Corporate News and Events

Trinity Health International Donates $80,000 to Sri Lanka Orphanage

The money – part of nearly $270,000 contributed to Trinity Health’s Tsunami Relief Fund – will be used to buy land for future boys’ orphanage

Novi, Michigan – Contributing to the massive recovery effort in Sri Lanka following the tsunami, Trinity Health today announced an $80,000 donation through its subsidiary, Trinity Health International (THI). The money is a portion of nearly $270,000 raised through corporate and employee donations, and contributions from other entities.

The donation was made to VeAhavta*, a nonprofit organization that provides aid and shelter to orphaned children, needy widows and refugees of Sri Lanka’s civil war.

“On behalf of our neighbors in Sri Lanka, we wish to thank Trinity Health, Trinity Health International and all of their wonderful employees who have helped us in our efforts to help orphaned children, widowed women and the otherwise impoverished human beings in Sri Lanka obtain the basic necessities for survival, particularly since the tsunami,” said Eric Parkinson, President and CEO of VeAhavta. “Because of their generosity, so many of the people we love so dearly have been able to obtain medical care, shelter, food, clothing and water and have, once again, been able to feel hope for the future.”

Trinity Health’s donation will be used toward the purchase of five acres adjacent to VeAhavta’s Grace Care Center orphanage in the coastal village of Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. The group plans to build a second group home for 100 newly orphaned boys.

The donation is the second disbursement from THI’s Tsunami Relief Fund. The fund received contributions from Trinity Health ($100,000) and corporate employees ($69,196), and monies raised from outside entities. Trinity Health provided an additional 100-percent match on all employee donations, bringing the total amount raised to $268,552.

On March 10, THI donated $37,380 to VeAhavta, which was used to purchase beds, furniture, clothing, books and repairs at Grace Care Center and Mercy Home for Elders in Trincomalee, and Deethicholai Daycare Center and Kayankerny Nutritional Feeding Center in Batticaloa.

Future disbursements will be made to VeAhavta and Catholic Relief Services, according to THI Director Patricia Williams.

In addition to financial aid, Trinity Health doctors, nurses and health care professionals from across the health system organized fund-raisers and, at their own expense, sent teams of caregivers and tradesmen to the damaged orphanage and other affected facilities.

“All of us in the Trinity Health family have been touched by the terrible disaster in South Asia, and employees from across our system acted immediately to help in any way they could,” said Williams.

Trinity Health International, a wholly owned subsidiary of Trinity Health, provides technical assistance, training, consulting and management services to governments, ministries of health and private health care organizations around the world. THI has access to 44,000 Trinity Health employees at 45 hospitals, numerous long-term care facilities, home health and hospice programs, and senior housing communities in seven states. These resources are utilized, as appropriate, in the provision of high quality services to our clients. Since 1981, THI has conducted more than 170 healthcare projects, utilizing more than 300 individuals in over 900 assignments in 42 countries around the world.

* VeAhavta is a 501(c)(3) charity registered with the IRS and the State of California. All of VeAhavta’s directors and officers serve without compensation and have no paid employees.