Fundraising News

The St. John Family

A heartfelt thank you – as always – goes out to all those of the St John Family across the world who are raising vital funding for our work.  By mid-September this year, the Priory of England had already donated £242,983, the Priory of the United States had given £112,251, the Priory of Scotland £106,484, the Priory of New Zealand £69,835, the Priory of Canada £69,766 and the Priory of Wales £10,000.

We would also like to say a special thank you to the Commandery of Ards in Northern Ireland, whose generous donation of £50,000 earlier this year – as well as £50,000 last year – has facilitated the refurbishment of the Jerusalem Hospital reception area

Jerusalem

Despite recent disasters like the Pakistani floods and Haitian earthquakes dominating donor imagination, many local and international supporters remain engaged with our mission to preserve the sight of marginalized communities across the OPT.  Many Government Aid Agencies, International and local NGOs, United Nations Agencies, Diplomatic Missions, Arab Funds, Faith-based Foundations, Private Donors and local companies, continue to form strategic partnerships with St. John to help enable the sick and poor.

The United States Agency for International Development has donated $90,000 for a pioneering project based around, “Early detection of visual impairments in children and those who are at risk of disability”.  Additionally, this project will reach out to the most underprivileged communities in Gaza by proving our Clinic there with some much needed medical equipment.  PACES – the Palestine Association for Children's Encouragement of Sports – is an important new partner, who are helping us to implement a pilot screening program for the children taking part in their sporting events. 

Established partner, the European Commission Humanitarian Office will, for the seventh consecutive year, enable our second mobile eye clinic to reach out to more than 20,000 eye patients across the OPT.

Vital medical equipment was also procured through the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development Gift.

London

In London, too, our work continues to capture the imagination of supporters and funders.  The total raised so far this year in the UK is £1,102,681, with a further £194,572 pledged.

We are particularly pleased to announce that our appeal to raise funding for our new Medical Retinal Unit to mark 50 years of the Jerusalem Hospital building has been very successful.  We have raised over and above the sum originally asked for and now have some of the money that we will need to purchase the vital equipment that such a facility will require.  We especially thank the Norwegian Representative’s Office in Jerusalem for their vital support of this project. 

Thank you also to Deputy Chairman, Antoine Mattar’s business concern, Consolidated Contractors Company, which has given a total of £31,000 to the Hospital Group this year. 

Congratulations must go to Ann Burgess-Watson for completing the Tour de Mont Blanc – 110 miles and 30,000 feet of ups and downs – in nine days. Ann raised over £3,000, which will be used to purchase equipment for the East Jerusalem Hospital.  George Klat completed the Mont Blanc Marathon raising a staggering £7,305 for our charity. Well done to both Ann and George for their fantastic achievements!

We thank, again, Mike Diplock for his wonderful pro bono work on our new website - the results of which you are looking at now!.  We hope you'll agree that it's been a long time coming and worth the wait!

Without all of this vital support, both at home and abroad, we would not be able to continue in our mission to broaden and deepen our much needed services in the OPT.  On behalf of all of our patients and staff, may we extend to all of you our deepest thanks for your continued enthusiasm and assistance.  And have a wonderful Winter Season!