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HAPPY NEW
YEAR!
Best wishes for a healthy and joyful 2003, filled with clarity,
unity and compassion.
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Doctors
Barth, Anderson, Kar and Mane
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In November,
Prasad Chikitsa held the first of a series of four Netraprakash
Eye Camps. PRASAD had opened the permanent Netraprakash Eye
Clinic in the village of Akloli in 2001; it now provides ongoing
eye care, brings in income from clinic patients who can afford
a nominal fee, and conducts several free eye camps throughout
the year. Smaller in scale than the previous large eye camps,
these camps are more cost-efficient and cumulatively serve as
many patients.
At this
most recent camp, Dr. Tulika Kar and Dr. Prasad Mane performed
113 sight-restoring surgeries, and more than 20 volunteers
came from all over Maharashtra State to offer their service.
Dr. Kar's five-year old son also helped out, serving water
to the recovering patients. In addition, two ophthalmologists
from California flew to India to participate in the camp:
Dr. Gary Barth and Dr. Robert Anderson. It was Dr. Anderson's
first experience at Netraprakash, and he wrote to us: "I
was privileged to be a first-time participant at the eye camp.
The quality of care and efficiency under the direction of
Dr. Kar is unsurpassed anywhere. Much can be accomplished
through selfless service and teamwork."
Dr. Barth,
who had attended a large eye camp in 1999, wanted to share
the joy he had experienced there with his patients and the
staff at his office. He invited them to help sponsor an eye
camp and received an overwhelming response. More than 50 people
donated from $30 (the cost of one cataract surgery) to $1,000.
He displayed a PRASAD poster and newsletters in his office,
and sent everyone who donated thank you notes along with the
story of Bhima from the Fall 2002 newsletter. While he was
in India, Dr. Barth sent Prasad Chikitsa-produced cards and
a photograph of post-operative cataract patients, so donors
could see the remarkable impact of their contribution. In
addition to the financial donations, the doctors brought thousands
of dollars worth of supplies and equipment for the eye clinic.
Upon returning from this visit, Dr. Barth said: "I was
so impressed with the spirit and inventiveness of Prasad Chikitsa.
It was thrilling to observe the impact this organization has
on the villages."
To read
about PRASAD's eye programs, please visit http://www.prasad.org/eye.html.
Look for more about this Netraprakash eye camp in our upcoming
print newsletter.
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In December,
PRASAD de México, in conjunction with DIF (the "Integral
Development of Families" department of the Mexican government)
and an eye hospital in Mexico City, held another eye campaign
in Durango. For four days, seven surgeons worked continuously;
as soon as one surgery was completed, the doctors swung the
operating microscope over to the patient waiting on the adjacent
table and began the next procedure. 273 people received sight-restoring
cataract surgery. The youngest patient was 20 months, and
the eldest, who had not been able to see for 40 years, was
98 years old. Read a full account of this eye camp in our
print newsletter.
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Dermot & Karen
Hurly
(far left) in France
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Dermot Hurly,
PRASAD's International Executive Director, and his wife, Karen,
recently returned from meeting with PRASAD boards and communities
and attending fundraisers in England, France, Italy and Spain.
PRASAD
friends in London enjoyed a splendid fundraising dinner that
was followed by musical entertainment. Several British PRASAD
supporters are professional musicians, and Nikki Slade and
her group, The Shakti Bunnies, gave their premier performance.
The following day, Margot and Donald Swift-Hook welcomed 20
friends of PRASAD to Bourne Place, their home near London,
for a buffet supper and another fundraising event. This was
a jubilant start to a series of events that took place in
the other European countries over a two-week period.
In Paris
there was a meeting with the board of PRASAD France. As in
all the European meetings, discussions revolved around PRASAD's
identity, mission, and how all the PRASAD national organizations
can continue to refine their communications and teamwork.
A French
volunteer named Claire Demanneville spoke at a PRASAD presentation
in Paris which was attended by more than 100 people. Claire
described a benefit jazz concert she had organized for PRASAD
France. She had asked a jazz conductor whom she knew if he
would perform a benefit concert, secured a free space in her
town, and engaged many volunteers to help her organize the
event. More than 120 people came to hear about PRASAD, see
a video, and enjoy terrific music.
In Rome,
the board of PRASAD Italia met several times with Dermot.
In addition, potential PRASAD Italia sponsors and other supporters
attended various presentations.
A few
days later, a historic meeting took place in Barcelona, Spain,
when European PRASAD representatives from France, Italy and
Spain all came together for the first time. Frederic Dacqmine,
member of PRASAD's International Board of Directors and President
of PRASAD France, facilitated the meeting. Also in attendance
were Veronique Luneau, of PRASAD France; Paolo Carrelli Palombi,
president of PRASAD Italy; Alexis Courcineaux and his wife,
Maria Elena Campo, of PRASAD Spain, and David Mendez Lopez,
the president-elect of PRASAD Spain. David Hodgson of the
U.K., the SYDA Foundation European Regional Director, also
was at the meeting.
The focus
of this meeting was to strengthen communication, reporting
and financial logistics, and to develop special fundraising
events and local projects. The attendees shared their past,
present and future activities and discussed proceeding as
a cohesive European team. The Europeans have begun to plan
two projects involving art and music that will raise funds
to support local initiatives in the Tansa Valley, India. This
dynamic meeting inspired plans for a two-day international
conference with the national and international PRASAD boards,
to be held in Montreux, Switzerland in April 2003.
For a
full list of international PRASAD board members, please see:
http://www.prasad.org/directors.html.
