Posts by khelton
Bringing Life-Saving Medicines to Mali
By Liam Carstens, Vice President of Programs We recently received feedback from our longstanding partner, Life for Relief and Development, regarding a 40-foot container of medicine, equipment, and medical supplies that arrived in Mali, West Africa. Packed with hospital equipment and essential medicines for conditions like high blood pressure, hypertension, neurological disorders, and bacterial infections,…
Read MoreBecause You Came to Me
Bringing eye care to the places where patients already live, work, and receive care. By Evan Waxman, MD, PhDUniversity of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Department of OphthalmologyUPMC Vision Institute A 72-year-old woman came down from her apartment in a senior high rise to visit our pop-up mobile eye clinic when it parked outside her building.…
Read MoreShining a Light on Keepers of the Flame Foundation’s Therapy Program
By Joyce WilliamsSurvivor, Founder, Executive Director of Keepers of the Flame Foundation Hearing the words, “You have cancer,” certainly ripples the foundation under your feet in ways you never thought possible. It sure did that for me. As I sat down on a red bench outside Target to snag the call that would forever change…
Read MorePittsburgh Training Helps Strengthen Radiation Oncology in Ukraine
Ukrainian Radiation Oncology specialists train in Pittsburgh through a partnership supported by the BBF, bringing advanced radiation therapy expertise back to patients in Ukraine By Alexander Kirichenko, MD, PhDRadiation Oncology, Allegheny Health Institute A remarkable international partnership is helping bring advanced cancer treatment closer to patients in Ukraine. Through the collaboration of the National Medical…
Read MoreBrother’s Brother Med-Surg Aid reaches Onderneeming Village in Guyana
By Emily UmbleAssistant Director of Programs Brother’s Brother Foundation Med-Surg Trip gift-in-kind donations reach some of the most remote areas of the world. BBF partners with medical groups traveling abroad to lead or partake in medical clinics, surgical procedures, and outreach, offering a variety of services from primary care to specialized treatments. Med-Surg aid can…
Read MoreSolar Power Expands Educational Opportunity in Rural Zambia
Access to reliable electricity remains a major barrier for many rural schools, limiting classroom instruction, access to technology, and opportunities for student growth. In Simoonga Village, Zambia, Brother’s Brother Foundation helped address that challenge through a grant supporting the installation of a solar power system at Daltorio School. The BBF-funded project provided a 10-panel solar…
Read MoreBringing Epilepsy Care to Central African Republic
BBF continues to support epilepsy care in the Central African Republic through shipments of essential seizure medications to DREAM, a healthcare program serving vulnerable communities across Sub-Saharan Africa. Recently, Massimo Leone, Medical Director for DREAM in Sub-Saharan Africa, returned from a working visit to the organization’s epilepsy centers in Bangui, Central African Republic, where he…
Read MoreFinal Report: Supporting Recovery in Jamaica
Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica in late October as the most powerful storm to directly impact the island. The Category 5 hurricane brought sustained winds of 185 mph, causing widespread destruction across multiple parishes. At least 45 people lost their lives, more than $130 million in infrastructure was damaged, and approximately 90,000 individuals were…
Read MoreBBF Supports Tornado Relief Efforts in Eastern Oklahoma
BBF provided a grant to the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma (FBEO) to support immediate relief efforts following recent tornadoes that impacted communities across eastern Oklahoma. The funding is being used to supply 200 emergency food boxes, 350 cases of water, and 500 snack packs to families affected by the storms. These resources are being…
Read MoreBBF Supports Caridad Center’s Mobile Health Screening Initiative
BBF has provided a grant to Caridad Center to support its Mobile Health Screening Initiative, expanding access to preventive care for underserved communities in Palm Beach County, Florida. This latest grant builds on BBF’s ongoing partnership with Caridad, which includes the donation of a mobile health van to help bring services directly into the community.…
Read MoreFinal Grant Report: Supporting Mental Health Needs Following the L.A. Wildfires
In March 2025, BBF provided a grant to Pasadena Senior Center to support mental health services for older adults impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires. Through this support, the Center expanded access to counseling, support groups, and educational programs for individuals who would otherwise face long wait times or no access to care. The grant…
Read MoreFrom Our President Ozzy Samad
The Impact of Your Support: A Local Implementation Partner in Action! As you may be aware, BBF has been collaborating with the Eye & Ear Foundation (EEF), University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) along with students from the Pitt School of Medicine, and the Allegheny Health Network (AHN), to help address the needs of underserved…
Read MoreUrgent Infrastructure Project Provides Critical Disaster Response Care
By Emily Umble, BBF Assistant Director of Programs Sri Lanka, the beautiful island nation in the Indian Ocean, faces significant risks from frequent natural disasters, cyclones being one of the most destructive. Cyclonic Storm Ditwah arrived in Sri Lanka in November 2025, causing severe flooding and landslides in the central highlands. Emergency shelters for displaced…
Read MoreBlossoming Beyond
Blossoming Beyond is dedicated to supporting women through education, treatment, and recovery, funding services that empower breast cancer patients and survivors to flourish in every stage of their journey. It started in October, 2021 by Laura Kelly, BBF’s Vice President of Communications and Development, following her own diagnosis of Stage III Invasive Breast Cancer. Breast…
Read MoreFree Wheelchair Mission and BBF
By Liam Carstens, BBF Vice President of Programs On Tuesday, February 17, 2026, BBF staff members were pleased to host Garrett English, Partner Relationships Manager for Free Wheelchair Mission (FWM). Since 2020, BBF and FWM have partnered on 26 shipments of ocean-going containers to the Dominican Republic, Eswatini, and Pakistan. These shipments, representing a value…
Read MorePreparing for the Season Ahead
As the 2026 severe weather season begins to take shape, forecasters are urging communities not to let their guard down. While tornado totals this year are expected to fall closer to the historical average—between 1,050 and 1,250 nationwide—experts caution that fewer tornadoes do not necessarily mean fewer impacts. Meteorologists anticipate repeated rounds of severe thunderstorms,…
Read MoreStrengthening Local Connections
On February 1st, I had the privilege of spending my Sunday morning with members of the John McMillan Presbyterian Church in Bethel Park, PA. Following their worship service, I was invited to join their congregation for a luncheon, where I shared more information about the Brother’s Brother Foundation. It was a meaningful opportunity to connect…
Read MoreVolunteer and Make an Impact
In January, members of Highmark Health’s Corporate Affairs team volunteered at BBF, spending time assembling hygiene kits for individuals and families impacted by disasters. Their hands-on support helped prepare essential supplies for distribution to communities recovering from crisis, and their willingness to step in and serve made a meaningful difference in advancing BBF’s disaster response…
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