Latest Funding News!

The St. John Family

Thank you, as always, to the St John Family across the world.  So far this year, the Priories have contributed £150,917 towards our costs. 

Special mention this edition goes to the Priory of the United States, which has recently committed to the three year sponsorship of ophthalmologist in training, Dr. Ala’a Al-Talbishi.

Big thank yous go to the Provincial Priory of West Yorkshire, who have donated a total of £19,000 over the last six-months, and to the Provincial Priory of East Anglia’s Prudence Preceptory No 16, who donated £1,000 as part of the celebrations to mark their Bi-Centenary. 

Jerusalem

We are very pleased to publicise that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Flagship project last year awarded our Gaza Clinic state of the art medical and surgical equipment to an estimated value of $203,000 (£123,800), including a much-needed phacoemulsification machine, valued at $188,000 (£114,680), which was installed in February of this year. 

In collaboration with the Palestinian Ministry of Health (MoH), USAID have been supporting health in the OPT through their Flagship – or Palestinian Health Sector Reform and Development – project, since 2008. 

The St. John Eye Hospital Group has been a beneficiary of the project since December 2009, when we received a grant of $90,000 (£54,900) in order to implement a sight-saving project targeting children in the West Bank.  This project aimed to protect those under the age of 16 from blinding eye disease and its dreadful consequences.  We were able to screen and treat over 12,000 children as a result. 

In addition, we were able to train two nurses to become orthoptic assistants, whose role is specifically to identify and help treat squints and lazy-eye in children. 

A further application is currently being evaluated with an estimated amount of $90,000 (£54,900), this time – potentially – for the ophthalmic screening of diabetic patients in Gaza.  Diabetes sufferers can easily succumb to sight-threatening complications and this will be an important project for our Group. 

The St. John Eye Hospital Group is very grateful to USAID and its Flagship project for their proven commitment to the work of the Hospital Group and for their undoubted contribution to the much-needed improvement of the Palestinian health sector generally. 

(Written by David Dahdal, Fundraising Manager, Jerusalem)

London

In London, too, we have much to celebrate, in spite of the ECHO withdrawal. 

Dubai-based private-equity firm, and great champion of the Palestine people, Abraaj Capital has come on board as a supporter for the first time. We would like to extend a huge thank you for their award of £103,552, which is allowing us both to purchase a new outreach van and to fund the salary of a staff member at the Hebron Hospital.

Outreach has also received a much-need fillip from new supporter, the Jersey Overseas Aid Commission, which has just confirmed a wonderful award of £60,000 towards the project’s running costs.   

A debt of gratitude, too, goes to long-term supporters, The Karl Kahane Foundation, which has doubled it’s annual award for Gaza this year as a direct result of the cut in ECHO funding. 

We would also like to extend a warm thank you to another long-term supporter, The Olayan Group, which has also increased its annual donation by 50%. This money is unrestricted and will be used for the Hospital’s most urgent needs.

Another new supporter that we are delighted to welcome aboard is The MBC Heritage of Islam Trust, which has just given a fantastic £30,000 towards the treatment of cataracts in Gaza. 

A special mention goes to all those who donate to us as individuals.  At the time of going to press, we had received over £43,000 in public donations.  One such contribution came from John and Jazmine Quigley, who said of their donation,

“Following recent trips to the Eye Hospital that we were fortunate to make, we are delighted to continue our support of this important charity.” May 2011.

We would like to acknowledge those who made this year’s Patron’s Reception such a huge financial success.  The event in March raised a clear £27,294 net profit, all of which will go to our Patient Relief Fund.  Thanks to: Château Canet who supplied all of the wine, as well as a wonderful weekend break in France to be auctioned; to Gerrard Seel, who delivered the wine; to Mr Saker Nusseibeh, Head of Investment at Hermes Fund Managers; to Hildon Water; to Charterhouse for the wonderful venue.

Finally, thanks go to Oliver Ehinger, son of Robert Krehl, for his generous donation in lieu of a ticket to the Patron’s Reception. 

On behalf of everyone associated with The St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group, we extend our warmest gratitude to all of our supporters and funders.  We couldn’t do it without you!