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Show f j Lll jl iJ.IT' l '0" "H"Vi m l i ji-ui urn If a. tl-ir"-i--nn'i--jlii Ui mirj j,n j,rT" I ' r ' l "" ' "' ' ''" " w uniivm-iimr in i , , i ir'm. . .n- n w n'iini-mi'nii n II WH " " IQW1 Saturday, July 1, 2000 The Park Record C-3 ope Alliance to 0 Parkites plan to build a medical center in Ghana and relieve famine in Ethiopia by Jne Southey OF THE RECORD STAF F Three Park City locals plan to embark on w hat will be the first stage of a humanitarian mission next v.eek. Joe Mitchell and Dr. John Hanahan founders of the Park City-based Hope Alliance have enlisted the help of architect Steve Swanson on their journey to Ghana and Ethiopia. The journey s goal is two-fold: to plan the construction con-struction of a medical center in Accra and to lessen the famine in Ethiopia. Swanson will also be film-jng film-jng a documentary during this journey jour-ney and future visits to what will hopefully become a community hospital, hos-pital, lab and training center. The Ghana connection came through a friend of Mitchells Dr. Sam Annankra, one of 20 pediatricians pediatri-cians in a country that is home to more than 10 million children. The Hope Alliance crew will arriv e in Ghana on July 7. While there, they w ill check out potential sites and work on building connections in the community, researching the possibilities, possibil-ities, of Dr. Annankra medical center cen-ter idea. "if we can get it off the ground, it will continue on its own," commented comment-ed Sw anson. Sw anson w ill head up the construction and design side of the project, while Mitchell will work on developing community connections connec-tions and Hanrahan will explore medical needs and resources. After working together on the local mobile health van. The Peoples Health Center, and then journeying to Guatemala on a medical med-ical assistance mission, Hanrahan and Mitchell founded Hope Alliance in the tall of I'M "We w ant to help communities learn to help themselves," explained Mitchell. He added that the mission . of the group is to connect people and resources to humanitarian needs. This goal involves five steps: meeting medical needs, training people in business positions, developing devel-oping leadership, focusing on education educa-tion and literacy and maintaining water purification and sanitation. The emphasis is on abating a ""hand up rather than a hand out" situation. situa-tion. "He (Mitchell likes to get things going and then move on," Swanson commented. According to Sw anson this reconnaissance tnp w ill allow the three professionals to visit the 1 vitfiffiT vsfcilnioW Uxvifimv fillQniKi fifljjkg)l fecfUo dte mm msMk wmm m m mm ofecf MB 8t kt o - - ..-... ..ifiM,,.1M .... , J...,..- llr l 1 .1llllllllt M Copy)s site, conduct some meetings and better understand the climate, infrastructure, infra-structure, labor and level of technology technol-ogy of Ghana. The proposed medical med-ical center would serve as a training facility for health care professionals, so that outreaches to rural communities commu-nities will become possible. It would also contain a small hospital and a lab (according to Swanson, there is cuirently just one lab in the country). coun-try). Dr. Annankra is already providing pro-viding a certain degree of outreach to communities outside the city of Accra. "They bring direct medical help and basic medical services to people who have no access to basic services," explained Swanson. Sw anson has high hopes for the documentary aspect of the journey. "I'm not a professional, but I have good ideas," said Swanson of his novice position in filmmaking. Ultimately, he would like to show the film in Park City upon its completion. com-pletion. According to Mitchell, the proposed projects may take five or six years to complete. His technological techno-logical prowess will also be tested as he plans to guide much of the project's pro-ject's construct Kin via the Internet. "Nothings m granite yet, Mitchell said of the project The major challenge for the project will be raising funds to see it through to completion. "A lot ill hinge on our ability to raise funds," Hanrahan said. These professionals are not entirely new to the fundraismg game, however. Having recently returned from a humanitarian journey jour-ney to Peru, Hope Alliance will soon return to San Jos, Peru to build the first -e er public restrooms and playground in a town of 8.CXO people. The organization will conduct con-duct trips to Peru in August and October Hope Alliance will also ship crates of supplies to Ethiopia to help alleviate alle-viate the country dire famine. According to Mitchell the famine is approximately 10 times as bad as it was when Michael Jackson performed per-formed a benefit in 19S4 for the same cause. Although supplies have already been donated by The Humanitarian Resource Center, donations are still needed The group primarily needs children chew able vitamins, baby food, infant formula and any type of grain. Please contact Letty Stockbndge at 655-0142 for more . inforrruitiH&noi.4LM. Eof tntr f arrnaucflfWTtrvp Alliance. dm" journey K II I PhC""0 COURTESY OF STVE SWASON Dr. Sam Annankra (left) and Steve Swanson will work together with Joe Mitchell and Dr. John Hanrahan in Ghana, 602-U031 or visit the organization s web site at www hopealhance.com. Volunteers are still needed for upcoming trips as well as help from the Park City end of the organization. organiza-tion. Mitchell Hanrahan and I -v.- t - ; ' I to Africa Swanson will travel to Ethiopia to ensure the safe passage of goods to people who desperately need them. The croup returns to Park Cirv on Julv 16. - - "7 TS BEST COMMERCIAL BUILDING FOR LEASE IN KIMBALL JUNCTION jflfrand new retail-office-medical space fvery competitive rates S1S.K & Adjacent to Walmart, Staples, Pier I, and new Count)- services Building (888) 3339196owner ALLEN STOCKBRIDGE, . X JD.CCJM j Park Cry 's Full Tim, Commercial Real Estate Professional Full Service CommerciaJ Real Esute brokerage Mum Investment Sales I S-Wi 'SJr Dev elopment Und Sales Landlord Representation l Oitice and Retail Leasing Tenant Representation Site Acquisition Section 1031 Exchanges iCTX Properry alujtion Sen ice Cilwt rroperrv Management - f 435-658-3666 |