As June approaches, 2012 is proving to be an exciting year. With an internship and long hours of class work I am making my way towards graduation this spring. In addition to my aspirations to be on Broadway, my junior year I added a double major in Public Health Policy and discovered a new passion and life calling. As I have always loved serving people, graduating will bring many opportunities to use my education to aid others. I am so excited to finally begin the work that I have been preparing for.

This summer, June 18th to the 27th, I will be traveling to Ghana with Global Medical Brigades. We will be spending ten days providing medical care and bringing medical supplies to remote, under served communities that have no access to doctors. By setting up clinics in these communities we will be providing medical attention and medical supplies to villages where an average family lives on less than one dollar a day. In addition to providing clinical services, we will also be completing public health projects that will provide clean water, cleaner air, and better nutrition to the communities.

As well as bringing medical supplies we plan to bring clothes, books and school supplies for the families and children in the villages and those at the orphanage we will be visiting. We will also be providing educational workshops that teach each age group how to improve and maintain their health. The goal of Global Medical Brigades is to create an integrated, sustainable, academic health care system within its partner communities. So while we are bringing doctors and medicine to these villages the hope is that while we are there, and as future groups return, we hope to someday have no need to return.

Beyond greatly appreciated prayer and encouragement, if you feel led to join and support me by donating or financially supporting this brigade, I would be more than grateful. The entire UCIrvine team must raise $10,000 to pay for medical and non-medical supplies needed for this brigade. Individually we must raise $2500 plus additional money for medical supplies. We have been creatively fundraising on and off campus, and always appreciate the support! If you can in anyway donate, every little bit helps ($5 times 100 people is $500)!

If you would like to donate school supplies or medical supplies please contact me. Any kind of support is greatly appreciated and so helpful in accomplishing our goal.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this letter! If you have any questions please let me know, and thank you again!

With Gratitude,
Gabi Teal