Program donation fills prescription
to play
by
Heather WoolwinePublic Relations
Rarely do good Samaritans get a close look at what the money they raise will do to help those in need. But when members of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America watched 2-year-old twins Amy and Ebony interact with their health care providers at the Medically Fragile Children’s Program (MFCP), the resulting smiles around the room indicated they knew how much good their donation will do.
Dee Nicolaou, left,
Metropolis of Atlanta Philoptochos president, presents twins Ebony and
Amy with a donation for the Medically Fragile Children’s Program.
Occupational therapist Kate Haddock, right, assists the twins in
accepting the check for $22,500. MUSC Children’s Hospital’s MFCP received a check for $22,500 from the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptocus Society Inc., which will be used to purchase play equipment to help children improve their medical outcomes through recreationally therapeutic activities. Dee Nicolaou, Metropolis of Atlanta Philoptochos president, presented the check to Amy and Ebony on Sept. 18.
“What a lasting impact this gift will have on the lives of MFCP children and their families! With therapy and therapy equipment we have seen children who have been wheelchair bound learn to walk. This equipment will be used not only to help the children but to teach parents therapy skills they carry forward at home,” said Pat Votava, MFCP manager. “Medical students and MUSC student therapists rotate through the MFCP and will observe and utilize the equipment as well. This is a gift that will impact generations of lives.”
While attending a national Philoptochos meeting in New York City two years ago, Erica Rouvalis, MUSC Physical Therapy manager, learned of donations given to children’s hospitals across the country. Rouvalis applied for the money from the Philoptochos Children’s Medical Fund after consulting with Children’s Hospital administrators and business managers.
“Erica is a wonderful example of MUSC excellence. People, and in our case children, who need therapeutic play equipment to improve their medical outcomes are so important to Erica that she took the initiative to secure this very generous donation,” Votava said.
The MFCP is a national model that provides all-inclusive health care to children in foster care in Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties who have chronic illnesses. Primary medical care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, nursing, nutrition counseling, medication, supplies, durable medical equipment, care coordination, family support, education and training all are provided by MFCP in one convenient location.
“We get a lot of support from the community, which is great. It is even more exciting when one of our own employees sees a need in the hospital and pursues funding sources for a need,” said John M. Sanders, Children’s Hospital administrator. “Erica has really stepped up to make sure our children have a good experience. We appreciate what Erica and the National Greek Church has done for our children.”
The Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptocus Society has grown into a nationwide movement of more than 27,000 women dedicated to their faith, church and philanthropic goals since its inception in 1931.
The mission of Philoptochos is to help the poor, destitute, hungry, aged, sick, unemployed, orphaned, imprisoned, widowed, handicapped, and the victims of natural disasters, and to offer assistance to anyone who may need the help of the church.
Friday, Sept. 22, 2006
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