The ReachAnother Foundation (RAF) is gearing up for their second annual fundraiser, A Night In Ethiopia, scheduled to take place at 5pm on Saturday, September 12 at the St. Charles Medical Center event space. This very special night will bring the sights, sounds, colors and tastes of Ethiopia to Central Oregon in celebration of the vibrant Ethiopian culture and cuisine.
Guests will enjoy an authentic Ethiopian dinner paired with wine, served in traditional style, and followed by an auction filled with unique travel experiences, culinary adventures and one-of-a-kind artwork. Tickets are $100 per person, fully inclusive.
All funds raised will provide life-saving treatment for children born with hydrocephalus in Ethiopia, where each year, nearly 2,500 children are born with hydrocephalus or ‘water on the brain.’ While a simple corrective surgical procedure will give these babies an excellent chance of living a normal life, until recently, afflicted children have died due to a lack of trained neurosurgeons in Ethiopia.
In 2009, there were just two neurosurgeons to serve a country of over 90 million people. This was a problem of an epic nature, leaving children born with hydrocephalus without treatment options.
The ReachAnother Foundation helps by providing consultation and funding to a collaborative neurosurgeon training program, graduating new neurosurgeons, and then providing financial support for children’s surgeries (at an estimated cost of $150 per child) to allow them to grow into contributing members of their communities.
“Until a few years ago, babies with hydrocephalus in Ethiopia simply progressed in their condition and ultimately died,” said Marinus Koning, MD, FACS, RAF founder and medical director. “Our goal is to train neurosurgeons and facilitate corrective treatment to help make these babies a surgical priority. It is our plan that over the next five years more than 5,000 babies could be saved.”
ReachAnother Foundation is a humanitarian organization based in Bend, Oregon. It is dedicated to improve the quality of life for the world’s poorest citizens and to empower them to choose their own destiny. RAF works to increase access to healthcare, education and safe living conditions. Guided by a strong belief that healthcare is a fundamental human right for all peoples of the world, RAF was founded in 2009 by Dr. Marinus Koning.
For event tickets or to learn about event sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.anightinethiopia.org, or contact Sophie Clark at 503-580-0088 or email sophie@eventdivasnw.com.
For more information about ReachAnother Foundation, or to schedule an interview with the RAF founder, please contact Dr. Marinus Koning at info@reachanother.org or by phone at 541-325-3668.
