HANDREACH
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My name is Li Li and I am a Doctor of Physical Therapy candidate at Northeastern University. I was amazed by the tremendous work that HandRach has done for the poor children with severe burns in China. But I always had a question: How did Brecken make all these good work happen with very limited financial funding and staff resources? Finally, I found my answer. I remember the moment when I met Brecken in Beijing this January. Her big smile and sincere hug warmed my heart despite the chilling temperature outside. I have always admired Brecken’s heroic work, saving the impoverished children who have suffered from trauma including severe burns. A sense of closeness was developed after I watched Zhou Lin’s story on YouTube, a girl from my hometown province in China. At the end of the video, Brecken told us a story about starfish, which made me determined to pursue the volunteer opportunity to help the children at the International Burn Center in Beijing, China. The story was about a person trying to save the ashore starfish, placing them back to the water one at a time. Just like trying to save the dying starfish, Brecken has helped and continues to help the children in desperate need in China, one by one, but for sure. Brecken is not only a great mom to Zhou Lin, she is also the loving mother for all the children who she has helped. She is building the hope for the children who experienced trauma and amputations to achieve their full life potentials. I am going with the Rehab specialist team to Changsha and Beijing in a few days. And I am very honored and excited the trip. Now it is our turn to help Brecken and HandReach. Let us help to raise the awareness of severe burns and a big affected population in china. Let us help Brecken to be able to reach her hands farther to save the poor children. let us help to bring hopes to the children who might never have imagined their lives could be as exciting and colorful as the others'. Please kindly consider your grants, donations and support to Brecken and HandReach. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
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The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
International Burn Center in Beijing, China Northeastern University Shriner's Hospital, Boston, MA Mass General Hospital Hand Clinic
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Keep promoting the organization and fund raising efforts in different cities and countries, including China.
More feedback...
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
working with all volunteers to help the children in desperate need.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
Surgeons, doctors, rehab specialists, nurses, anesthetists, PTs, OTs, social worker volunteers, Charity members and all other kind volunteers.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
save so many children with trauma!
Ways to make it better...
If I could have a better understanding about the organization's Org chart and Operations.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
financial funding to continue the tremendous work.
One thing I'd also say is that...
Regular volunteer meetings (informal or formal) will be vital to continue to recognize the hard work that volunteers have done and continue to promote the organization through grass root efforts.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every month
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
When Brecken contacted me with a request for Dan to speak at her event I had never heard of HandReach. Hearing the story of her daughter and what HandReach was planning to do was immediately inspiring and I felt a need to help make the event happen and a hope to get involved in some way. Meeting the group of people who will be going to China on the current effort instantly confirmed my feelings - each member of this team has a true drive to service and will help in the healing of so many people. I am proud to support such an organization and hope for more involvement in the future.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
I have experienced their results by meeting a child they have helped and being introduced by internet to another child in their system. I also look forward to hear the progress of their upcoming travels to China.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
The only change would be to get the word out more! There are good people in this world who can and will do amazing things.
More feedback...
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
seeing their dreams become a reality as they help in the healing of children.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
passionate, loving and driven!
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
WOW..if we cannot bring the kids to the Shriners..maybe we could help bring the shriners to the kids.
Ways to make it better...
I could tell everyone about HandReach.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
lack of national awareness.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
One time
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
I am 62 years old and totally and permanently disbled primarily from a car accident my entire family was in when I was 12 years old. I have known Brecken Chinn Schwartz for nearly 6 years and love her wonderful open heart, brilliant mind and dedication to making this world a better place in which to live for as many people as she possibly can. The car accident my family and I suffered changed our lives totally in seconds, so it is very easy for me to relate to the devasting changes in people's lives that burn accidents can bring to any one at any time. I am also all too aware of how expensive medical treatment can be. Our family was also very poor in material ways, as are many of the children HandReach is helping. The good thing is that I know how extremely precious the love and support of others can be both to the giver and the receipient. HandReach gives me an opportunity to really help others, who have also suffered devasting injuries in the blink of an eye. I am the oldest of nine children. We were all in the car when another vehicle smashed into us head-on. My father's heart and lungs were punctured by the steering wheel. He died instantly. My mother was in critical condition for 3 and a half days and no one expected her to live. Eventually, I was healed sufficiently to go and visit my little brother and baby sister in the ward for younger children. In a nearby bed there was a 5 year old boy under a partial tent of light blankets. His mother was there most of the time keep him company. The lower half of his body had suffered third degree burns which were completely visible at all times under the open tent. I would visit them too because they were lonely with no other visitors. Back then the treatment was not very helpful it seemed, but prayers and company and a loving smile were much appeciated. Then, as now, that was all I could provide. By sharing the good news about all that HandReach is doing for children who have suffered devasting burns like my young friend did so many years ago, I too can help in a small way with the fund raising effort. Brecken has shared some of the stories of their young patience and asked for prayer support also, which I am more than happy to give. When I have more resources, I will share them. I urge everyone to give all they can to this wonderful healing effort.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
the joy in my heart knowing I, and others through my outreach efforts, can actually participate in bringing healing of every type to young children who would not otherwise have the opportunity to receive it.
