by
Olga Deshchenko, DOTmed News Reporter | April 19, 2011
From the April 2011 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine
The efforts in Haiti don’t end there. Grapes for Humanity has also established the Philip Craig Arts Program and the Viola Wheeler Music Program in conjunction with the clinic. The initiatives provide art and music therapy to the disabled men, women and children who stay at the facility. In a recent project, patients worked on making artisanal paper from sugar cane and banana fibers.
Foundation members often visit the project sites to get a sense of the progress. Willis plans to visit the prosthetics clinic this month. “In Haiti, I really feel like we started from ground up,” she says. “It’s so good for us to see what’s happening.”
Needed support
Although Grapes for Humanity focuses on prosthetics, it works with different medical facilities across the globe that tend to share a problem – lack of equipment. Often, the hospitals use the donated funds to purchase the necessary medical devices. The organization would welcome a financial donation or equipment to support the clinical teams working as part of its projects. “Any kind of equipment for a hospital can be used in any one of these countries,” says Willis.
Of course, individuals or organizations can also attend the fundraising wine events hosted by Grapes of Humanity. On October 19, the foundation will put on an event at the Four Seasons Hotel in New York City. Opus One Winery will provide the wine, while Cristal will be a part of the champagne reception.
As the donated efforts of supporters fuel the organization’s humanitarian work, Willis says any help is appreciated, whether it’s money, medical equipment or time. “I just think that we all have so much and no matter what we can do to help those less fortunate than ourselves is great, no matter how small it is,” says Willis.
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