By:Bridget Boyd Issue: Biennial of the Americas 2010 Section:City Exhibitions and Special Events
During the Biennial, Project C.U.R.E. held its fifth annual First Ladies’ Luncheon in Denver, Colorado welcoming the First Lady of Panama, Mrs. Marta Martinelli. More than 1,600 distinguished business, community and social leaders gathered at the Grand Ballroom of the Hyatt Convention Center Hotel to attend what has now become Denver’s largest fundraising luncheon.
About 10 percent of Panama’s population is indigenous and live in regions of the country where proper medical care is often not immediately available. As First Lady Martinelli explained, “These people are living in remote areas of difficult geographic access in a country struggling for greater equality and a better distribution of wealth and opportunities.”
Provisions provided by Project C.U.R.E. will equip the struggling communities with the healthcare infrastructure needed to decrease child mortality, improve maternal health, and fight life-threatening diseases like HIV and malaria, as well as common illnesses such as diarrhea.
The First Lady of Colorado, Jeannie Ritter, was the honorary chair of the event and was joined by the former First Lady of Colorado, Francis Owens. Other chairs were Susan Kiely, humanitarian and wife of MillerCoors CEO, Leo Kiely and Dr. AnnaMarie Jackson, wife of Project C.U.R.E. founder, Dr. James W. Jackson.
Project C.U.R.E. continues to collect funds to underwrite the costs of collection and delivery of medical supplies and equipment for Panama. To contribute to this effort, please visit projectcure.org/donate.