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How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every week
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
HandReach is an amazing organization, with its noble mission of helping all children get equal opportunities of education and life. The Children's Healing Initiative (CHI) program helps the children who are severely burnt or amputated to get back the mobility so that they can live a productive life, which they wouldn't possibly have otherwise. HandReach has helped many individual children, and is strategically moving from a direct service provider to focusing on changing the system so that much more children can be helped. In order to do that, it needs more funding and resources. I hope people will support HandReach to achieve its goals and help all the needy children.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
N/A
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How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every month
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
My experience with Handreach and their staff has been wonderful. They're extremely caring, thoughtful and will do almost anything to help a person in need. The caring trickles down from the woman in charge, who's on another level in terms of caring and helpfulness.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Too many ways to count.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Help them get more funding. Everything else is perfect.
More feedback...
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
everything, no complaints.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
kind, caring, ambitious and just down right awesome people.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
what couldn't it do would be the better question.
Ways to make it better...
can't think of anything, so I'll just leave this one free.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
Funding and lack of exposure.
One thing I'd also say is that...
:)
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
One time
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
I think many organizations need to take notes from HandReach and it's amazing leader and founder, Brecken Swartz. I believe leadership that is lead by love can go far beyond what is imaginable. This organization is rooted in love and harmony which has allowed for great things to happen and many more to come. Brecken has been able to organize and bring a group of varied individuals together for this great mission but she needs more help. Her energy can only go so far. More funding would allow HandReach to physically reach others in need of care. It is amazing that this one person can take this organization this far, I can only imagine where this would go if HandReach were funded the way it needs to be funded.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
bringing people together. The philosophy of this organization allows for all types of people to come together.
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How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every month
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
My experience, as a student nurse from Northeastern University to be a part of this organization, has truly made me proud to be a future nurse. It was extremely rewarding to help these burn victims and see their progress over a four month period while I was in Beijing. It was so touching just to see a child walk after having third degree burns in her legs. It has inspired me so much to become a nurse and that I can help not only people in the United States but also help adults and kids around the world. The organization has provided so much help to these kids who need the proper care for their burns and I was very fortunate enough to be a part of this amazing organization.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
many ways through the progression of the patients during my four month stay in Beijing at the Air Force Hospital. It was amazing to see the care and work the health care staff provided to these patients.
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What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
how much I gained by caring for pediatric burn patients. The kids not only made a huge impact to my life but the staff members were like my family. This experience has reinforced my career path to be a nurse and to help kids and adults around the world.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
extremely hospitable. They were like my family from the first day to the last day of my four month experience in Beijing and Changsha. They are truly an amazing team of doctors, nurses and therapists and I commemorate all of their hard work.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
help save pediatric/adult burn victims around the world and not only just in China.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
One time
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
It is a amazing organizations which beleives in making childrens life all they can be by providing special care. Children of china are able to live a full and respectfull life becaus of the organization.
Photos
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Seeing children return to be kids after recieving their Prosthesis.......just amazing
More feedback...
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
seeing the kids faces and walking fo the first time
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
change so many children's lifes in such a positive way
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every six months
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
An incredible organization with a very important mission--helping children in need. Excellent leadership by Brecken Swartz, who has vision and persistence to reach her goals. Brecken puts her whole heart into her work and knows how to recruit the right people to complete the work that is needed. I am in awe of what she has accomplished in such a short time.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Having our nursing students (Northeastern University) participate in cooperative education experiences in China.
More feedback...
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
The vision, energy and social mission.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
Clinicians, administrative staff who were amazing to work with on projects. They are caring, visionary and efficient.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
Change the lives of numerous children in China who have been burned. And, perhaps extend the work to other developing countries.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every month
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
As an Occupational Therapist, the goals of HandReach are consistent with the holistic way we approach our work. We both want children to be productive and happy members of society. HandReach not only provides the funding for medical expenses for these needy children, but also trained the therapists in China to better rehabilitate them following surgery which we know is the key to a good outcome. In addition, HandReach is looking for innovative ways to help the children such as making podcasts to train therapists and family members on positioning and splinting which are vital following surgery. Children are our future and can do amazing things in the midst of severe obstacles and HandReach gives them this chance.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
the smiles as a child realizes they can now pick up a toy, or tie their shoe, or feed themselves. The joy in the a parent's face when they see their child walking on their own, participating in group play, and reaching up to hug their parent.
More feedback...
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
Children, given the opportunity, can do great things. Providing surgery and rehabilitation can free these children to fulfill their potential and contribute to society.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
incredibly committed, enthusiastic, passionate, kind-hearted, smart, motivated...and fun!
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every six months
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
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