The
Palestine Children's Relief Fund Benefit Gala
"Hope & Healing, Hand in Hand"
May 8, 2004
The PCRF Washington, DC Committee hosted a benefit gala in
Washington, DC on May 8, 2004. With the theme "Hope &
Healing, Hand in Hand," the gala featured as its keynote
speaker Dr. Hanan Ashrawi -- a renowned Palestinian human
rights activist and founder of the Palestinian Initiative
for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy.
"Hope
& Healing" drew close to 550 area Washingtonians
and succeeded in meeting the fundraising goal for PCRF projects
in the second half of 2004. The projects that were made possible
through the community's generosity include: 7 cardiac surgery
missions, 4 plastic/reconstructive surgery missions, 3 orthopedic
surgery missions, 4 ophthalmic surgery missions, 3 shipments
of wheelchairs, and 5 powdered milk distributions.
Hundreds
of children will benefit from the life-saving medical aid
that the Washington, DC community made possible during "Hope
& Healing."
During
her keynote address, Dr. Ashrawi described the impact of occupation
on Palestine and the dismantaling of civil society by institutionalization
of occupation. The PCRF DC Committee presented Dr. Ashrawi
with its second annual Humanitarian of the Year Award in honor
of her "enduring commitment to defend human rights and
promote peace through justice."
PCRF
co-founder and president Steve Sosebee also spoke at the gala,
and described how the organization started as a grassroots
effort to locate care for a boy whose legs were amputated
in 1991. Since then, PCRF has gained the support of medical
professionals and volunteers around the world who want to
bring life-saving medical treatment to Palestinian children
who have no other options for care. He also described the
dire humanitarian situation on the ground in Palestine and
the opportunities that exist for Americans who wish to contribute
in a positive way through PCRF.
PCRF
Medical Advisory Board member and UCLA professor of orthopedic
surgery Dr. Hugh Watts shared his experiences from two PCRF
medical missions during which he performed operations and
also taught Palestinian surgeons how to manage children's
orthopedic needs. Dr. Watts made a special appeal to American
doctors to spend some time volunteering their medical expertise
in Palestine where they can make a big difference.
A
special tribute was made to Palestinian mothers on the occasion
of Mother's Day. Organizers introduced Mohammed Shber, 13,
who suffered a leg amputation from an Apache helicopter attack
in Gaza on June 2003. PCRF has brought Mohammed to the US
to receive a prosthetic leg and undergo neurosurgery -- all
donated through arrangements made by PCRF. Mohammed Abu Kwaik,
15, also from Gaza, showed the audience the human face of
Palestine as he described the series of reconstructive/burn
surgeries the PCRF has arranged for him over the past 7 years.
"I am not alone," Mohammed told the audience. "There
are many more children in Palestine who are like me, and worse
than me, who need help."
The
"Hope & Healing" gala was organized by the PCRF
Washington, DC Committee:
Rania
Awwad, Susan Kerin, Maya Karram, Lana Ghandour, Roula Bordcosh,
Daniel Quinn, Nader Ayish, Lena Bedri, Reema Wahdan, Rima
Mutreja, Sowsan Deifallah, Nadia Bakdash, and Mahaba Al-Wazir.
Special
thanks to the generous sponsors who made the gala possible:
Jerusalem
Restaurant (Denver, Colorado)
Bacchus Restaurant (Washington, DC)
Alexandria Investments, Ltd. (Vienna, VA)
Washington Report on Middle East Affairs (Washington, DC)
American Task Force on Palestine (Washington, DC)
Denise Hassanein, realtor (Washington, DC)
Mama Ayesha's Cafe (Washington, DC)
Sahouri Insurance Financial, LLC (McLean, VA)
Object Design and Communications (Vienna, VA)
Mediterranean Halal, Inc. (Vienna, VA)
Kybele Salon (McLean, VA)
Click
this link to read a recent article in the Washington Report
on Middle Eastern Affairs about the DC Gala.
