As the Senate debates,Teresa Heinz Kerry announces an additional Newark perscription drug program

[karynnj]

No one in New Jersey's largest city will have to choose between medicine and food this winter thanks to a new healthcare initiative from Heinz Family Philanthropies, local Liss Pharmacy and the City of Newark.

They're working together to provide the generic equivalents of more than 300 commonly prescribed medications for $2 under a new program called Brick City Respite. The public-private partnership, which begins today and runs through Feb. 28, 2010, will provide a 30-day supply of everything from blood thinners to the antibiotic Amoxicillin and the diabetes medication Metformin.

"This is an opportunity for us to partner with the private sector to do the right thing," said Teresa Heinz, chairman of Heinz Family Philanthropies. "Society is by its very definition a community that cares for its own. We believe this program exemplifies that spirit during a season traditionally associated with giving."

<snip>
The City of Newark, Heinz Family Philanthropies and a number of pharmaceutical manufacturers started NewarkHealthPlus and NewarkRx three months ago to provide free healthcare and prescription medicine to needy residents with chronic illnesses. Brick City Respite differs from these programs in that it is meant to provide temporary help to all residents, not only the uninsured, in response to medical costs that have surged 131 percent in the past decade.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/newark-healthcare-covered-this-winterlatest-community-safety-net-features-2-prescriptions-78404927.html

Mayor Cory Booker had announced NewarkHealthPlus and NewarkRx in September
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4071692

[AzDar]

1. What an awesome First Lady she would have been...

:thumbsup:

[karynnj]

6. She really would have been

As one lucky enough to have seen her with John Kerry at a book signing and interview in NYC in 2007, people would have been shocked by how completely wrong the RW smear of her was. Like Michelle, who was similarly demonized (and welcomed Teresa's support then) in 2008, who now is seen as she is.

The sad thing is that the media completely ignored many things that Teresa had done. She was the person most responsible for Pittsburgh, once one of the dirtiest cities, being one of the cleanest and greenest. Starting with hiring an architect, who later became a leader in green buildings, and having him design and create a green office for the foundation she heads and continuing by stipulating that the convention center that she and other foundations funded be Green. In addition, I had never read until the recent G20 in Pittsburgh, that Teresa was the person who mobilized the city's foundations to revitalize the city in the 1990s.

"In the 90s, it was a very depressed-looking place and very sad," said Teresa Heinz, chairwoman of the Heinz Endowments and the Heinz Family Philanthropies.

In 1991, about six months after the death of her first husband, Sen. John Heinz, in a plane crash, she arranged a conference for regional philanthropies that resulted in the foundations' collaboration. Heinz said that set Pittsburgh apart from other areas.

Like stern parents, the foundations demand results.
<snip>
"We're not ones that effect the change," Bobby Vagt, president of the Heinz Endowments, said. "The community itself effects the change. We provide the wherewithal."

http://www.journal-news.com/news/nation-world-news/foundations-money-sparks-pittsburgh-s-recovery-251849.html

These and her conferences on women's health, toxins and the environment that have been held annually and bring together scientists and doctors in those fields are all real accomplishments. Yet in 2004, the most we heard was that she had a foundation. It is easy to see from these efforts why John Kerry has said that his wife has the truest moral compass of anyone he knows.

[beachmom]

2. This is fantastic and great news.

Thanks for posting.

[JohnnyLib2]

3. Admirable in so many ways.

:thumbsup:

[Mass]

4. Too bad that this is necessary. A rich country like the US should be able to provide

healthcare to its people without resorting to charity.

[karynnj]

7. I completely agree - but, given that it doesn't, it is nice that someone is filling that crack.

In addition, it also will act as a prototype even within a public healthcare system. Here, this is being done with the city of Newark - and per the article there are a few other cities they are working with.

[Mass]

8. Oh, I agree. I just wanted to point out that this was only necessary because of the system's failure

It is important to note that in a time where it seems clear that the healthcare bill will still be very insufficient and will still require philanthropic actions like this one. Nothing to be proud of. But I appreciate her efforts.

