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Lt. Governor John Garamendi appears at Sacramento fundraiser for Honduran hospital hosted by Moe Mohanna
Sacramento-based California/Honduran Institute for Medical and Educational Support (CHIMES) raises over $24,000 for hospital in Central America
February 22, 2008 – On Thursday night in downtown Sacramento Lt. Governor John Garamendi, Congresswoman Doris Matsui, and other local leaders appeared at an event for the California/Honduran Institute for Medical and Educational Support sponsored by local philanthropist Moe Mohanna.
Over two hundred people attended the dinner program at The Grand on J Street, a conference center located in a building owned by Mohanna who also donated the food and catering services.
When asked about his recent troubles regarding the city’s eminent domain lawsuit against him Mohanna’s response was, “people often say to me that they feel I am being treated unfairly by the mayor and the city and that the media has been very biased against me. While this may be true, I prefer to focus my energy on helping less fortunate people and organizations like Loaves and Fishes and CHIMES and developing my properties.”
Mohanna added, “I am 100% committed to the future of downtown and my partners and I plan to be a part of the successful redevelopment of K Street.” He has provided free venues and other support to hundreds of fundraisers for non-profit organizations in the buildings he owns in Sacramento during the past twenty years.
Bill Camp, Executive Secretary of the Sacramento Central Labor Council and Founder of CHIMES said, “the core of what we do in the labor community is to enable each individual to be a success, regardless of their heritage. Every single penny that you contribute is going to buy materials because Moe Mohanna provided the venue, the workers, and the food for tonight’s event. All of us owe him a debt of gratitude.”
In just eighteen months the new CHIMES clinic in rural Honduras has provided medical services to more than 68,000 patients. The director of the clinic, Dr. Luther Castillo Harry, was also present and expressed his gratitude to the crowd and the event organizers.
Tax-deductible contributions can be sent to CHIMES at P.O. Box 162126, Sacramento, CA 95816.
Bill Camp can be reached at (916) 927-9772