2023 Global Links Annual Report
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ANNUAL REPORT<br />
<strong>2023</strong>
Cover & inside cover Photo Credit: <strong>Global</strong> <strong>Links</strong><br />
Our Pittsburgh team<br />
working alongside<br />
our Bolivian<br />
colleagues and<br />
partners in February<br />
of <strong>2023</strong><br />
At <strong>Global</strong> <strong>Links</strong> we work to improve<br />
health — centered on our guiding<br />
principles of dignity and respect for all<br />
people, respect for the environment,<br />
and continuous learning and<br />
improvement.<br />
Our Medical Surplus Recovery Program provides healthcare organizations,<br />
corporations, universities, and the community with a socially and<br />
environmentally responsible alternative to discarding surplus medical supplies<br />
and furnishings, a strategy supporting the “Circular Economy.” We rescued 263<br />
tons of high-quality surplus materials in <strong>2023</strong>!<br />
Our Community Engagement/Volunteer Program provides opportunities for<br />
volunteers of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities to sort, assess, and prepare the<br />
medical materials used in our programs, turning our region’s surplus into lifesaving<br />
and life-improving donations. At the same time, volunteers learn about<br />
public health, gaps in meeting the basic needs of our neighbors, surplus in the<br />
healthcare sector in the United States, and sustainability in a fun environment.<br />
In <strong>2023</strong>, the donated medical materials and efforts of our volunteers and staff<br />
allowed our Domestic Medical Aid Program to serve 5,084 of our vulnerable<br />
neighbors in Western Pennsylvania to improve their health, dignity, mobility,<br />
and independence. Likewise, our International Medical Aid Program supported<br />
health improvement projects in communities needing resources, primarily in<br />
Latin America and the Caribbean, aiding nearly 2 million people!<br />
Thank you for allowing us to steward your gifts, and in joining us to improve<br />
health for so many both locally and around the world!<br />
Angela Garcia, Executive Director<br />
2 <strong>Global</strong> <strong>Links</strong> <strong>2023</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> 3
<strong>2023</strong><br />
by the<br />
Numbers:<br />
Nearly<br />
2 million<br />
lives impacted locally and globally<br />
5,084<br />
neighbors impacted<br />
locally<br />
1,203<br />
households received a month<br />
supply of diapers<br />
423<br />
medical professionals received a<br />
<strong>Global</strong> <strong>Links</strong> Medical Backpack<br />
6,115<br />
Personal Care Kits packed by<br />
community volunteers<br />
1,383<br />
individuals educated via<br />
26 outreach events<br />
263<br />
tons of surplus<br />
rescued<br />
from disposal<br />
INTERNATIONAL<br />
MEDICAL AID PROGRAM:<br />
<strong>2023</strong> Financial Resources <strong>2023</strong> Resource Allocation<br />
45%<br />
FOUNDATION<br />
SUPPORT:<br />
44%<br />
INTERNATIONAL<br />
& GOVERNMENT<br />
SUPPORT:<br />
20%<br />
DOMESTIC<br />
MEDICAL AID PROGRAM:<br />
26%<br />
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT<br />
& VOLUNTEER PROGRAM:<br />
21%<br />
INDIVIDUAL<br />
NONPROFIT<br />
PARTNER<br />
SUPPORT:<br />
5%<br />
CORPORATE<br />
SUPPORT:<br />
8%<br />
SUPPORT:<br />
12% EARNED<br />
REVENUE:<br />
7%<br />
INVESTMENT<br />
REVENUE<br />
AND OTHER:<br />
4%<br />
MEDICAL SURPLUS<br />
RECOVERY PROGRAM:<br />
8%<br />
4 <strong>Global</strong> <strong>Links</strong> <strong>2023</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> 5
Photo Credits: <strong>Global</strong> <strong>Links</strong><br />
Program & Project Highlights<br />
International Medical Aid<br />
Program in Bolivia<br />
It takes teamwork! In February<br />
<strong>2023</strong>, <strong>Global</strong> <strong>Links</strong> staff were able<br />
to participate in the arrival of one<br />
of our container shipments to Pojo,<br />
