TechWomen Mentor-led effort raises $13,000+ for displaced Palestinians
Mentors and partners took the initiative to collaborate in recent months and generated over $13,000 in financial support for displaced Palestinians, primarily located in Cairo, Egypt, who have been impacted by the conflict in Gaza.
With coordination by U.S. mentor Eileen Brewer, over 40 TechWomen mentors, community members, partners and friends have arranged the raising and transfer of funds to support billing and supply costs for over 400 hospital patients and caregivers in Cairo. Partners in the fundraiser were able to visit several hospitals in Cairo to distribute care packages to patients and families, provide funding for over 200 meals, gift toys to more than 50 child patients, and arrange billing coverage for Palestinians facing severe medical procedures and childbirth costs. They have also been able to provide aid to displaced persons, including TechWomen fellows and their families, inside of Gaza — to help secure emergency provisions such as tents.
Eileen is the Executive Director of 757 Accelerate, a selective, mentor-driven startup acceleration program. She was recently the subject of a USA today feature, “Eileen Brewer, Catalyst in Youth STEM, Shares Insights from Her Global Experiences.”
In addition to Eileen, the known donors to the grassroots effort include mentors Amberle Fant, Angie Chang, Ateka Ali, Beth Steinberg, Caitlin Doyle, Cynthia Leung, Dana Riggs, Diane Manning, Jennine Heller, Jessica Dickinson Goodman, Katy Dickinson, Larissa Shapiro, Laura Messerschmitt, Liv Imset, Maryann Hrichak, Samera Edwards, Shagufta Ahmed, Shawne Van Deusen-Jeffries, Shradha Balakrishnan and Teresa Williams.
News of further fundraising efforts continue to pour in from the mentor and partner community, raising the current aid amount far above $13,000. Mentor Jessica Dickinson Goodman recently co-hosted an art-based fundraising event that brought in an estimated $5,000 dollars and counting. She has also worked since November to track the well-being statuses of Gazan fellows and their families. Mentor Shagufta Ahmed shares that while she initially raised $1,500 by hosting a silent auction-style event, she has since continued her efforts. “People were generous and donated a lot. It motivated me and I have since raised $5,200 more.”