Giving Tuesday began in 2012 with a simple but powerful idea: create a day that encourages people to do good. It has since grown into a global movement inspiring millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. This year the New England Hemophilia Association (NEHA) in the United States decided to collaborate with the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) on a Giving Tuesday to raise funds to support our vital programs and services.
The campaign kicked off with NEHA hosting WFH USA President Eric Stolte and WFH USA National Director Jennifer Laliberté for a special Giving Tuesday webinar. Patients and families from across the region joined to hear how our initiatives bring sustainable change to those living with little or no access to care. Their enthusiasm and obvious empathy for patients in the developing world was evident throughout the event. A highlight of the webinar was when Barun Khakurel of the Nepal Hemophilia Society joined—at 5 a.m. his time!—to share his experience as a patient and community leader. A lively question and answer session ensued as those in attendance went, in the words of NEHA Executive Director Rich Pezzillo: “On a journey to learn quite a bit more about what’s happening in the rest of the world.”
It is with gratitude that we can report that many of those in attendance immediately donated to support the work of the WFH.