Bolivia, where the medical materials<br />
were divided amongst the smaller<br />
surrounding health clinics. People<br />
from each of the communities came<br />
to the celebration event with their<br />
vehicles to pick up the supplies and<br />
furnishings that had been designated<br />
for their community health clinic. In<br />
addition to allowing full transparency<br />
around the contents of the shipment,<br />
seeing the equipment, supplies, and<br />
furnishings in person can instill<br />
trust in everyone to actually visit the<br />
health clinic when they have health<br />
needs, as they know it will have the<br />
needed supplies.<br />
Shipment arrival and<br />
celebration in Pojo, Bolivia<br />
Program in Honduras<br />
<strong>Global</strong> <strong>Links</strong> continues to work with<br />
health facilities in Honduras in areas<br />
recovering from hurricanes and in<br />
areas where there is a lack of resources<br />
to meet the high demand for surgery<br />
and maternal/pediatric services.<br />
Through an agreement with the<br />
Honduran Ministry of Health and the<br />
Pan American Health Organization/<br />
World Health Organization, hospitals<br />
like San Isidro Hospital, which serves<br />
100,000+ people, received hospital<br />
beds, bassinets, waiting room chairs,<br />
nebulizers, sutures, gloves, and more<br />
that the General Director of the<br />
hospital described, “Today San Isidro<br />
Hospital received a very good donation<br />
from <strong>Global</strong> <strong>Links</strong> for which we are<br />
very grateful. With these [supplies,<br />
furnishings, equipment] we will<br />
update some spaces which have been<br />
abandoned for a long time.”<br />
Photo Credit: Secretaría de Salud de Honduras, Oficial<br />
Program in Cuba<br />
Cardiocenter William Soler, which<br />
serves pediatric patients in Cuba,<br />
is in great need of suture/stitches<br />
and other surgical supplies and the<br />
medical teams don’t always have<br />
enough supplies to operate. <strong>Global</strong><br />
<strong>Links</strong> was able to send sutures and<br />
other needed materials to the island<br />
nation to help.<br />
One happy mother and baby<br />
whose congenital heart defect<br />
had recently been repaired<br />
Boxes of medical supplies packed<br />
in Pittsburgh will allow health<br />
authorities to meet important<br />
health needs in Honduras<br />
Medical Backpacks for<br />
Community Health and<br />
Disaster Recovery<br />
<strong>Global</strong> <strong>Links</strong> provided 423 Medical<br />
Backpacks with blood pressure cuffs,<br />
first aid kits, gloves, thermometers<br />
and more, some of which went to<br />
our program country partner health<br />
institutions and others to healthcare<br />
providers through our <strong>Global</strong> Medical<br />
Partnerships Program. Hôpital Albert<br />
Schweitzer Haiti (HAS) is a 200-<br />
bed hospital located in central Haiti<br />
that provides integrated hospital<br />
and community-based health care<br />
services. Our backpacks are used<br />
by their staff for community health<br />
clinics. Established in 1956, HAS is<br />
the only full-service hospital serving<br />
350,000 people in that region. (Note<br />
that at the time of printing HAS<br />
had implemented their Emergency<br />
Operations Plan due to current events<br />
in 2024.)<br />
6 <strong>Global</strong> <strong>Links</strong> <strong>2023</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> 7<br />
Photo Credit: HAS<br />
<strong>Global</strong> <strong>Links</strong> Medical<br />
Backpacks in use by staff of<br />
Hôpital Albert Schweitzer Haiti<br />
Photo Credit: <strong>Global</strong> <strong>Links</strong>
Domestic Medical Aid<br />
In partnership with the Western<br />
PA Diaper Bank, <strong>Global</strong> <strong>Links</strong><br />
coordinated two drive-up<br />
Diaper Distributions in <strong>2023</strong><br />
which altogether provided 1,203<br />
households with a month’s supply<br />
of baby diapers. Jefferson Regional<br />
