Chernobyl Children's Project International

student campers take "chernobyl heart challenge," & save a life

Last year Delaware mom Julie Klabunde  and her daughter, Riley, saw Chernobyl Heart, the 2004 film that follows Chernobyl Children's Project International through Chernobyl affected regions of Belarus. (If you haven't seen Chernobyl Heart, you can watch it now on CCPI's Channel on YouTube.) 

Riley went online, found our website, and learned about our drive to raise funds for life saving children's heart surgeries in Ukraine.  Mother and daughter sprang into action.  Julie owns the Adventure Kids Summer Day Camp in Wilmington, and Riley is a junior counselor.  They organized a screening of Chernobyl Heart, and quickly convinced the camp staff to dedicate summer 2007 to one child's heart.

All summer long, the camp sold candy and lemonade to raise funds for one heart surgery, and made bracelets for all the young patients.  Pictured above, you can see a photo of a bulletin board the campers put together to rally everyone around the cause.

I hope the kids of Adventure Kids Summer Day Camp fully realize that, through their direct action, they will save the life another child -- one of the 6000 children born yearly in Ukraine with heart defects. More than 50% of the children in Ukraine who need life saving operations will not get them. Between now and the end of the year, the support of donors like the Adventure Kids will allow us to send volunteer surgical teams to 4 different regions of  Ukraine to perform operations and train their fellow professionals. The first team arrives at Kharkiv's Institute of General and Urgent Surgery this May 25th.

The Adventure Kids of Wilmington, Delaware join supporters like the students of Glenbard East High School, Cedar-N-Sage, Karakorum Racing, grandmother Judy Bevilacqua, PanRight Productions, and many more individuals who are finding creative ways to make sure these kids get the operations they need to live.  Thanks Adventure Kids, and all of our sponsors!

lombard illinois students on "chernobyl heart" mission

A few months ago, I received an email from Glenbard East High student Hannah Reneau.  Her teacher, Chris Vandenberg, had assigned his Lombard, IL students to research a social need then take an action to bring about positive change.

Hannah told me that she and her friends Jenna Kenny and Michele Graham went online to learned about the Chernobyl disaster and the work of Chernobyl Children's Project International.  They wanted to know what they could do to help kids their age affected by the disaster.

(The photos show, from left to right, Jenna, Hannah, and Michele. )

When I told them that CCPI is launching a children's cardiac surgery program in Ukraine this year, the students found their goal: To raise enough money to save one child's life.

I sent the girls a copy of the film Chernobyl Heart, and they arranged a screening for fellow students and the community.  Hannah said "It really opened their eyes to what is going on in Chernobyl regions.  Most were overwhelmed by what they saw."  They rallied around the girls in supporting their mission. 

Hannah, Jenna, and Michele:  Not only have you saved a young life, but judging from the photos, it looks like you had a great time doing it!  I promise to send you a picture of your "Chernobyl heart" child when we return from Kharkiv, Ukraine this May! 

cedar-n-sage donate song to chernobyl children's project international

Long time Chernobyl Children's Project International supporters and band Cedar-N-Sage have come up with another way to help families and communities affected by Chernobyl.

By clicking on the image below, you can listen to their latest single, What in the World, from their upcoming album, Reflection Pool. 

If you download the single by clicking on the "$,"  or going here, the band's proceeds will go to CCPI. 

Cedar-N-Sage means "healing through knowledge."  The Arkansas based band consists of D'Lorah on vocals/keyboards, Earl McCool on bass, and T on guitars.  T -- her given name is Tina -- grew up in Japan. As a schoolgirl, she remembers seeing repeated images of the aftermath of the bombing of Hiroshima.  She told me, "This was not the stock footage one sees in the US, of the mushroom cloud -- they showed everything."  The images continued to haunt her, and when she saw the film Chernobyl Heart it "reactivated the anger and sadness I felt as a child."  She and the band have been supporters ever since.  They see What in the World as their environmental song, and decided to donate the proceeds to CCPI. 

