Supporting Women’s Health and Wellness
For much of modern history, clinical trials and health studies focused mainly on men. Women and their specific needs were overlooked or not adequately addressed.…
IPM volunteers closed the fourth quarter of our 2016 Integrated Project Mercy program by “re-engaging for good”—continuing relationships with specific organizations we had volunteered with in the past to increase the impact to the community.
One of these projects included a fundraiser for one of our own. On Feb. 11, the Chicago office hosted a fundraiser for IPMer and cancer survivor Rebecca del Galdo to help offset expenses for travel to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, where she is participating in a clinical trial. Collectively, the Chicago office teams created raffle baskets containing more than $7,000 in merchandise. All of our regions were very generous, making donations and participating in a Super Bowl pool. To date, IPM raised more than $12,000 for Rebecca.
The Eastern Region team supported Cradles to Crayons at its Brighton, Mass. warehouse. IPMers sorted donated clothes to be included in “Kid Packs” which also contained school supplies, books, toys, and other items to help children learn and thrive. The combined efforts of IPMers and other volunteers directly impacted 185 children in need. Beyond the donation of time, IPM’s monetary contribution will go toward the purchase of school supplies and other needed Kid Pack items.
The Indianapolis team spent an evening serving dinner and hosting activities for more than 40 family and staff members at Indiana University Health North Hospital. Volunteers partnered with local businesses to secure in-kind donations from Jimmy John’s, Jason’s Deli, Max and Erma’s, Potbelly, and McDonalds. They also contributed several new items to the hospital’s year-round infant toy drive.
Through the Cooks for Kids (CFK) Program, IPM’s Minneapolis team purchased, prepared, and served a hearty-home cooked dinner for approximately 40 guests at the St. Paul Children’s Hospital’s Ronald McDonald House.
The St. Louis group prepared dinner for almost 40 family residents of Ronald McDonald House that supports St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Delighting the large number of children staying the house, IPMers created a football/Super Bowl theme for the event, including decorations, balloons, cookies and cakes, to go with burgers, casseroles, chili, and salad. Staffers said it was the best dinner presentation they had ever seen there!
IPM’s Los Angeles volunteers set up a lunch buffet for homeless veterans in downtown LA to support “Coach Ron” and the Pasadena-Altadena Community Youth Association, which provides support services for homeless children and veterans. The group organizes clothing and food drives, “reading out-loud” events, and sponsors a youth internship program.
San Francisco IPM volunteers helped out at Kids Against Hunger. The crew and other volunteers helped pack an amazing 8,900 meals during the Dec. 4 shift.
— Published February 23, 2017