Foundation sponsored the June<br />
diaper event and UPMC and UPMC<br />
Health Plan sponsored the October<br />
one. The entire <strong>Global</strong> <strong>Links</strong> staff,<br />
the staff of the Western PA Diaper<br />
Bank, and many community and<br />
corporate volunteers make these<br />
events run smoothly. The need for<br />
baby diapers, a product not covered<br />
by government benefits, is growing<br />
as diapers become less affordable for<br />
families on a limited income.<br />
Photo Credit: <strong>Global</strong> <strong>Links</strong><br />
Community Engagement & Volunteer Program<br />
Volunteers of all ages and abilities,<br />
both in our Volunteer Center and<br />
off-site, packed over 6,000 Personal<br />
Care Kits to help neighbors in need.<br />
Made up of the most commonly<br />
requested hygiene products by our<br />
Community Partner organizations<br />
for their clients, these Personal Care<br />
Kits contain toothpaste, toothbrush,<br />
dental floss, soap, shampoo, deodorant<br />
and lotion. These products are key to<br />
general health, employability, personal<br />
dignity and well-being, and at the<br />
same time, they are NOT covered by<br />
SNAP benefits (food stamps) or other<br />
government assistance programs.<br />
Not only does this project serve the<br />
individuals who receive the kits,<br />
but it also serves as a workforce<br />
development opportunity. Our weekly<br />
volunteers from The Children’s<br />
Institute Day School, Pioneer<br />
Education Center, Beaver County<br />
Rehabilitation Center, and City<br />
Connections North assembled the vast<br />
majority of these kits and worked on<br />
their socialization and communication<br />
skills as they told passing tour<br />
participants about the kits.<br />
Volunteers from Pioneer Education<br />
Center take ownership of packing Personal<br />
Care Kits to help neighbors in need<br />
Awards and<br />
Recognitions:<br />
Pittsburgh Rotary Club –<br />
Excellence in Ethics Award<br />
to <strong>Global</strong> <strong>Links</strong><br />
PA Solar Center –<br />
Lodestar Award to <strong>Global</strong> <strong>Links</strong><br />
Pittsburgh Airport Area<br />
Chamber –<br />
10 Years of Membership<br />
World Affairs Council<br />
Pittsburgh – Illuminate Award<br />
to Angela Garcia<br />
Photo Credit: <strong>Global</strong> <strong>Links</strong><br />
Diaper Distribution held at McKeesport<br />
Area Senior High School<br />
<strong>Global</strong> <strong>Links</strong> staff presenting Outstanding Hospital Partner Awards<br />
Medical Surplus Recovery<br />
With the help of hospitals and other<br />
surplus rescue partners, <strong>Global</strong> <strong>Links</strong><br />
was able to keep close to 263 tons of<br />
materials from disposal last year. We<br />
started celebrating hospital partner<br />
milestones, first with recognizing<br />
St. Clair Hospital, and last year we<br />
continued this effort by recognizing<br />
UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside<br />
hospital’s 33-year commitment<br />
to rescuing surplus supplies and<br />
equipment and redirecting them to<br />
serve communities in need around the<br />
world. <strong>Global</strong> <strong>Links</strong> began working<br />
with the three entities, Presbyterian,<br />
Shadyside, and Montefiore Hospitals,<br />
to collect no longer needed medical<br />
supplies and equipment in 1990.<br />
Photo Credit: <strong>Global</strong> <strong>Links</strong><br />
Angela Garcia (2nd from the left) and the<br />
other Illuminate Award winners<br />
Photo Credit: Corey Lankford/CWL Creatives<br />
8 <strong>Global</strong> <strong>Links</strong> <strong>2023</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> 9
Thank you to our<br />
<strong>2023</strong> Corporate<br />
Sponsors<br />
CORPORATE SPONSORS<br />
CORPORATE VOLUNTEER GROUPS<br />
<strong>2023</strong> Board<br />
of Directors:<br />
Christine Koebley, Chair<br />
Senior Director of Finance and<br />
Administration<br />
The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh<br />
