HBI and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Improve Lives for 1,200+ Dominicans
PEOPLE STORIES
For a decade, HBI has partnered with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist on medical missions to provide free ear, nose, throat and cleft palate surgeries to more than 1,200 people – most of them children – living in communities near our Dominican facilities. Throughout the country.
Each year, our associates devote tens of thousands of volunteer hours to champion meaningful causes around the themes of Comfort, Inclusion and Health.
Over the past 10 years, a total of 1,250 surgeries and more than 7,000 medical appointments have been performed. HBI associates volunteered their time to help with everything from translation, to laundry and transportation, to patient coordination and assistance with medical staff.
“We are proud of everyone who volunteers for these journeys,” said Kirk Saville, senior vice president, corporate affairs and communications for HBI. “We set a goal to improve the lives of at least 10 million people by 2030. Thanks to the commitment and dedication of our associates and these medical professionals, we get closer to that goal every day.”
Sonia Almonte, HBI’s HR coordinator and project leader – Dos Rios, echoed Saville’s sentiments about the support of the HBI volunteers, doctors and nurses who come together each year to help.
“They are undoubtedly the backbone of this project,” Almonte added.
These programs are funded entirely from our Green for Good initiative, which takes proceeds from our recycling programs and uses them to fund community improvement projects.
Elendy Massiel is a 23 year-old Dominican who lived in an orphanage from age six until she married at age 16. She and her husband have a three-year old son. Four years ago, her thyroid began to grow due to a condition called hyperthyroidism. After her diagnosis, Elendy said she visited six different hospitals but was never able to obtain a surgery until recently.
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