We all know Hannah Storm the award winning newscaster with CNN, NBC, CBS and ESPN. We see her daily as she anchors the Sports Center on ESPN. What some may not know about Hannah is the incredible work she is doing through her foundation - The Hannah Storm Foundation.
The Hannah Storm Foundation is an advocate for children's issues including medical support for children and families suffering from Vascular Birthmarks and their related medical conditions and educating the public about vascular anomalies. Since childhood, Storm has been involved with charitable activities. Storm has worked in soup kitchens and worked with under privileged families. As a young adult, Storm served meals to AIDS patients and worked extensively with the Special Olympics. As a network sports news anchor, Storm had a plethora of opportunities to host fundraisers and raise awareness for a variety of charities including the March of Dimes and Athletes Against Drugs.
Recently, the Hannah Storm Foundation funded its first surgery for an infant from Southern China. The surgery has cost $18,000 to date and this is at a discounted rate due to the foundation's relationships with the hospital and anesthesiologist. Dr. Milton Waner, Co-Founder of the Vascular Birthmark Institute does not charge a fee for the surgeries. Normally, these surgeries would be double if not triple in some cases.
The foundation raises money through a variety of ways, most notably through individual donations through their website and through fundraisers. They have had successful events with the help of celebrities as well.
"Most people do not understand how debilitating and life-threatening some vascular anomalies can be, nor is there enough awareness about the lack of insurance support for these conditions," says Hannah Storm. Educational outreach and information dissemination is another part of the work the foundation is doing. Storm participates in numerous interviews on the little understood subject of birthmarks and their related conditions. The foundation also utilizes their website to distribute information about vascular anomalies. The foundation also holds an annual patient advocacy day to assist families.
In addition to all of the work Storm is doing to help children and families, she has also created the Hannah Storm Journalism Internship at the University of Notre Dame for undergraduate students. The purpose of the internship is so students may gain practical experience while working in the Alumni Association’s Communications and Marketing Department. One student is chose each academic year.
To keep up with the good work Hannah Storm continues to do, please visit her on Facebook.
Comments