Glendale-based Armenia Fund and Adventist Health will send a team of 60 doctors, nurses and health care professionals to provide free medical care services to patients in Armenia. The team will be stationed at Noyemberyan Hospital in Armenia’s Tavush Region from Sept. 22 to Sept. 26 and the Stepanakert Republican Medical Center in Artsakh from Sept. 27 to Oct. 5. It will work closely with staff at both hospitals. In addition to personnel, the team will bring 4.5 tons of high-quality pharmaceuticals, equipment and medical supplies. “We are overjoyed to help the people of Armenia and Artsakh,” said Dr. Arby Nahapetian, medical officer for Adventist Health Southern California, in a statement. “Our vision for this mission trip goes beyond traveling there for a few weeks each year, providing critical medical care for those in need in a sustainable fashion. We want to increase life expectancy for these people — and the best way we can do that is by partnering with the local care teams and giving them the education, training and resources needed for long-term sustainable care.” Over the past three years, medical teams have treated close to 5,750 patients in the specialties of internal medicine, cardiology, pulmonology, gynecology, neurology, orthopedics and pediatrics. They have also conducted 235 surgeries. “The hospital has made great strides in recent years,” said Armenia Fund Executive Director Sarkis Kotanjian in a statement. “What we’ll try to achieve in September is to help it make a considerable leap forward by significantly boosting its capacities.” Bridge Benefit Bridge to Home will hold its annual Soup for the Soul – All the Stars are Closer fundraiser on Oct. 13 on the rooftop of Old Town Newhall in Santa Clarita. The homeless services provider is raising money for permanent, year-round homeless shelters in the Santa Clarita Valley. The event will feature drinks, appetizers and desserts from local restaurants including Stone Fire, Wolf Creek, Salt Creek, Egg Plantation, Olive Terrace, Fishtail and Nothing Bundt Cakes. Bridge to Home provides services including emergency winter shelter, case management and housing navigation to help homeless individuals and families transition out of homelessness. Tickets for the event are $100 each and available at Bridge to Home’s website btohome.org. Mending in Mozambique Mending Kids has completed its sixth medical volunteer mission to the Republic of Mozambique. The Glendale-based nonprofit sent a team of 21 medical and nonmedical volunteers to treat 35 children suffering from catastrophic burns and in need of reconstructive surgery. The team of surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologists, pediatricians, residents and translators worked out of two hospitals during the weeklong trip in August. “As a pediatric anesthesiologist, it is especially heartwarming to be able to help kids in Mozambique who have no access to specialty treatment. To have been part of a team that restores a child’s hand to a functional position, gives back the ability to lift their arm or enables them to turn their head brings me such joy,” said Cedars-Sinai Medical Center anesthesiologist Dr. Michelle Dee in a statement. Burns are one of the leading causes of pediatric deaths in Mozambique. Accidents are caused by cooking on open fires, propane burners and trash burning. Gelt Foundation Renamed Tarzana-based nonprofit Gelt Foundation has changed its name to Resident Relief Foundation. The nonprofit was created by the co-founders of Tarzana real estate firm Gelt Inc. and Santa Monica financial technology company Domuso to prevent homelessness by offering financial assistance to tenants evicted after an emergency. “We found that our original name for the foundation was communicating the message that our family of Gelt companies was the main funding source for the organization,” said Gelt Inc. co-founder Keith Wasserman in statement. “Although we are active donors and fund its operations, the long-term growth and success of Resident Relief Foundation is built on the support of like-minded companies and professionals throughout the greater real estate community.” The nonprofit has raised more than $90,000 and provided 41 grants over the past 12 months. Its goal is to raise an additional $200,000 and provide grants to 100 families by year-end. Staff Reporter Ethan Varian can be reached at (818) 316-3130 or [email protected].