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On December
1st, to commemorate World AIDS Day, the Prasad Chikitsa medical
team went to the village of Verde to educate the community
about HIV/AIDS. The Community Development, Muktananda Mobile
Hospital and Maternal Child Health Program staff members have
all received AIDS counseling and information training. The
medical team is working closely with the community development
team, which has established a rapport with the communities.
The self-help groups know and trust Vilas Shinde and his community
development team, and are receptive to the information they
provide. Mr. Shinde called the people of Verde to a village
meeting, which he opened with an icebreaker activity, stimulating
discussion about the villagers' needs. Then he and the medical
team taught the people about HIV/AIDS: what is it, how it
is transmitted, and methods of prevention. The program was
well-received, and the teams will be going out into more communities
to educate and support the villagers.
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Liz
Hoffner with Elliott T. Sparkle plush toy
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Elizabeth
Hoffner recently has joined the PRASAD Children's Dental Health
Program as coordinator of the Tour de Smile relay, to take place
this summer. She will be organizing riders and volunteers and
soliciting sponsorships. The daughter of a dentist, Liz is committed
to preventative dental health; she understands how much the
health of the mouth impacts and reflects the condition of the
entire body. Liz will spend a month at PRASAD headquarters in
New York and then will be based at PRASAD CDHP's San Jose, Calif.
office starting in January. If you would like to participate
in Tour de Smile — as a rider, sponsor, organizer, or consultant
— please contact Liz via email: lizh@prasadproject.org
or phone: 408.937.4858. Look for more about Tour de Smile in
our upcoming newsletters.
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Laurie
Kehl
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Laurie
Kehl, administrator of the Children's Dental Health Program
in California, sent us the following account of a heartwarming
event during which PRASAD and National Semiconductor volunteers
assembled holiday packages for the community:
Last
year, PRASAD CDHP-CA brought 30 holiday care packages for
needy families to San Antonio Elementary School. This year,
with the help of a founding partner, National Semiconductor,
PRASAD was able to offer 100 care packages to the families
in the Alum Rock School District. National Semiconductor,
a premier analog company, partners with local organizations,
such as PRASAD CDHP, to improve the quality of life in our
society. [See: http://www.national.com/
community/] National's Community Care Program furnished
PRASAD with 100 bags filled with toys and books, and PRASAD
packed other bags with non-perishable food items. PRASAD and
National Semiconductor staff assembled the bags and wrapped
toys for children. In total, 1,500 holiday care packages for
the homeless, senior citizens and children of low-income families
were prepared.
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PRASAD
Children's Dental Health Program welcomes volunteers who wish
to teach dental health education in Sullivan County, N.Y.
schools. Various positions are available. Training is provided.
For more information, please call Gerri Wiley at 845.434.0376
x 102 or email gerriw@prasad.org.
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We are
working on our spring print Newsletter (look for it at the
end of February), and we request that you update your mailing
address now. Please email us at prasad@prasad.org.
Thank you!
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RECENT
EVENTS
The
Tea Garden's annual "Chance to Dance" fundraiser
on Sunday, December 8th was a celebratory success. Approximately
130 people attended, and the bands-"The Allen Brothers"
and "The Wild and Holy Band"-were fantastic. They
played to a joyful, enthusiastic, international group of people
of all ages who took full advantage of this chance to dance!
Special thanks to the bands, Sheela Stainton, Joe Maggelet
and Kelly McCartney.
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Jacqueline
McCausland and Angela Amedore-Caplan held a fundraiser for PRASAD
at their dance and yoga studio in Geneseo, N.Y. on Sunday, November
24th. The event, "An Afternoon of Devotional Chants from
India with Sonam Targee and Friends," drew approximately
45 people. Jackie and Angela wrote: "Live music and chanting
are always vibrant, fun and heart-opening! And best of all,
it was...an opportunity to give to our blessed PRASAD."
Thank you, Jackie and Angela!
We
are delighted to hear your stories about PRASAD events around
the world-please write to us: prasad@prasad.org.
If you would like guidance in organizing a PRASAD fundraising
or informational event in your community, please contact Donor
Relations by phone: 845.434.0376 ext. 131, or email: shelleyb@prasadproject.org.
Thank you!
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UPCOMING
EVENTS
| Event: |
Dream
Dance 2003 |
| Date: |
Friday,
February 14th |
| Place: |
St.
Paul the Apostle Church
415 West 59th Street
New York, New York |
| Contact: |
Christine
Kim, Benefit Chairperson
Phone: 718.643.1817
Email: ckimnyc@earthlink.net
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| Event: |
An
Event Worth Smiling About
Benefit Dinner and Silent Auction |
| Date: |
Saturday,
March 8th |
| Place: |
San
Jose, California |
| Contact: |
Laurie
Kehl
Phone: 408.937.4858
Email: laurieke@msn.com
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PRASAD e-Monthly
is a monthly email newsletter that supplements our bi-annual
print newsletter. It is emailed at the beginning of
each month, except for the two months during which a
print newsletter is distributed.
To
share this issue of PRASAD e-Monthly with a friend,
paste the url below in the body of an email message:
http://www.prasad.org/emonthly/jan03/jan03.html
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INFORMATION
To unsubscribe, please send an email to: e-monthly@prasadproject.org
To change your email address, please send email to:
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TO
SUPPORT PRASAD'S PROGRAMS BY DONATION
Please visit our website to make a donation online:
http://www.prasad.org/giving.html
Or, if you prefer, please send a check to the address
below.
You may contact Donor Relations via email at shelleyb@prasadproject.org
or
by phone at 845.434.0376 ext. 131.
CONTACT
INFORMATION
The PRASAD Project
465 Brickman Road
Hurleyville, NY 12747
Phone:
845.434.0376
Fax: 845.434.0377
Copyright
©2003 The PRASAD Project. All rights reserved.
PRASAD™ is a registered trademark.
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