Honestly, I would like people like her (not necessarily her) to become involved in making clear to people that actions like that or the free clinics are only a palliative, not a solution in themselves, and that we need to find real solutions.

[karynnj]

9. Well, we know that she has substantial influence with at least one Senator

From the article, I get the impression that she and Lewis see these programs as pilot programs where they provide funds to prove that programs like this can work and can ultimately be better and/or cheaper than alternatives.

[beachmom]

10. Yup. But you would be surprised by how often conservatives I talk with

about health care use charity to knock down my points about universal health care. That when a child can't get expensive prescription drugs, well, it's the parent's fault because they should have looked into a little publicized charity program from the pharmaceutical companies. Do these folks not GET that people don't want charity!! They want a system that is set up for all that gives basic care. But no, to conservatives that is a "privilege" that the lazy poor don't deserve for not earning enough money. A lot of these conservatives work at charities, so this is their sincere belief, and the charity angle is just being a "good Christian".

[Clio the Leo]

5. Wonderful. NT

[marshall]

11. I wish more wealthy people would fund public health care like this

Oprah could do a lot of good in Chicago. And there are plenty of members of Congress who could afford to cough up some money. And don't get me started on the overpaid celebrities and Hollywood stars.

[karynnj]

13. That would be good

I thought the Illinois program of the Heinz Foundation was in Chicago, but couldn't find a link - but, I did find this from 2004 from DU. The saddest thing is reading that THK had sponsored a drug program in Ohio. I wonder how many voters knew that.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x918908

[blm]

14. Corporate media was invested in distorting Kerry and his life. They needed Bush to stay in WH for

the favorable rulings their owners were expecting from a Bush second term.

[ensho]

12. thank you Theresa, hugs and kisses

nt

[politicasista]

15. Kick for Momma T.

She's been doing good stuff for the First Lady, Michelle Obama too. :)


:kick:


Edit: I too agree that she would have been an cool First Lady like the current one right now. :patriot:

[karynnj]

16. It is nice that they are apparently still friends

Michelle Obama hosted her first dinner with the wives of all the G20 leaders at Teresa Kerry's Pittsburgh home.

[politicasista]

17. True

:hi:

[PopSixSquish]

18. Mrs. Kerry is One of Our Great American Treasures

and would have been an awesome First Lady. I know that Mrs. Obama is very fond of her and considers her a mentor and friend. The spouses dinner at Mrs. Kerry's farm in PA for the G8 Summit was lovely from all reports.

[karynnj]

21. She really is - it is outrageous to remember how the Republicans completely distorted who she is

- especially as many in the senate were likely guests at her home when she was married to Senator Heinz (if not more recently).

The reason is pretty obvious. One of the people I met in 2004 at a Democratic event was a Former PA woman, who said she was a life long Republican. She had huge respect for Teresa from when she was married to her first husband. She was concerned about Bush and looked into Kerry because "he couldn't be sleazy or Teresa would not have married him." Had people learned more about the many good things she did and the kind of person she is, she would have validated her husband in the eyes of many who were on the fence.

It is pathetic to think that Laura Bush was held up as perfect, while Teresa was attacked.

[PopSixSquish]

22. Didn't the Media and the Right Wing Attack Several of the Wives in 2004 Even During the Primaries?

I seem to recall some kerfluffle about Dr. Dean's wife because she didn't campaign for her husband. I guess it didn't matter to anyone that she was a doctor also with her own medical practice.

There were also stories attacking Mrs. Edwards for her looks and her law career. I guess the rule of thumb is that Republican wives can do whatever they please but Democratic wives cannot.

BTW - the first job I had out of school in the late '80s, was in DC and I worked with a woman whose boyfriend/fiancee worked in Senator Heinz office. She liked Mrs. Kerry (then Mrs. Heinz) and thought that she was very charming and funny...

[karynnj]

23. They were awful to all of them, but by far the worst to THK, because he became the nominee

[ClarkUSA]

19. She's a wonderful philanthropist. I wish Bill Gates and Warren Buffett would do stuff like this.

K&R

[Cha]

20. Bless her philanthropic heart.

It's always good to catch up on what Teresa Heinz Kerry is doing.

Thank you, karyn.