#GivingTuesday Campaign for Doula Care was a Huge Success! We've raised over $18,000

Thank you everyone who took action by supporting our Giving Tuesday Crowdfund for Doula Care this year! The response was extraordinary! We are so close to our goal, reaching up over $18,000! Donations are still coming in. If you missed it and would like to give, it's not too late. Please visit the link ehs.org/DoulaCare and help bring us closer to our $20,o00 goal! We also want to thank are dedicated and very driven Ambassadors, Renee Hastick-Motes, Deborah Mackler-Gordon, Joe Caraccia and Sheryl Edwards! Without them, we just couldn't do it.

This year, we are addressing the maternal health crisis in the US by fundraising to provide no cost Doula Care for women in our community.

Moms are dying at the highest rate in the developed world – and the rate is rising. For as dire as the situation is for all birthing people, the crisis is most severe for Black moms, who are dying at 3 to 4 times the rate of their white counterparts. One study found that in New York City, Hispanic birthing people experienced sever maternal morbidity at 1.8 times the rate of non-Hispanic white birth people.

Research shows a wide range of community-based approaches such as doula services, improve health outcomes and patient’s experiences, while also potentially reducing costs. Such approaches could benefit those most at risk of poor outcomes, particularly people of color and those with low income.

Having doula services readily available for women in our community, at no cost, breaks through both financial and social barriers that can make this experience overwhelming and isolating. Together, we can make an impact.

You can learn more about doula care by watching this video. To see what is being done to address the maternal health crisis in American or to get involved, visit https://blackmaternalhealthcaucus-underwood.house.gov/Momnibus.

As always, we thank you for your amazing support.

Renee Hastick-Motes

This Giving Tuesday, I invite you to help St. John's Episcopal Hospital address the maternal health crisis by supporting our Crowdfund for Doula Care. A doula is a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to a mother before, during and shortly after childbirth to help her achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible. Having doula care readily available for women in our community, at no cost, breaks through both financial and social barriers. Equity-centered approaches to maternity care may also help to reduce maternal health outcomes. Please support Doula Care at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital, by making a donation today. Your support will not only help provide these potentially lifesaving services at no cost but it will also get us one step closer to maternal health equity for all.
Renee Hastick-Motes, Vice President of External AffairsDonate to Renee's Crowdfund

Joe Caraccia

St. John's Episcopal Hospital and its community is very near and dear to the hearts of Jzanus and me! We have been partners with EHS for over 25 years, assisting the people in the community and helping to achieve the hospital's mission. We are proud to support the Crowdfund for Doula Care and are asking all of our friends and families to get behind us and make this dream a reality. Thank you in advance for your support! - Joe Caraccia, Senior Executive VP at Jzanus, Ltd. Donate to Joe's Crowdfund

Deborah Mackler-Gordon

As a team member of St. John's, I believe the patients at St. John's would benefit from Doula Care. Research shows a wide range of community-based approaches improve health outcomes and patients’ experiences, while also potentially reducing costs. Such approaches could especially benefit those most at risk of poor outcomes, particularly people of color and those with low income.
Deborah Mackler-Gordon, Director of Construction Project Management
Donate to Deborah's Crowdfund

Sheryl Edwards

I have been involved in several fundraising events for St John’s and have seen first hand the life changing results of funds raised for these causes. Doula care is essential for expectant women living in low-income communities and can really benefit from the guidance and support from someone who is there to personally care for them.
"None of us, including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things, with great love, and together we can do something wonderful." – Mother Teresa

-Sheryl Edwards, Member of ECW Diocesan Board, Finance Chair & Episcopal Relief Development Representative.Donate to Sheryl's Crowdfund