The Helmsley Charitable Trust

Environmental degradation, exacerbated by climate change, is one of the primary global causes of poverty for rural populations. Often, the livelihoods of rural populations are dependent on the land, and deforestation can cause economic, health, and environmental issues for rural communities. Plant With Purpose, a Helmsley grantee, aims to improve the food security, livelihood, and economic resilience of communities through sustainable farming programs. Through our grant, they partnered with 10,000 families in rural Ethiopia to help them restore their environment, farm sustainably, and profit off of their land. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3VptVmP

Two weeks ago, we announced the expansion of our Rural Healthcare Program into American Samoa. Today, we are excited to announce that we are also expanding into the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Both U.S. Pacific Territories were key military assets for the United States during World War II but have not received the same standards of healthcare as mainland Americans since. Additionally, due to their remote geography, healthcare is often inaccessible – patients currently must travel 2,000 miles to Hawaii for standard MRIs. Our Rural Healthcare program has long been committed to helping Americans have better access to care, closer to home. This expansion aims to do the same for the residents of these U.S. territories, with both grants providing funds for the first MRI machines for the islands. Patients will no longer have to delay or go without care due to the cost and travel of an MRI scan. These grants, totaling almost $10 million, also provide both Islands with x-ray units and ultrasound equipment to ensure that medical providers are able to probably diagnose and treat patients. “Whether they live in a metro or rural area on the U.S. mainland, or in the Northern Mariana Islands, people deserve access to quality healthcare,” said Helmsley Trustee Walter Panzirer. “Gaining new access to state-of-the-art imaging is a key step in improving healthcare for the communities here.” Read more about our expansion into the Northern Mariana Islands: https://bit.ly/3XKCPOM

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a potentially life-threatening complication of type 1 diabetes (T1D), often present at clinical diagnosis. Identification of T1D in earlier stages — when islet autoantibodies are present but before symptom onset — has been shown to reduce the likelihood of patients experiencing DKA at clinical diagnosis and other complications. As efforts for screening for early-stage T1D expand, clinicians need better guidance on how to manage these patients. Recently, a group of experts convened and published consensus guidelines for monitoring individuals in early-stage T1D. The guidelines provide actionable advice for healthcare professionals who interact with patients with early-stage T1D, such as offering eligible individuals therapeutic interventions and clinical trial participation, disease monitoring guidance, and fostering partnerships between endocrinologists and primary care providers. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/d5eE5P7B #Type1Diabetes #T1D

We recently granted the first major philanthropic funds in support of healthcare to American Samoa. This U.S. Pacific territory was a military asset for the United States after WWII, yet its people do not receive the same standards of care as mainland Americans. For American Samoans, getting an MRI requires traveling 2,000 miles to New Zealand or Hawaii, an expensive trip that is unaffordable for most residents. We are funding the purchase of an MRI machine for the territory so that American Samoans no longer have to delay or forego diagnostic care. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eb62Vk2G

Simulation-in-Motion, known as SIM, is a mobile training program for rural healthcare professionals. Through SIM, providers get the opportunity to realistically practice emergency scenarios to best prepare them for real-life patients. Across Iowa (Simulation in Motion - Iowa), Nebraska, North Dakota, Montana (Simulation In Motion - Montana), and South Dakota, we've supported these trainings to ensure that rural Americans are receiving the highest quality care. Clinicians and academics gathered this week at the SIM Midwest conference, which aimed to explore new technologies and evolutions in simulation training. Meetings like this allow participants to expand their understanding of mobile training programs. Hopefully, even more practitioners will be able to benefit from SIM and rural medical professionals will experience this innovative training program. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ebCDkpfx

Today we announced $3.2 million in grants to improve healthcare on American Samoa. The funds will support Lyndon B. Johnson Tropical Medical Center and American Samoa Community Health Centers in acquiring more Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines, X-ray units, and ultrasound equipment. These grants are the first major philanthropic funds in support of healthcare to this U.S. Pacific territory. Because American Samoa has no MRI machines, patients who need the diagnostic test have no choice but to fly to New Zealand or Hawaii, more than 2,000 miles away. The associated costs for healthcare, accommodations, and flights are too expensive for many American Samoans. We believe that your zip code should not determine your health outcomes, and have granted more than $700 million towards increased access to care for rural Americans. Patients should never have to forego care because of distance or cost, but for many residents of American Samoa, that is happening on an extreme level. “American Samoa was a key strategic asset in the South Pacific for our country during World War II, but since then, the people here have not received the same access to care as mainland Americans,” Helmsley Trustee Walter Panzirer said. He added, “A core part of Helmsley’s grantmaking has been to ensure that Americans in remote parts of the Upper Midwest and Mountain states have access to quality healthcare close to home—and now we hope to do the same for the people in some of the most remote and beautiful American territories with these grants.” “This grant from Helmsley is transformative, as it will enable our clinics to offer higher quality care closer to home, reducing the need for residents to travel long distances for basic medical care,” Dr. Elizabeth Lauvao, head of the American Samoa Department of Health said. Read more: https://bit.ly/3RLjAAX

Kyler Cares is addressing critical issues in care for underserved people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and their families — by improving health literacy materials, expanding access to diabetes technology, and creating support networks for families with young people with T1D. These initiatives seek to address barriers to quality care, including insufficient insurance coverage, psychosocial stressors, and food insecurity. Helmsley announced today a new grant to support next phase of growth for Kyler Cares. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eCxv4BVE #Type1Diabetes #T1D

Renown Regional Medical Center is now home to northern Nevada's first and only ECMO program - all thanks to The Helmsley Charitable Trust. The ECMO machine is a portable life-support system used for severe cases of heart and lung failure, supporting our mission of making a genuine difference in the communities we serve. Today, ECMO is now available for Renown patients who need this critical intervention. Learn more about what this technology means for our community: https://bit.ly/3XLgj8e

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are a leading cause of death globally — however, some countries lack the resources to diagnose and treat these chronic conditions through national health systems, leaving communities without the care they need and deserve. That's why we’re proud to be the first philanthropy to contribute to The World Bank's Health System Transformation and Resilience Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF). The partnership between the World Bank and Helmsley will focus on: 1. Helping countries reform and strengthen health systems; 2. Building knowledge and capacity to integrate NCD care; and 3. Monitoring progress on access to essential medicines, including insulin. Together, these efforts will help countries expand both the scope and quality of care available to people living with NCDs. At the ‘International dialogue on sustainable financing for NCDs and mental health’ this week, we joined the World Health Organization and the World Bank in Washington, D.C to build on this momentum and ensure that NCDs are prioritized in national health and financing plans. Learn more about the grant: https://lnkd.in/e9wEdtQm #NCDs #HealthForAll

Today is the last day to submit an abstract for our symposium at #EASD2024! #Hypoglycemia #Type1Diabetes #Type2Diabetes #T1D #T2D #AlphaCells #BetaCells #Glucagon