I am currently a second-year Masters student at the University of Denver’s Korbel School of International Studies and as a part of this program students are required to intern for class credit as a part of professional development. When I found the listing for PROJECT C.U.R.E. through my school’s career services, I applied and had my first interview with Allison Carey (Office of the President). Allison told me about literally everything that the internship would entail including: a intern competition called the “Project Challenge,” which has turned out to be an incredibly inventive and proactive way to get interns together into teams-mobilized and thinking creatively to raise support toward the delivery of one of PROJECT C.U.R.E.’s medical supplies and equipment containers.

The internship has also included weekly intern professional development meetings that feature guest speakers from all different working realms and vocations in order to give us interns real-world application and growth. Finally and most fundamentally the internship has consisted of concretely defined internship job descriptions with real hands-on tasks specific to whatever department may suit the internship candidate from operations and clinics to government relations and corporate social responsibility.

Now Allison divulged all of this during our very first meeting and it would be one thing of an internship, and in fact a very common practice I’m sure, to say that an intern program consists of this or that or that the program seeks to accomplish these things, but I can honestly say that over the past 7 weeks every single one of these amazing professional development aspects has come to fruition. I have learned a great deal about what amazing forms health intervention can take and I have grown a great deal in my experience of how non-profits operate and succeed in this rapidly changing world of aid. In working with PROJECT C.U.R.E., I have gained incredible insight into myself as a fledgling professional and what my place could be within an organization such as this. Up to this point I sincerely did not have a clue much of what goes into affecting change in the world from an organizational standpoint and I can say now that after 10 weeks I will be one step closer to understanding what it really means to take on such a bold and humane motto: “delivering health and hope to the world.”

Pediatricians are needed to complete medical teams scheduled to visit Lima and Pucusana, Peru, and Managua, Nicaragua, for C.U.R.E. CLINICS programs this coming summer. Visit the C.U.R.E. CLINICS page on our website to download and complete a preliminary application. Not a pediatrician? No problem. Your expertise and skills will be valuable for other C.U.R.E. CLINICS programs planned for 2010-2011.
Lima and Pucusana, Peru: June 22-July 2		El Crucero, Nicaragua: June 17-30
Participants in C.U.R.E. CLINICS programs work alongside in-country medical professionals to provide life-sustaining medical care to those in need and make a real difference for individuals and communities in the developing world. C.U.R.E. CLINICS are often life-changing experiences for patients and participants.
C.U.R.E. CLINICS: Peru
C.U.R.E. CLINICS teams regularly visit hospitals and clinics in Lima, the capitol city, and Pucusana, a small fishing village, in Peru. There is great need in the region; C.U.R.E. CLINICS participants will provide medical attention and education. Included in this trip is the opportunity to travel to Cuzco and enjoy the wonders of Machu Picchu. The cost to participate in the trip is $2,500, with an additional charge of approximately $750 for the Machu Picchu extension. The initial program fee covers airfare, accommodations, in-country transportation, and meals. Visit the C.U.R.E. CLINICS page on our website to download a preliminary application. Contact us for more information.
C.U.R.E. CLINICS: Nicaragua
Three years ago, four families from Highlands Ranch, CO, gathered together and formed El Crucero Leadership Team with the goal of raising funds to build a clinic in El Crucero, Nicaragua, and to support and oversee operations. The completed clinic has three exam rooms, a dental exam room, laboratory, and pharmacy. A PROJECT C.U.R.E. container arrived in February 2010. Experienced family practice doctors are needed to serve at daily health fairs. Prominent diseases include hypertension, respiratory conditions, asthma, and skin disorders. The cost for this trip is $2,000, which includes airfare, accommodations, in-country transportation, and meals. Work at the clinic can be followed by a short leisure trip to Nicaragua's beautiful beaches on the Pacific Ocean and/or tours of Lago de Nicaragua, Granada, or the Maribios Volcanic Chain. Visit the C.U.R.E. CLINICS page on our website to download a preliminary application. Contact us for more information.
Together with you, PROJECT C.U.R.E. will make a difference in Peru and Nicaragua. Thank you for your interest in C.U.R.E. CLINICS!

The Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce recently hosted Leanna Clark, the director of PROJECT C.U.R.E.'s PhilanthroTravel division, as the featured speaker for its monthly luncheon. More than 80 people participated in the event, during which Leanna spoke about her work at both IMA Financial Group and PROJECT C.U.R.E. Learn more about PhilanthroTravel and an upcoming trip to Belize. In the picture at right are Leanna Clark (left) and Donna Evans (right), president of the Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce.

Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton, New York, has so far committed five large pallets of medical supplies and personal care items to PROJECT C.U.R.E.'s relief efforts in Haiti. Staff at the hospital will continue to collect items for delivery to Haiti; the total value of materials currently exceeds $100,000.

Lourdes began collecting supplies to donate to PROJECT C.U.R.E. in December 2009 for general needs. When the earthquake hit in Haiti, it was evident to the staff at Lourdes where the supplies should go. Items collected include: hand sanitizer, diabetes testing supplies, suture material, syringes, ostomy supplies, dressings, and casting material.

"We hope to send more supplies to Haiti as they are collected throughout the hospital and Lourdes Primary Care sites,' said Joan Kupetsky, hospital coordinator.

You can help make sure the supplies Lourdes staff have collected arrive in Haiti. Donate now to sponsor delivery costs.

Volunteers recently finished preparing a ninth load of medical relief supplies for Haiti. Three more will follow soon after.

Here are the details on all recent loads to Haiti. The value of materials delivered to the island so far exceeds $3.5 million.

1.    The first Haiti load* left Project C.U.R.E. Nashville on Friday, Jan. 15, on its way to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba where it was shuttled to the U.S.S. Comfort and transported to onsite medical aid groups in Haiti. This load was sponsored by Newmont Mining Corporation.

2.    The second load of Project C.U.R.E. medical relief left Denver via American Airlines on Monday, Jan. 18, from which it was flown to Miami and transferred to Catholic Relief Services for the organization’s workers in Haiti. This load was sponsored by MillerCoors.

3.    A third load left Denver via American Airlines on Monday, Jan. 18. Materials were received and distributed by the U.S. Military’s Southern Command to various aid organizations. This load was sponsored by Cameco Resources.

4.    A fourth contingent of supplies traveled from Project C.U.R.E.’s distribution center in Nashville, Tenn., to Norfolk, Va., where it was joined with the U.S.S. Sacagawea (a dry cargo ship) to be distributed by the U.S. Southern Command to various aid organizations. This load was sponsored by Apache Corporation.

5.    A load destined for Opa-locka, Fla. left Phoenix on Jan. 26. Rock-It Cargo, a private charter plane, transported it to Port-au-Prince on Jan. 30, where it was distributed to Partners in Health (PIH). PIH is operating the large Hôpital de l'Université d'état d'Haiti (HUEH), or University Hospital, in the capitol city.

6.    Project C.U.R.E. volunteers prepared a sixth load that left Nashville on Wednesday, Jan. 28 en route to Florida, then to Haiti. This load was received by Partners in Health and sponsored by Rock-It Cargo.

7.    Leaving Denver on Feb. 1, a load filled principally with first aid and hygiene supplies donated by community members then went to Florida, where it was repacked into a private charter plane provided by Rock-It Cargo, delivered to Haiti, and distributed to Partners in Health.

8.    The eighth load of Help for Haiti supplies left Houston on Feb. 1 en route to Florida, from which it was transported by Rock-It Cargo to Port-au-Prince to be received by Partners in Health.

9.    Leaving Nashville on Feb. 12, the ninth load carrying beds and other basic supplies is intended for Partners in Health. It will arrive on the island in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, then travel by truck to Port au Prince, Haiti.

10. Supplies requested by partner organization Catholic Relief Services were prepared for the 10^th load, which left Denver on Feb. 25.

11. For the 11^th load, volunteers in Nashville prepared a container on March 5 to be delivered to Partners in Health.

12.  The 12^th load, to be delivered to Yéle Haiti, will include supplies such as diapers, personal hygiene items, and disinfectants. The materials will be distributed to orphanages in Haiti.