May
23
In its 7th year of operation, Global Medical Initiative is proud to announce that it has been nominated for Case Western Reserve University’s prestigious Dorothy M. Pijan Leadership Award for Group Service. Named after the nationally renown student union professional and former Director of Student Activities at Thwing Student Center, this award honors the group of students or student organization which has made the most significant group contribution toward meeting the needs of the greater Cleveland community and/or non-profit service organization.
GMI has been recognized this year for its local volunteer efforts, as well as its mobilization in the wake of the tragic earthquake in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Locally, GMI helped dozens of CWRU students connect with volunteers at MedWish International to sort medical supplies at their Euclid Heights facility, 20 minutes away from Case’s campus. Over the course of a year, CWRU students dedicated a combined 300+ hours of service sorting, organizing, and packing thousands of pounds of medical supplies bound for underserved regions of the world.
In part due to our relationship with MedWish International, GMI was also able to mobilize student volunteers quickly following the March earthquakes that devastated the capital of Haiti. With a unified campaign to raise funds, awareness, and action called “Embrace Life: Haiti Relief Fund,” GMI was able to raise nearly $1000 in aid within the first month following the earthquake. These funds were then sent directly to Partners in Health based on the recommendation of former GMI President and 2009 graduate John Heintz.
The most significant result of the campaign, however, was that by mobilizing quickly, GMI was able to become a central source of information for CWRU students and community members to stay informed about developments in Haiti. GMI hopes to carry this momentum forward and continue to deliver updates to students about developments in Haiti. Sustained engagement by the international community will be critical in helping Haitians continue on the road to recovery.
For GMI, winning the Dorothy M. Pijan Leadership Award will mark a tremendous accomplishment. Not only will the award help us leverage our efforts towards continued student involvement, but it could also help us approach larger donors, whose funds could help our organization grow and increase our impact on both the Case community and the international community.
The Leadership Awards will be held in Thwing Ballroom on April 22nd, at 6:00PM.