Angie Stengel, MS, CAE, Vice Chair<br />
Executive Director<br />
Oncology Nursing Foundation<br />
Timothy Nedley, Secretary<br />
Vice President, Materials Management<br />
UPMC<br />
Jeffrey Ford, Treasurer<br />
Partner<br />
Grossman, Yanak & Ford<br />
Charles Vargo, MHA, Immediate<br />
Past Chair<br />
Executive Director<br />
The Washington Physician Hospital<br />
Organization, Inc.<br />
Peggy Carrera<br />
Managing Director Linehaul Engineering<br />
FedEx Ground<br />
Latika D. Davis-Jones, PhD, MPH, MSW<br />
Secretary of Drug and Alcohol Programs<br />
for Pennsylvania<br />
Catherine DeLoughry<br />
Principal<br />
Civic Decision Making, LLC<br />
<strong>Global</strong> <strong>Links</strong> Board<br />
of Directors, Young<br />
Leader Advisory<br />
Committee, and<br />
other committee<br />
members<br />
volunteering<br />
Rosemary Hanrahan, MD, MPH, PCC<br />
Professional Coach and Lab Surveyor<br />
Beyond Words Wellness Resources, LLC<br />
Michael J. Herald<br />
President and CEO<br />
Guardian Healthcare<br />
Deborah Hughes<br />
Resident Director and Wealth<br />
Management Advisor<br />
Merrill Lynch<br />
Nikki L. Hudak-Fink<br />
Sr. Director of Specialty Pharmacy<br />
Operations<br />
Accredo Specialty Pharmacy (Cigna)<br />
Tracy Loope<br />
Director<br />
PwC-Healthcare Transformation<br />
Sandra M. Matoushaya<br />
Missional Engagement Coordinator<br />
Western Pennsylvania Conference of the<br />
United Methodist Church<br />
Kathleen Musante<br />
Professor of Anthropology and Public<br />
Health<br />
University of Pittsburgh<br />
Patricia J. Raffaele<br />
Healthcare Association Manager,<br />
Independent<br />
Mahmood (Mike) Usman<br />
Free Agent<br />
Photo Credit: <strong>Global</strong> <strong>Links</strong><br />
<strong>2023</strong> Young<br />
Leader Advisory<br />
Committee:<br />
Taylor Bellan, Co-Chair<br />
Occupational Therapist<br />
UPMC Passavant<br />
Theresa Walsh, Co-Chair<br />
Senior Security Compliance Analyst<br />
Emburse<br />
Sarah Davidson, Secretary<br />
Senior Acquisitions Manager<br />
Surgical Product Solutions<br />
Alexis Gaydos, Treasurer<br />
Commercial Compliance Specialist<br />
Viatris<br />
Alex Brooks<br />
Director of Operations, Surgical Services<br />
UPMC Presbyterian<br />
Regi Caldart<br />
Technical Program Manager<br />
Red Hat Software<br />
James Easler<br />
4th Year Medical Student<br />
West Virginia School of Osteopathic<br />
Medicine<br />
Rae Mauer<br />
Marketing and Events Coordinator<br />
Innovation Works<br />
Lindsey Trusal<br />
4th Year Medical Student<br />
West Virginia School of Osteopathic<br />
Medicine<br />
Amber Vala<br />
Staff Attorney<br />
UPMC<br />
Kyra Wisneski<br />
Volunteer Program Associate<br />
Staff as of Dec. 31, <strong>2023</strong>:<br />
Angela Garcia<br />
Executive Director<br />
Antwian Beck<br />
Warehouse Technician<br />
Stacy Bodow<br />
Outreach and Engagement Manager<br />
Maggee Carrara<br />
Business Manager<br />
Robin Checkley<br />
Sr. Warehouse Technician & Driver<br />
Reece Dolbin<br />
Program Associate, Volunteer<br />
Engagement<br />
Maribel Garcia<br />
Program Associate, International<br />
Medical Aid<br />
Gigi Gouck<br />
Administrative Assistant<br />
Ryan Grasso<br />
Warehouse Technician and Driver<br />
Alyssa Keefer<br />
Program Associate, Volunteer<br />
Engagement<br />
Kimberlee Love<br />
Director of Development and Strategic<br />
Partnerships<br />
Caroline McCaffrey<br />
Program Associate, Volunteer<br />
Engagement<br />
Ray McCauley<br />
Warehouse Technician and Driver<br />
Brooke Merry<br />
Operations Director<br />
Carey Mittermeier<br />
Inventory and Distribution Coordinator<br />
Ray Mollica<br />
Warehouse and Logistics Manager<br />
Jennifer Novelli<br />
Associate Director of Development<br />
Julie Pfaltzgraff<br />
Inventory and Distribution Coordinator<br />
Kareliz Ramos Aponte<br />
Program Manager, Domestic Medical Aid<br />
Kelly Schlick<br />
Program Manager,<br />
Volunteer Engagement<br />
Meagan Sotirokos<br />