Thank you, Cedar-N-Sage, not only for this, but for the support you have shown these past years!   I hope everyone will listen to the song, and join me in thanking the band for their contribution. You can learn more about how contributions help by clicking here.

thievery corporation & chernobyl 20 spark support for children

Last week I was honored to receive a check from lounge/electronica band Thievery Corporation and Mondano ("World Citizen')  Mondano is a Washington DC based alliance that ignites transnational cultural and artistic collaborations.

Pictured above:  Andre Kravchenko (Mondano), Eric Hilton (Thievery Corporation), me, Rob Garza (TC) and Bill Crandall (Mondano) at ESL Music.

The team embarked last year on a project called Chernobyl 20 -- an effort to focus attention on Chernobyl's continuing consequences.  The collaboration brought together photographers, musicians, and the final haunting recording of a beloved vocalist.

The Chernobyl 20 photo exhibition examined the contrasting perspectives of photographers Antonin Kratochvil, Paul Fusco, Bill Crandall, Donald Weber, Gabriella Bulisova, Robert Knoth, and other artists. Some of the photographers traveled with CCPI through Chernobyl regions.  The exhibition was shown at the United Nations and at the US Congress hearings on the 20th anniversary of Chernobyl.

Robert Knoth's powerful affection for Annya Pesenko, who has a brain tumor, is captured in the photo shown here.  We feel privileged to count Annya's family among those served by CCPI's hospice program in Gomel, Belarus.  I was saddened to tell Robert about this brave girl's poor condition on my last visit to her.  It was heartbreaking to see her struggle to remain conscious, and the pressure on her mother was enormous.

Thievery Corporation's The Passing Stars was the last song recorded by Pam Bricker.  Pam was the voice behind Thievery Corporation's iconic song, Lebanese Blond.  After her death, Eric and Rob kept the song from commercial release, and placed it on iTunes with all proceeds to help children affected by Chernobyl.  Eric told us, "Pam would have been proud that her final track helped people in this way." Included with the download is a digital booklet of the Chernobyl 20 photo exhibition.  You can find both on iTunes by searching for "Thievery Corporation" and selecting "The Passing Stars."

This effort brought together diverse talents in common cause.  It not only raised funds that will be put to good use.  It reached new audiences to broaden the understanding of the ongoing nature of the Chernobyl disaster.

sponsor spotlight: depfa bank supports chernobyl children

For two years in a row, DEPFA BANK plc has hosted a golf outing to benefit Chernobyl Children's Project International.

The outings, which mobilized some of New York's largest financial services companies, were the inspiration (and hard work) of DEPFA managing director Jane Russell, with the support of DEPFA general manager Herb Jacobs. 

The first outing was held on September 11, 2006 -- the 5th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon.  Sponsors attending, all of them residents of New York City , were vocal in their belief that they couldn't be doing anything better to honor the date and the memories of those lost. A second successful outing was held this past fall.

Major sponsors of two events included:  Morgan Stanley, King & Spaulding LLP, Kutak Rock LLP, Allied Irish Bank, Nixon Peabody LLP, GFI Group, Lehman Bros, Stifel Nicolaus, Seattle Northwest Securities Group, Orrick Herrington & Sutcliff LLP, Packerkiss Securities, The Bond Buyer, Chapman & Cutler LLP, Citibank, Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP, Banc of America Securities.

We're proud of our work, and how smartly we invest our funding.  But we know we are relatively small and unknown, and that the tragedy of Chernobyl is largely forgotten.  Often it seems as though the big sponsorships always go the really large charities:  The ones with celebrity endorsements, big ad campaigns and media "buzz."  To receive this kind of support -- two years in a row -- and from such large and prestigious firms, was a "big deal" for us. And not just because of the funds raised (which were significant) but because of the confidence and trust placed in us, and the recognition that Chernobyl continues to affect so many.

