Good news from Liberia!! From this to this!

Fire disaster in July - Hospital rebuilt by October.  Thank you Foundation for Women friends and supporters! Your contributions and support help make this possible. We're so grateful for our FFW community!

Check out this article from the Daily Observer in Liberia about Benson Hospital and FFW partnering for community clinics and the fire :  
https://www.liberianobserver.com/news/ffw-partnering-with-benson-hospital-to-open-community-clinic/

The Founder and CEO of the Foundation for Women, Ms. Deborah Lindholm, upon learning of the fire that destroyed the top floor of the Benson Hospital, made a commitment to raise fund for the restoration work at the hospital. Today, she wants to make good on her commitment by presenting a check of Thirteen Thousands United States Dollars (US$13,000.00). In fact, this is the second donation towards this renovation exercise. Earlier this month, while the Benson's were in the United States, Deborah made an initial donation of US$7,000.00.
 
With this presentation of $13,000.00 today, the Foundation for Women is pleased to announce that US$20,000.00 in total has been raised and turned over to the Benson Hospital to be used for the renovation work at the Hospital.

One week ago, I was preparing to leave Liberia after being there for nearly four months to launch our third product, FFW Community Health Clinics.  We are assembling a Network of Excellence of health clinics surrounding a hub, Benson Hospital.  And we are launching our first clinic in one of our partner schools.  The Foundation for Women is now supporting microfinance for individuals, low fee independent schools, and now health clinics - creating a model of support for income generation for families, enhancing education, and raising the quality of healthcare. That morning a week ago, I received a call from one of our staff people saying, "Ma Deborah, I have terrible news - Benson Hospital is burning down!"  Complete disbelief and horror!

I have been here more than two months now and am today reviewing my calendar since arriving.  It is not easy being in Liberia...  I focus on my gratitude list daily - and there is lots to celebrate, which is what keeps me here.  
 
The FFW Community Health Clinic Project is happening!  We funded the first 5 clinics this week; they all agreed to join our Network of Excellence in partnership with Benson Hospital.  There are 70+ community clinics in the area around Benson Hospital so we are just beginning.
 
As we are bringing together clinics for this first-ever Network of Excellence, we are preparing to open the first FFW Clinic in one of our partner schools.  Construction is underway at Henry Reeves Jr/Sr High School and is expected to be complete by the end of this month for our planned opening in July!  This is the result of a great collective impact approach involving FFW, Benson Hospital, Care 2 Communities, and one of our treasured school partners.  Together we are better!