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Pat Garcia-Gonzalez Achieves the 2023 Global Hero Award

Pat Garcia-Gonzalez(Seattle, WA – November 16, 2023) Global Washington (GlobalWA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to support the global development community in Washington State, announced today that Pat Garcia-Gonzalez, Chief Executive Officer of The Max Foundation, will be recognized as the 2023 Global Hero.

Global Washington’s Board of Directors bestows a Global Hero award each year to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the global development community in Washington state. This is considered a life-time achievement award. This award is given to one person in our GlobalWA community who has shown years of dedication to improving lives in low- and middle-income countries.

Since 2011, GlobalWA has annually recognized Global Heroes for their dedication and achievement. Past Heroes have included Bill Gates Sr., Chris Elias, Jerilyn Brusseau, and Bill Neukom, amongst others.

The award ceremony will be during our 2023 Annual Goalmakers Conference on December 7 in Seattle at Bell Harbor Conference Center.

“Your extraordinary dedication to cancer survivors and overall health equity is a shining light and inspiration to others. The Max Foundation has thrived under your leadership and determination to reach those in need with practical approaches and cutting-edge innovation,” stated Kristen Dailey, Executive Director of GlobalWA.

Under her leadership, The Max Foundation has provided life-extending medication, treatment, and care to more than 100,000 patients for more than 20 years.  Pat is known for her passionate advocacy and dedication to providing access to treatment and diagnostics for people, especially the most vulnerable, living with cancer worldwide. Since its establishment in 1997, the foundation has grown from a website offering resources into a global model for providing access to diagnostics, treatment, medication, care, and social support. The Max Foundation today channels over 10 million doses of life-saving cancer treatment to patients each in 77 LMICs, partnering with a worldwide network of more than 500 physicians and 200 hospitals and medical institutions, as well as several local NGOs and patient associations. 

For questions about this announcement, please email Joel Meyers, Director of Communications of GlobalWA at comms@globalwa.org.

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ABOUT GLOBAL WASHINGTON

Global Washington supports non-profit organizations, businesses, foundations, and academic institutions in Washington state working to improve lives in low- and middle-income countries. We connect, promote, and strengthen our members, increasing their impact and advancing a vibrant, innovative, multi-stakeholder network. Our work is driven by the desire to create a more equitable, healthy, and prosperous world. Learn more at globalwa.org.

ABOUT THE MAX FOUNDATION

The Max Foundation is a leading global health nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating health equity. For 26 years, Max has pioneered practical, scalable, high-quality solutions to bring life-extending treatments and patient-centered health care to more than 100,000 people living with cancer and critical illness in low- and middle-income countries. Max believes in a world where all people can access high-impact medicines, where geography is not destiny, and where everyone can strive for health with dignity and with hope. Learn more at themaxfoundation.org.

To Feed the World, Farmers Need Rights to the Land They Till

By Chris Jochnick, Landesa President & CEO

Sulesa holding certificate

Sulesa, of Ikongosi Village, Mufindi District, Tanzania, received her land certificate through a program supported by Landesa and her local government. Photo by Landesa.

For communities across the Global South, the impacts of climate change are not abstract projections but concrete realities that threaten their land and food security. The final installment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) assessment points to grim consequences should the world fail to meet the 1.5 degrees C target for warming—and even a 1.5 degree pathway would leave nearly 1 billion people experiencing increased risk of drought. The recent World Food Day on October 16 held grim significance for the millions already experiencing climate-related food insecurity.

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Nourishing Hope: How Spreeha Transforms Communities Through Nutrition

By Halima-Tus-Sadia, Head of Growth and Karishma Tahsin, Communications Manager at Spreeha Foundation

Mother feeding her children seated on blanket outdoors

Mother feeding her children in the community. Photo: Spreeha Foundation

 “My son Rizbi is three and a half but he didn’t look like one, he was severely underweight. He used to fall sick, frequently. Since the COVID-19 happened, our income reduced significantly. I was at a loss about what to feed my son and how to help him. Then I took him to Spreeha healthcare center. We also got food support from them. Now, my son is better than ever…”

– says Rizbi’s mother Nipa. Her son is no longer malnourished since she joined Spreeha Nutrition Program in Dhaka

In the bustling heart of Rayerbazar, Dhaka, a once-underdeveloped area faced a troubling dilemma – undernourished children, reduced incomes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and food insecurity. The story of Rizbi, a once severely underweight 3-year-old, reflects the transformative impact of Spreeha’s Nutrition Program. Through dedicated community health workers, monthly food support, and guidance on nutrition, children like Rizbi are now on a path to better health.

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