The Mission of Hope and GAIA Vaccine Foundation have been announced as the winners of IMG's (International Medical Group) eight annual Leave Your Mark Grant.
The two organizations received $3,500. Additionally, three individuals—Sharlene Cohen, Barbara Sasser, and Allina Robie—were awarded $1,000 each.
More than 800 organizations and individuals submitted entries this year, marking the largest number of applicants since the program’s inception.
Get to know about the previous Leave Your Mark Grant winners here.
Mission of Hope, a faith-based organization, partners with local leaders in the Caribbean to address issues related to church advancement, education, and food security. Since 1998, it has distributed more than 400 million meals, educated over 163,000 students, provided medical care to more than 760,000 patients, and supported more than three million people through disaster response efforts.
"Mission of Hope is deeply grateful to be a recipient of IMG's Leave Your Mark Grant, which will help us continue to provide vital support and resources to those in need," said Mission of Hope's chief operating officer, Drew Garrison. "This contribution empowers us to expand our impact in Haiti and the Dominican Republic and bring hope to more men, women, and children across the island."
GAIA Vaccine Foundation works with community clinics in Mali, West Africa, supporting vaccine development, education, and the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. The grant will support HIV testing for approximately 1,300 expectant mothers in Bamako, Mali.
"We are so grateful to have been chosen for this grant," said GAIA Vaccine Foundation's executive director, Tiffani Crippin. "Free HIV testing is an integral part of our highly effective Chez Rosalie Program which ensures HIV-positive mothers do not transmit HIV to their babies."
The individual winners will use their grants to support a variety of projects, including farming education in Kenya, religious mission work along the Amazon River, and care for orphaned children with disabilities in Ukraine.
Justin Poehler, IMG’s chief commercial officer, highlighted the organization’s ongoing commitment to supporting mission and social good initiatives.
"This year's winners truly embody the spirit of the grant, which will ultimately benefit communities around the world," said Poehler.
IMG has been providing insurance benefits and assistance services to mission and social good organizations since the 1990s. The Leave Your Mark program, which began in 2017, was created to give back to charitable organizations.
Find out more about IMG here.
What are your thoughts on this year’s Leave Your Mark Grant winners? Share your opinions in the comments.
