Giving Good Days Newsletter – Summer 2024
A Letter from Our Leader Dear Friends and Supporters, As we pass the midway point in another year of groundbreaking support and advocacy, I am pleased to share that we have officially launched our 2024 Chronic Disease Day campaign. Observed annually on July 10th, Good Days established Chronic Disease Day to underscore our commitment to lowering the number of preventable deaths caused by chronic illness and the need to provide more resources to treat and cure unpreventable conditions. Upcoming campaign events and community actions will advocate for improved health policies, support disease prevention, and work to broaden access to essential care for all. The need for change is urgent, as preventable chronic illnesses continue to negatively impact life expectancy across the country. Together with our partners in the Chronic Disease Alliance, we are dedicated to creating a more equitable and accessible healthcare system. Find out how to get involved in this year’s campaign in the sections that follow. While our advocacy is national in scope, our assistance programs continue to have very targeted impacts. Your generous support allows us to make a significant difference in the lives of individuals like John and Carmela, whose story of resilience and love you will find in the next part of this newsletter. Each contribution helps us provide critical assistance to those in dire need, ensuring they do not face the burden of chronic illness alone. Thank you for standing with us as we strive to reduce preventable deaths and improve quality of life for everyone in need of access to healthcare. Warm regards, Clorinda Walley A Veteran’s Lifelong Journey of Resilience and Support At 91 years old, John Contessa of South Philadelphia has lived a life marked by resilience, love, and now, the challenge of chronic illness. A veteran who served at a top-secret base in England during the Korean War, John’s journey has been nothing short of eventful. From youthful escapades, like stopping a runaway limo with his new wife inside on his wedding day, to more somber moments, such as battling health issues and caring for his ailing lifelong partner, John’s story is one of enduring strength and a positive spirit. John has been married for 70 years to Carmela, whom he met at 16 years old when they lived on the same street. Since then, John’s life has been deeply intertwined with family and service. Together, they navigated life’s ups and downs, including John’s draft notice. Today they enjoy nothing more than spending time with their two sons and three grandchildren, who all live nearby Throughout his life, John remained active in his community and devoted to his family. But when a degenerative eye disease threatened his vision and ability to care for his wife, who is now on hospice care, he became very worried. “When I was first prescribed, I realized the treatment costs were way too much for me to afford,” said John. “Thankfully, my doctor told me I could call Good Days to ask for help. They have been terrific to me ever since. I cannot thank Good Days enough.” With regular treatments covered with help from Good Days, John can continue to care for Carmela and enjoy more time with his sons and grandchildren. His story is not just one of survival, but of profound gratitude and a lifetime of commitment to those he loves. CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO GOOD DAYS! Get involved in our Chronic Disease Day 2024 Campaign! Here’s How: Meet our team members at upcoming conferences: Food and Medicine Summit Washington, D.C. Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Annual Conference Chicago, IL
President, Good Days
May 29-31
June 23-26
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