Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Douglas Jackson, Janet Thomason.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Dr. Douglas, Janet. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Our Mission: Project C.U.R.E. identifies, solicits, collects, sorts and distributes medical supplies and services according to the imperative needs of the world.
Project C.U.R.E. (Commission on Urgent Relief and Equipment) was founded in 1987 by Dr. James Jackson when he came face-to-face with the needs of the sick and dying. He quickly learned that developing countries lack the basic medical supplies they need to treat those in need. With this in mind, Dr. Jackson founded Project C.U.R.E. to help bridge the staggering health resource gaps in the developing world by matching medical supplies and modern equipment with facilities in need to empower doctors and nurses with the tools they need to treat disease, deliver vaccines, perform life-saving surgeries and ensure safe childbirth.
Over the years Project C.U.R.E. has grown and now operates through six distribution centers in Denver, Nashville, Houston, Chicago, Philadelphia and Phoenix, as well as 9 collection centers across the U.S. These centers accept excess supplies and specialized equipment from hundreds of U.S. hospitals and medical manufacturers.
Thanks to the dedication of more than 20,000 volunteers nationwide working more than 107,000 hours last year, three to four semi-truck trailer-sized containers of life-saving aid, worth approximately $1.5+ million, leave Project C.U.R.E.’s warehouses every week. In addition, Project C.U.R.E. sends volunteer medical teams to underserved facilities abroad to provide free care and train local healthcare staff.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There are always bumps in the road as a growing organization. Project C.U.R.E. continues to meet the needs of hospitals and clinics all over the world, however, there has recently been growing concern over expired supplies from the U.S. Another issue we are facing in Houston is we are outgrowing our warehouse space.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
There are several distinct programs that are unique to Project C.U.R.E.
1. C.U.R.E. Cargo – Deliver millions of dollars of medical supplies and equipment each month. Each cargo delivery begins with a request for assistance to Project C.U.R.E. Before shipment, a trained Needs Assessor visits each recipient hospital or clinic to understand the specific need, evaluate the capacity of the organization, and navigate customs. The average cost to deliver a container is $20,000 – $25,000. The average value of each container is $441,000. We say, “A nickel invested delivers $1 worth of medical relief.”
2. ProC.U.R.E. – Hundreds of hospitals, medical manufacturers, wholesale distributors and generous individuals donate millions of dollars of new consumable supplies and modern medical equipment to Project C.U.R.E. every year. We maintain large warehouse facilities in 15+ cities across the United States to receive donations. Many donors may be eligible for special corporate income-tax benefits by donating to Project C.U.R.E. And in many cases, transportation can be arranged to the nearest Project C.U.R.E. warehouse.
3. C.U.R.E. Kits – Provide a 48 lb. bag/luggage of essential medical supplies to be transported as luggage. C.U.R.E. Kits are designed to provide the items that traveling doctors and nurses need to deliver care in the developing
world. For only $200, Project C.U.R.E. will send a C.U.R.E. Kit to a traveler in the U.S. to take with them on their trip. The large bag contains approximately $2,000 of exam supplies, wound care, personal hygiene items, consumables, and skin solutions.
4. Kits for Kids – Kits for Kids are a simple, powerful package of needed items to moms and kids around the world. Project C.U.R.E. provides to families, clubs, schools, companies and churches a red backpack and a list of basic “medicine cabinet” items that are scarce in the developing world. Individuals here purchase the over-the-counter items that mom’s there need to provide basic care for their kids—but simply cannot obtain. These items are packed into the Kids Kit bag, returned to Project C.U.R.E. with a $5 check to cover the expense of shipping, and are delivered to moms and kids who need it most.
5. C.U.R.E. Clinics travel worldwide to provide healthcare and training to needy people. Twelve to fifteen times throughout the year, teams of dedicated medical professionals travel to clinics and hospitals where Project C.U.R.E. has delivered medical supplies. Participation is open to everyone: Family physicians, OB/GYNs, pediatricians, surgeons, nurse practitioners and nurses are encouraged to travel with us. In addition to
general medical services, Project C.U.R.E. provides specialized programs in surgery, orthopedics, and
maternity/delivery including a train-the-trainer model, “Helping Babies Breathe.”
6. PhilanthroTravel – Experience the results of financial donations and container sponsorship in action. Gifts to Project C.U.R.E. change the world, and through this program, donors will travel to recipient countries to witness the difference their donations make. These once-in-a-lifetime experiences will include several days of volunteer
work in addition to meetings with foreign dignitaries and community leaders, and opportunities to visit incredible parts of the world.
7. C.U.R.E. Corps – Annually, more than 20,000 volunteers sort donated supplies, repair equipment and load containers from our distribution centers throughout the U.S.
Pricing:
- $20,000 – $25,000/container
- $200 – C.U.R.E. Kit
Contact Info:
- Address: Project C.U.R.E. Houston
8251 Kempwood Drive
Houston, TX 77055 - Website: www.projectcure.org
- Phone: 832.251.2489 or 720.490.4021
- Email: janetthomason@projectcure.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/projectcure/
- Facebook: https://business.facebook.com/ProjectCURE/
- Twitter: @projectcure
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/project-cure-houston
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