Manager, Surplus Procurement<br />
and Purchasing<br />
Lauren Sulava<br />
Development and<br />
Communications Coordinator<br />
Logan Tomcik<br />
Program Associate, Surplus Recovery<br />
and Volunteer Engagement<br />
Verónica Trimmiño Marroquín<br />
Program Manager, International<br />
Medical Aid<br />
Kyra Wisneski<br />
Program Associate,<br />
Volunteer Engagement<br />
Grace Young<br />
Volunteer Program Coordinator<br />
<strong>Global</strong> <strong>Links</strong><br />
10 <strong>Global</strong> <strong>Links</strong> <strong>2023</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> 11
We Believe in Dignity, Independence, Mobility, and Health for All<br />
<strong>Global</strong> <strong>Links</strong> is a 501(c)(3) Pittsburgh-based non-profit dedicated to improving health in communities with need. <strong>Global</strong><br />
<strong>Links</strong> collaborates with U.S. healthcare institutions and the community to rescue hundreds of tons of high-quality surplus<br />
medical materials every year. These materials are shared with public health facilities around the world and with nonprofit<br />
organizations in Western Pennsylvania that are providing care for their community’s most vulnerable people.<br />
<strong>Global</strong> <strong>Links</strong>’ humanitarian and<br />
environmental mission begins<br />
with our three guiding principles:<br />
1. Dignity &<br />
Respect for<br />
All People<br />
2. Respect<br />
for the<br />
Environment<br />
3. Continuous<br />
Learning &<br />
Improvement<br />
We seek to apply these<br />
principles to everything<br />
we do.<br />
International Medical Aid Program<br />
Supports health improvement projects in communities<br />
needing resources. We collaborate with the Pan<br />
American Health Organization/World Health<br />
Organization, Ministries of Health, local health<br />
leaders, and others to develop projects to improve<br />
public health outcomes in vulnerable populations. Our<br />
projects focus on three key areas: maternal/infant<br />
health, strengthening public health systems, and<br />
disaster recovery. Served annually in <strong>2023</strong>: 1.9+ million<br />
globally<br />
Medical Surplus Recovery Program<br />
Provides healthcare organizations, corporations,<br />
universities, and the community with a socially and<br />
environmentally responsible alternative to discarding<br />
surplus medical supplies and furnishings, a strategy<br />
supporting the “Circular Economy,” and recovering an<br />
average of 250 tons of high-quality surplus materials<br />
in a typical year. Rescued in <strong>2023</strong>: 263 tons<br />
Domestic Medical Aid Program<br />
Supports safety net organizations serving vulnerable<br />
populations in Western PA and beyond to improve<br />
the health, dignity, mobility, and independence of our<br />
neighbors. We work with agencies serving seniors,<br />
families, people with disabilities, homeless or other<br />
sheltered populations, and immigrants/refugees to<br />
provide medical supplies and home medical equipment,<br />
mobility aids, Personal Care Kits, and nebulizers<br />
through our Breathe Hope Project. Served annually in<br />
<strong>2023</strong>: 5,084 locally<br />
Community Engagement & Volunteer Program<br />
Provides a supportive and educational environment<br />
where hands-on service has a profound impact on<br />
the lives of those in need. Volunteers of all ages and<br />
abilities sort, assess, and prepare the materials needed<br />
in our programs, turning our region’s surplus into<br />
life-saving and life-improving donations. Volunteers<br />
packed 6,115 Personal Care Kits in <strong>2023</strong><br />
Get Involved<br />
<strong>Global</strong><strong>Links</strong>.org<br />
info@<strong>Global</strong><strong>Links</strong>.org<br />
1.412.361.3424<br />
700 Trumbull Drive<br />
Pittsburgh, PA 15205<br />
EIN: 52-1629060<br />
DONATE MONEY<br />
DONATE MATERIALS<br />
VOLUNTEER<br />
TOUR/VISIT<br />
PARTNER/SPONSOR
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