I wrote a letter to Herb Jacobs, to express our gratitude for DEPFA BANK's endorsement, and to let him know how much it meant to us.  His answer was short and elegant -- and it stays with me because of how well it sums of the feelings of the many supporters and hundreds of volunteers who have embraced this work:  "It has meant more to us."

story: strangers join talents to help chernobyl children

CCPI supporters Derek Casari and Perry Norton recently surprised us with the gift of radio public service announcements (PSAs). Click on the player below to listen to one, and then read on for the story of how two strangers merged their talents to help children affected by Chernobyl. (If you're reading this post on email you may need to click here to see the audio player.)

 

Perry (pictured left) is the woman behind PanRight Productions, a one stop studio that creates audio for commercials, games, audio books, podcasts, and PSAs. Her mission is to "be a champion for artists and non profits for whom being heard is the most important task." In the spirit of last month's holidays, Perry offered her clients a special gift -- a free radio PSA for the favorite charity of the first 5 clients to respond.

Derek was first in line, requesting a PSA to benefit Chernobyl Children's Project International.   Derek is a systems engineer for 20th Century Fox post production in LA. Several years ago, Derek's six year old son Aaron died of a rare form of liver cancer. (With Derek's permission, here's a picture of Aaron and his grandfather at right.)  Derek told me that two years of grueling chemo regimens and sleepless nights spent at Children's Hospital of LA -- and the ultimate loss of Aaron, who so desired to grow up -- destroyed his marriage, his finances, and almost his  mind.  His search to find meaning in his son's death led Derek to volunteer for sustainable business incubator Green2Gold. And he found a special attraction to CCPI programs that help seriously ill children, and an admiration for CCPI founder Adi Roche.

Derek and Perry worked together to develop the public service announcement above, and presented it as a gift. This story is a reminder that doing good is not always about donating cash. It can be about thinking creatively, mining your talents, and combining your talents with other's. CCPI could never have afforded to pay for the creation of these PSAs on our own.  And now you can help us get them out to be heard.

The PSA comes in 15 and 30 second versions, and a one minute version.  Westwood One and Beasley Broadcast Group have already agreed to run them.  Here's how you can help:

Blogger? Post our PSAs -- email me and I'll send them to you.

Radio station or media company contacts?   Ask them to run the PSAs.

None of the above?  Click on "email this link" at the bottom of this post and spread the word.  As Perry says -- "being heard is the most important task."  And the children affected by Chernobyl are well overdue to be heard.  This post is in memory of Aaron Casari.

chernobyl heart: i want to save a child's life for christmas

It's only December 1, but I already know  what I want for Christmas:  I want to save one child's life.  I'm hoping you will help me -- I've never asked you for anything before, have I?

This spring, Chernobyl Children's Project International will send an American medical team (led by Dr. William Novick, MD) to Ukraine.  They will operate on children who have very serious heart conditions -- genetic defects that have dramatically increased in incidence since 1986.  Without an operation, each of these children will die.

In 2008, we will sponsor 4 such trips to Ukraine, and save many young  lives.  But I would like to be personally responsible for just one life!  You can give me my wish by clicking on the DONATE button on this badge (either here or above) to make a secure online donation.  If I am able to raise $1,500, I will post a photo of "my" child this April.  If you prefer, you can donate by clicking on the green DONATE NOW button on the upper right hand of this blog -- here's how your donation helps.  Spread the word by clicking on "email this" or "share on Facebook" at the end of this post.  If you're a blogger, email me and I will send you code for my badge, or tell you how to create your own.

Our children's heart surgery program in Belarus has saved almost 300 lives.  Dr. Novick's surgical team focuses on both operations and training.  Since the start of the Belarus program, the children's waiting list for heart surgery has plunged from 7,000 to 2,400 patients.  The program has direct and measurable results.  I know we can bring this life giving success story to the children of Ukraine.

