Howard County Soroptimists Remember One of Their Own with Gift to IMA World Health

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 7, 2009

(New Windsor, Md.) – Soroptimist International of Howard County has provided IMA World Health (IMA) with a gift of $900 in memory of fellow Soroptimist Barbara Boycan. The funds will be used to deliver much-needed medicines and safe birthing supplies to hurting people in the developing world.

Glenda Johnson, IMA World Health project coordinator for the club, presented IMA President Paul Derstine with the check at a dinner event in Columbia, Md. on June 18. The women’s volunteer organization gave the funds to memorialize Boycan, who had been an ardent supporter of IMA’s Safe Motherhood Kit and Village Dispensary Kit programs. Upon Boycan’s death, her husband Pete requested donations to Soroptimist service projects, and IMA was selected as one of two recipients of those funds.

As a result, IMA will supply six Village Dispensary Kits to overseas medical mission teams, which will deliver the kits to communities in need. The kits contain pain relievers, nutritional supplements, first aid supplies and other basic health care provisions that are unaffordable or simply unavailable to many in the developing world.

In addition, the gift will allow six expecting mothers to each receive an IMA Safe Motherhood Kit, which contains clean and sterile birthing supplies to help prevent infection during childbirth. Infection is a leading cause of maternal and infant mortality in developing countries.

This is by no means the first time that Soroptimists have demonstrated their support for IMA and those it serves. In just the last year, Soroptimist International of Howard County and other Soroptimist clubs in the South Atlantic Region have provided more than 45 Safe Motherhood Kits and more than 20 Village Dispensary Kits.

“Soroptimist International of Howard County is a cherished partner in our work to help restore health and dignity to some of the world’s most vulnerable and marginalized people,” Derstine said. “We are honored to have received this gift in memory of our dear friend Barbara Boycan, and are so very grateful for the continuing support of this very special group of people.”

“We are grateful to Barbara's family, friends, and our club members for their generous support which enabled us to make this donation in her memory,” Johnson said. “The Soroptimist organization is committed to improving the lives of women and girls, in local communities and throughout the world. Our partnership with IMA World Health helps us fulfill this goal.”

IMA World Health is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that helps provide essential healthcare services and medical supplies, without bias, to vulnerable and marginalized people across the globe. IMA operates primarily in developing nations to restore health, hope and dignity to those most in need. For more information, visit us at www.imaworldhealth.org or call 877-241-7952.