Jhpiego News Release - Red Star and Johns Hopkins non-profit affiliate Jhpiego sponsor Asia Tsunami Fund drive

Baltimore, Md. – "We are proud to launch Fells Point’s lead fundraiser to support relief efforts to help the people of South Asia repair and rebuild their lives and families," said Larry Silverstein, owner of Red Star restaurant. Red Star, at 906 S. Wolfe St., Fells Point, Baltimore, and 20 Fells Point businesses are sponsoring "Asia Tsunami Week," January 24-29, by donating a portion of their revenues for the week to Jhpiego, an international public health organization affiliated with The Johns Hopkins University that is headquartered in Fells Point. Jhpiego has established the Asia Tsunami Fund to support the organization’s relief activities in South Asia.

The kickoff event will take place at Red Star on Monday, January 24, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Many community and Maryland VIPs are expected to attend in support of the week’s community fundraising efforts.

The Jhpiego Asia Tsunami Fund is a response to help provide direct relief to the people affected by the tsunami over the long term. Leslie D. Mancuso, president and CEO of Jhpiego, on her return from tour of Aceh Province as a guest of the Indonesian government, said, "Care for families has been the hallmark of Jhpiego’s work throughout Indonesia over the past six years. After seeing the unspeakable devastation in Indonesia, I am pleased and proud that the business community in our Fells Point community has joined forces to support Jhpiego’s efforts to help the people of South Asia rebuild and revitalize their health infrastructure."

Jhpiego is committed to continue providing health services to women and families in the tsunami-affected regions of Asia, where the organization’s staff and network of health care providers:

Provide pregnant women the care to safely deliver a healthy baby;

Attend to families’ immediate health care needs;

Furnish essential health care supplies and information for communities;

Educate midwives, nurses and physicians to fill gaps created by tragic losses of health professionals in the region;

Rebuild community health systems to care for mothers and children;

Create sustainable, quality health services in coordination with governments, NGOs and professional organizations.

Tax-deductible contributions to Jhpiego’s Asia Tsunami Fund may be made by check or credit card (by phone or online). Donations made before January 31 are eligible for tax deductibility on 2004 U.S. tax returns.

Fells Point businesses participating in the fundraising efforts are: Su Casa, Fells Point Surf Company, Urban Adventure Company, After Midnight, Brassworks Company, .925 The Silver Store, Strictly BeMore, Fells Point Popcorn, The Frame House, Art Gallery of Fells Point, The Sound Garden, aMuse, Funky Fish, Eclectic Elements, Urban Posters, Grrreat Bears, Carmella's Art Gallery & Gift Shop and Wind River.

About Jhpiego
For nearly 40 years, Jhpiego, (pronounced "ja-pie-go"), has empowered front-line health workers by designing and implementing simple, low-cost, hands-on solutions that strengthen the delivery of health care services, following the household-to-hospital continuum of care. We partner with community- to national-level organizations to build sustainable, local capacity through advocacy, policy and guidelines development, and quality and performance improvement approaches.