LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS HELP TO RAISE FUNDS FOR HAITI
FDG Fine Art Gallery, Los Angeles Urban Business Journal, Underground Frames, and the Westfield Eye Center presents "A Shared Vision for Focused Care" a Haitian Art Exhibit and Reception benefiting Friends of the Children of Lascahobas, Haiti (FCLH) on August 2, 2003, at FDG Fine Art Gallery in Los Angeles. This benefit supports the humanitarian efforts of FCLH, a non-profit volunteer organization with a 26-year history of providing programs in health care, nutrition, and education to the community of Lascahobas, and isolated and imporverished mountain village.
FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN OF LASCAHOBAS, HAITI
PRESS RELEASE
LOCAL
ORGANIZATIONS HELP TO RAISE FUNDS FOR HAITI
Los Angeles, California
(PRWEB) – Jeannette Medelus is a 45-year old woman who can barely see to do her
daily chores. Etienne Salomon is a 67-year old man who has to be led around by
his grandchildren because he cannot see. The nearest medical eye facility is in
Port-au-Prince; and even if they could get there, they could not afford to pay
for the treatment. They both know that if they go blind, they might as well die.
These are just two of nearly 700 people anticipating the arrival of the Medical
Team to have their eyes examined by the physicians provided by Friends of the
Children of Lascahobas, Haiti. Both patients are seen and successfully treated.
Jeannette only needed eyeglasses, but Etienne had to have cataract surgery. They
both leave praising the physicians and stating in French, “God will save a place
in Heaven for you.”
Friends of the Children of Lascahobas, Haiti (FCLH)
is a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to providing much needed
services to the villagers of Lascahobas, an isolated and impoverished mountain
village. Besides providing the yearly medical humanitarian mission, FCLH
educates and instructs women in small business management skills, feeds 300
children in their Nutrition Program, and staffs and equips the Hospital of
Lascahobas that FCLH built and maintains.
FDG Fine Art Gallery, Los
Angeles Urban Business Journal, Underground Frames, and the Westfield Eye Center
(located in Las Vegas, Nevada) will sponsor a Haitian Art Exhibit and Reception
to benefit Friends of the Children of Lascahobas, Haiti on Saturday, August 2,
2003, from 6:00pm – 10:00pm, at the FDG Fine Art Gallery, 4470 West Adams
Boulevard, Los Angeles, California. The exhibit features original Haitian oil
paintings, sequined flags, masks, and folk art presenting work from over 20
different artists.
Dr. Kenneth Westfield, FCLH’s chief of medical
operations, recruited local organizations, friends, and relatives to assist with
fundraising efforts to benefit FCLH’s initiatives.
Many people are
stunned by the heartbreaking stories told by Dr. Westfield of poverty and lack
of medical care. “It’s amazing. On the first day the medical team arrives to
work at the hospital, we are greeted by hundreds of people. The people will camp
outside the hospital to wait their turn to see the physicians,” says Dr.
Westfield. “As soon as we unload and set up the equipment, we prioritize their
conditions and immediately begin treatment. Many of them need eyeglasses, but we
also perform cataract extractions and other eye surgeries. People come from as
far away as the other side of the island. We will examine all the people,
perform the surgeries and be ready to return to the United States within four
days.”
FCLH founded in 1976 by Estelle Dubuisson, a Lascahobas native
and retired Brooklyn medical technician. Dr. Westfield states, “By educating the
people, feeding the children and preserving the health of many townspeople, her
efforts have helped to reduce the villagers’ suffering.”
Although
progress has been made, the needs are tremendous. Dr. Westfield said, “The
hospital is staffed with only one general practitioner for 56,500 people, and
needs additional staff, medical supplies and equipment. Since September 11,
2001, it has become increasingly harder to get supplies and equipment to Haiti.
In addition, FCLH would like to feed more of the children.” Purchasing art from
the Exhibit and your donations can help FCLH to continue with these efforts. All
donations are tax deductible.
Dr. Kenneth Westfield can be reached at
(702) 362-3937. For information on the FDG Fine Art Gallery contact Eugene
Humphries at (323) 737-4985. For local information on the organization and the
event, contact Linda Brown at (323) 295-2858. FCLH’s website is www.fclh.org.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2003/7/prweb71731.htm