Savinglives

Conceptualized in December 2001, the Give-A-Life Charity Foundation became reality when its founder, a New Zealand ex-pat who wants to be known only as SJJ, spent his birthday at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) Pediatrics Ward. He realized that sick children were dying due to lack of hospital equipment and sheer poverty since they could not afford to buy needed medicine. So he donated medicine and a ventilator that cost P1.2 million of his own money.

Conditions at the PGH were indeed dire. Residents have been known to shell out their own money for medicine needed by the patients. Syringes were recycled. Premature babies had to line up for incubators, kept warm in the meantime with cling-wrap and heat lamps. Children with difficulty breathing expired due to lack of ventilators and manual oxygen ambulatory squeeze bags. Children faced the risk of infection and sometimes, they died because of the lack of antibiotics..

With the help of then chief pediatric resident Dr. Philip Cruz, Give-A-Life raised awareness of the plight of and conditions at the PGH and brought in much-needed donations for medicine and life-saving equipment. Multinationals and individual donors gave a phenomenal P30 million pesos. With this amount, Give-A-Life purchased medicine and equipment, saved the lives of thousands of sick children, and upgraded the conditions at the PGH.

SJJ explains: "We spend 100% of all donations for medicine and equipment–that is the strength of the project. We give direct, no red tape. That very popular infomercial that ran daily on TV and other promo materials were paid for from my own pocket and/or volunteered by kind sponsors. But now, we cannot use the infomercial anymore. It’s a pity we got caught up in PGH’s bureaucracy," he laments, obviously stung by PGH’s desire for all donations to be turned over to PGH’s Pediatrics Department for disbursement.

He insists: "I am answerable to all the donors and I want to assure them that their donations went to the children. We have professional and audited reports."

Melanie Ilisan, Give-A-Life officer-in-charge reports: "We have donors who call and ask what the children need. And in as little as an hour, they come to the office and make their donation. Sometimes, they go straight to the bank and make a deposit to our account. Sometimes, they give in kind. All the donations are fully acknowledged with an official receipt. Our donors trust us. Their money does not sit in the bank. We buy and disburse the supplies right away. We go on because we know we are helping many sick children directly."

The volunteer staff is grateful that asking for donations is not the problem. "People want to give, their generosity is so wonderful! They just want to be assured of where their money goes," Ilisan adds. "And we can show them."

They have a database of all their donors and all their disbursements. They have helped about 7,000 children get well. They have a growing list of all their patients and what each one needs. They have medicine supplies—from hospital paraphernalia (to avoid recycling of needles), shunts, simple antibiotics to heavy duty and very expensive chemotherapy drugs—that fill up two rooms. They buy in bulk, straight from the pharmaceuticals, so they can get the best value for the donors’ money.

The meds are ready for distribution to sick children, this time in other hospitals through coordination with their respective Pediatrics Departments as well as social services. The foundation handles seven hospitals at present: Ospital ng Maynila, National Children‘s Hospital, Jose Fabella Memorial, Jose Reyes Memorial, San Lazaro, Pasay City General, Amang Rodriguez, West Visayas State, and Ilo-ilo Provincial Hospital. To date, Give-A-Life has spent about P20 million for these hospitals.

The hospitals provide a list of the sick kids and their needs and, after some paperwork and proper authentication, the foundation goes straight to work in procuring and dispensing whatever is needed. The hospitals then give back a report of the kids’ development. "We encourage people to continue giving as there are many children who cannot afford to wait," she explains.

SJJ beams: "Our latest project was the renovation of the Ospital ng Maynila’s seven pedia wards, and their cancer ward, sponsored by various donors like the American Women’s Club of the Philippines, Springboard Foundation, and other family sponsors. Donors like that–a ward in their name. They get involved with the details of the project and they feel empowered."

Give-A-Life recently bought 50 bassinets and one ventilator for Fabella Memorial Hospital. "We are planning many more ward renovations with the help of our sponosors. Many other foundations are also always interested to help: the SM Foundation, Epixtar, Bosch, Citibank, San Miguel Corp., Philippine Airlines, Fed-Ex–some by monetary donations, some by services. For example, Fed-Ex ships our meds to Ilo-ilo," the New Zealander explains.

Recently, Give-A-Life won the 39th Anvil Award for Excellence given by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines. "We aren’t even a PR company!" SJJ laughs.e shies away from the limelight because he wants to stay focused. And Give-A-Life does not lose its focus–the sick children who survive by securing the medicine they need.

In these desperate times, where self-aggrandizement, bureaucracy and politicking rule, a beacon shines in the Give-A-Life Charity Foundation, Inc.

SJJ emphasizes like a mantra: People are generous. Cancer is curable. Poverty should not kill the sick children."

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Give-A-Life Chairty Foundation may be reached at tel 899-1000 or visit their website at www.givealife.com.ph