environment.”

In a press statement, David Praill, chief executive of Help the Hospices, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be celebrating this anniversary and the huge strides hospice care has made, while recognizing many challenges still lie ahead. This gives us a wonderful opportunity to say thank you to those who have helped and supported both our charity since our founding and also the development of hospice care in the UK and across the world.”

While abroad, Schumacher and Brown met with David Praill of Help the Hospices and discussed differences in structure between end-of-life care delivery in the US and the UK. A meeting with the leadership of the Worldwide Palliative Care Alliance on global palliative care issues also provided an opportunity to discuss the work being done by hospice and palliative care providers in the US.

In his role as president and CEO of the National Hospice Foundation, Schumacher was pleased to present the final report on the work and accomplishments of NHF's Diana Legacy Fund to staff at the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund. In 2005, a generous grant for $3.35 million was awarded by the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund in cooperation with the Franklin Mint and supported work of NHF, NHPCO, and the Foundation for Hospices in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“This visit was a strong reminder of how important the voice of US hospice and palliative care is on the international stage. More importantly, it reminds us that we are partners in the global community with much to learn, much to share, and much to celebrate,” Schumacher noted.

All the events surrounding Help the Hospice’s silver jubilee provided a valuable opportunity to focus on both achievements and opportunities for hospice and palliative care. At the dinner following the reception at St. James’s Palace, Dr. Schumacher was seated with Anne, Duchess of Norfolk, Help the Hospices founder and president. Other notable guests included: Professor Mike Richards, national clinical director for cancer, Department of Health; Baroness Illora Findlay, professor of palliative medicine, member of the House of Lords and president of the Royal Society of Medicine; Graham Perrolls, executive director of Hospices of Hope and internationally recognized advocate for hospice in Romania; and Elizabeth Gwyther of the Hospice and Palliative Care Association of South Africa. All the events surrounding Help the Hospice’s silver jubilee provided a valuable opportunity to focus on both achievements and opportunities for hospice and palliative care.

For more information visit, http://www.nhpco.org