Health and Well-being

A Courageous Voice

November 10, 2022 by

Veronica, now a teenager, endured years of sexual abuse committed by her uncle. For a long time she suffered in silence. Then she participated in a program called Kids Voices Matter, offered by A Courageous Voice, where she learned that it was okay to speak out about her experiences and seek help.

Amy Ever began ACV to provide education and awareness of child sex abuse both on- and offline. The program works with schools and youth groups in the Detroit metro area, where child trafficking and sexual abuse of children is particularly acute. As a survivor herself, Amy says, “I never want to see another child affected the way I was.” As ACV grows, she hopes to protect the lives of many more kids.

Our matching funds are directed to administrative expenses.

BirdieLight

October 23, 2022 by

As a college freshman, Eunseo had already lost five friends to accidental opioid poisoning. At a BirdieLight presentation, he found many other students with similar stories. “What I appreciated most,” he says, “was the use of appropriate language (i.e., poisoning vs. overdose) … I believe that the resources they distribute will save lives.”

Fentanyl is a leading cause of death among adults between the ages of 18 and 45. Dr. Beth Weinstock’s 21-year-old son Eli died after ingesting an herbal supplement laced with fentanyl — which inspired her and her daughter Olivia to found BirdieLight. The organization has reached thousands of high school and college students across the US, using presentations and written materials to educate, and distributing lifesaving fentanyl test strips. Their approach, Beth says, “is to just have conversations with young people, nonjudgmental and honest conversations.”

Our funds are directed to administrative expenses.

Ruca’s Farm

March 28, 2022 by

Nir Lahav grew up on a kibbutz in Israel where farming and working the land always had great relevance — “a place where there is an encounter between body and mind, one that, I believe, can do ‘wonders.’” he says. He knew that there were certain populations that could benefit from such an experience. After speaking with a friend doing research on PTSD, he realized that many IDF soldiers who have returned from service with this diagnosis — an estimated 58,000 — could be helped by a therapeutic farm. He maintains “… the combination of agricultural work, group support and appropriate group therapy can help those coping with PTSD.”

And so, with the help of four friends, Ruca’s Farm has become a reality. Numerous fruit trees have been planted on the donated land, staff has been hired.

Our matching funds are used for land development.

My Child’s Cancer

March 28, 2022 by

A cancer diagnosis is devastating to anyone, but when it is your child, the grief and confusion can be overwhelming. For Oded Grinstein and his wife, then living in Israel, there was one overarching goal — to find the best possible medical care for their nine-month-old daughter. Their exhaustive research led them to a major cancer center in the U.S. where a doctor with many years of experience with this specific type of rare cancer successfully treated the child. The Grinstein’s journey inspired them to create My Child’s Cancer which provides access to research, advocacy and support to families who are embarking on this journey.

Our grant was directed to funding expert opinions on neuroblastoma cases.

NechamaComfort

October 21, 2021 by

Reva Judas lost her son, shortly after birth, 35 years ago. At the time there were very few resources for families experiencing pregnancy and infant loss. Following this loss, Reva found herself counseling others. Hearing from people across the US and overseas, she quickly realized that there is a dearth of resources available to help those grieving this kind of loss. Her response was to obtain chaplaincy certification as well as certification as an Infant Loss Facilitator.

The organization supports people from all backgrounds and raises awareness of pregnancy and infant loss in the greater community and with professionals such as clergy, funeral directors, medical and mental health practitioners. Our matching funds are directed to administrative expenses.

Medical Justice Alliance

October 21, 2021 by

Founder Dr. Mark Fenig is an emergency room physician in New York. His organization MJA seeks out volunteer healthcare professionals to protect incarcerated people’s constitutional right to medical care. They also seek out volunteer attorneys to advocate in the courts on behalf of these rights.

The organization focuses on: advocacy (policy change) to ensure that incarcerated people receive the care they are entitled to; recruitment and training volunteer healthcare professionals to offer pro bono and heavily discounted expert medical witness services in legal claims involving incarcerated people; and educating medical professionals and attorneys about the need for their services and the best way to offer those services.

Our matching funds are directed to a new staff position for this volunteer-run effort.