Press Releases

Constella Group Awards Enhancing Human Health Grants to Improve Health for Infants, Children and Women

DURHAM, N.C., Sept. 19, 2006—Constella Group, a leading global provider of professional health services, today announced that it has awarded more than $16,000 to two organizations to create national emergency response guidelines to assist pregnant women and infants in the U.S. and in developing countries and to assist hearing impaired and mentally disabled children in India.

Through its Corporate Philanthropy Program, Constella has awarded $10,000 to Vibha, a 12-year-old, volunteer-driven organization with a mission to enable children’s health and development. Constella will support the organization’s child care programs, targeting poor hearing impaired children in Mumbai, India; and for poor children with mental disabilities in West Bengal, India. Constella’s funds are specifically being used to procure immunizations, hearing aids, health education, speech therapy, health education, physiotherapy and other health-related services for these children.

Constella also awarded $6,000 to The White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood to support country-based national emergency and disaster response guidelines for pregnant women, women who have recently delivered and infants. Founded in 1999, The White Ribbon Alliance is located in more than 71 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, North America and Europe. It seeks to raise awareness and mobilize its resources to ensure that all women and newborns enjoy safe pregnancy and childbirth.

“I am honored that Constella is able to support these organizations as they are improving the health of so many people worldwide,” said Donald A. Holzworth, Constella Group chairman and CEO. “I cannot think of a better way to honor our vision of enhancing human health around the world, every day, than by supporting our employees’ volunteerism and giving to organizations they recommend that are passionate and focused on making the world a healthier, safer place.”

“I am extremely touched and pleased to have Constella’s support of our organization,” said Theresa Shaver, executive director of the D.C.-based White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood. “Constella’s contribution will enable us to continue our work nationally and internationally. We have provided much assistance to pregnant women and critically ill newborns as part of our Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. In addition to this work, the funds will help us sponsor an upcoming workshop in Malawi to bring together many people to help build capacity in maternal health.”

“W e will use these funds to support two projects—one in Mumbai, India; for hearing impaired children and the second one in Ajmer and Rajasthan for developmentally challenged children,” said Rajesh Haridas, chief operating officer of Vibha. “We are really excited to have Constella’s support. This type of support motivates our volunteers and makes them do more for the cause of underprivileged children.”