Click here to read the moving story of how supporter Judy Bevilacqua responded to young heart patients in Belarus.  The "cardiac kids" photo album on the left side of this blog shows some of the kids who have received life saving operations.

the grandmother, her dream, and her life saving gift

Sixty-two year old Portland resident Judy Bevilacqua spent most of her life dedicated to her husband, home and children -- she had no regrets and she did well. But two years ago -- while thumbing through a "ladies magazine" in her doctor's waiting room -- she came to the uncomfortable realization that she knew little about herself.  She didn't like this feeling.  But she turned her moment of discontent into a quest to fulfill her unlived dreams.  And she turned one of her dreams into a gift that will, over the coming year, save the lives of as many as 175 children touched by the Chernobyl accident.  This is her story:

When Judy started to feel her rumblings of dissatisfaction, her good friend Nikki suggested that she start to keep a journal of her dreams. (Nikki, along with Judy's daughter Rebekah, are pictured with Judy above.) Her husband, Jack, further encouraged her to turn to turn her dreams into action.  He told Margie Boule in last month's issue of  The Oregonian, "It was a wonderful thing to read her dream book and help remove the obstacles that might keep her heart from being alive." 

One of Judy's dreams was to swim Hood Canal.  Not a natural athlete, she trained hard and found it difficult and  monotonous.  To spark her motivation, she went back to her dream book, and saw that one of her dreams was to help children with birth defects.  She realized that she could accomplish two dreams with one swim. 

Judy's friend Steve Cagan, of Restoring Hope Foundation of Southern California, had raised $20,000 in a Chocolate Festival last year, and donated those funds to Chernobyl Children's Project International for a life saving children's cardiac surgery program in Belarus. Hearing about this program, Judy found  her inspiration. 

On September 1st, with her husband rowing beside her and holding up laminated photos of Belarusian children in need of heart surgery, and sponsors and supporters cheering her from the shore, Judy pushed her limits and swam two miles for the children of Belarus. "I don't have to be a Michael Jordan or a marathon runner. I can just be an elderly housewife who wanted to do this one little thing.  I have a mission."

Today, 2500 - 3000 children are on a waiting list to receive surgery to repair genetic defects of their hearts. These defects have increased in incidence since the disaster in 1986.  Chernobyl Children's Project International has funded Dr. William Novick and a team of volunteers to go to Belarus to perform these surgeries and train local physicians.  Hundreds of lives have been saved through this program. 

Judy's donation will be used to purchase a Somanetics Cerebral Oximeter -- a piece of equipment that will allow surgeons to non invasively monitor oxygen levels in a young patient's brain and kidneys while they are on bypass during surgery.  In doing so, surgical teams will be able to tell -- before the damage is done -- if the child is in danger of going into heart failure. We are purchasing this equipment right now, and Dr. Novick will take it to Belarus at the end of next month.  The equipment will save as many as 175 young lives a year. 

I think the best way to end this post is with a photo of one of the children who has benefited from cardiac surgery in Belarus.  More photos are in the gallery to the left of this page. We'll report back in December when the Cerebral Oximeter arrives and goes to work.

racing in hope: chernobyl's hero

It wasn't the most unusual donation offer we ever had -- that honor would have to go to the group of lactating mothers who offered their breast milk.  (And we just couldn't figure out the logistics for that, not to mention how to explain it to Belarusian customs agents!)  But when long-time supporter Bill DiScala offered us a racehorse, it got our attention.  We figured that the horse -- who we named Chernobyl's Hero -- would at least raise awareness to a whole new audience. Bill has a special heart for orphans, and noted that Chernobyl's Hero's mother (who had been well-loved by his whole family) had been killed suddenly by a lightening bolt.  He noted that in this case, an "orphan" will run to help orphans in across the ocean to find loving homes of their own.   

A year later, we are surprised and delighted to say that Chernobyl's Hero has won thousands of dollars that Bill and his company Karakorum Racing have donated to support our programs in Chernobyl-affected regions.  Bill, thanks so much to you and Karakorum -- and to Chernobyl's Hero, a horse with true heart.