Cape CARES

CONTACT:

PO BOX 1049
East Orleans, MA 02643
508-631-4848
www.capecares.com

Lisa Scapellatti, Administrator

DESCRIPTION:

Cape CARES is a great example of people-to-people philanthropy. In 1989 Dr. Ted Keary, a Falmouth dentist, joined a medical assistance team to Honduras, one of the poorest countries in Central America, where some people never see a doctor or dentist. Inspired by that, Dr. Keary organized a similar team of 70 health-care professionals, mainly from the Cape. Later he refined the model, focusing on one community and branching out to three more, providing free medical and dental care and promoting health maintenance. Each year 8 teams totaling about 100 volunteers—physicians, nurses, dentists, dental assistants, pharmacists, translators, and general helpers, from teens to septuagenarians—visit for one week; since 1989 they have recorded over 70,000 consultations; medical supplies are donated by Cape doctors and dentists, or purchased wholesale. Each volunteer pays $950 of the $1300 their trip costs—which works out to $20 per patient helped. Volunteers say they gain more than they give, but it’s a struggle to keep their costs down. The CC Board has helped with personal donations, but what CC really needs is more donors. They have no desire to grow in size—they see advantages in their simplicity and directness. You can help with your own investment, highly leveraged.

(2004: INTERNATIONAL)