Caring Chronicles

HDI is proud to announce that it has received grants from U.S. Embassy Bahrain and U.S. Embassy Oslo to support culinary diplomacy.

Soul Food Scholar Adrian Miller will present a Virtual African American Thanksgiving Dinner in both the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Kingdom of Norway in November, 2020.  Adrian Miller is an HDI cultural envoy and the author of Soul Food: The Surprising Story of an American Cuisine, One Plate at a Time and The President’s Kitchen Cabinet: The Story of the African Americans Who Have Fed Our First Families, From the Washington to the Obamas.

Mr. Miller will also travel to Bahrain and Norway to do on-site demonstrations and lectures once international exchanges resume in 2021

Education is the key to success    

Philadelphia Pa - Cosmo Cares believes education is the key to success! Education is constantly changing and we want to help equip our teachers with the tools they need to have an impact. Cosmo Cares was happy to help supply Clara Barton School with a computer to help keep them safely educating their children.

The Cosmo Cares team purchases pet supplies for PAWS Animal Shelter.  

Philadelphia Pa - Cosmo Cares had a howling good time helping PAWS stock up on much needed supplies! Remember that sometime our furry friends can use a paw too. If you are looking for a new friend please think about adoption and visit our friends at PAWS in Philadelphia. Small acts of kindness can go a long way. 

The Cosmo Cares team spreads love & kindness during Quarantine.  

Philadelphia Pa- The quarantined residents of the St. Vincent & Francis Homes were stuck inside and totally bored. The pandemic restrictions for social distancing, masks and crowd control had a big impact on their ability to socialize and be entertained. Cosmo Cares stepped up to the table to bring a little fun and games for the residents amusement. Board games, movies, coloring books and electronics were dropped off by CC team members Morgan DeNicola and Natalie Scarantino-Sadler.

Pediatric Illnesses don’t stop for a pandemic. The staff and family members who are staying and working at the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House were in need of PPE. The House provides families whose child is receiving critical care  clean, safe and comfortable housing and meals. The CC team dropped of Hundreds of masks to ensure the families safety.

The Cosmo Cares team supported Howard Eskin's "Walk to Tampa" fundraiser 

PHILADELPHIA – Philadelphia Sports Talk broadcasting great Howard Eskin has completed his 'Walk to Tampa' symbolizing the Philadelphia Eagles path to the Super Bowl.

The longtime radio host began his journey a few months back as he set out with the goal to walk more than 1,100 miles. That is the distance between Philadelphia and Tampa, Florida, the site of this year's Super Bowl. Howard aimed to cover that distance around the Delaware Valley before the start of the Eagles season. He completed it Monday morning August 31^st.

Miles weren't the only thing adding up as Howard walked. He used the walk as an opportunity to raise over $41,000 for  Philadbundance and the Brandywine Valley SPCA. “It was a great morning as I completed my goal of 1103 miles. I want to thank everyone that has supported my journey especially the Cosmo Cares Team, stated Howard.”

“Howard did the hard work walking all those miles. We feel privileged to support feeding people and protecting animals, stated Morgan DeNicola, Program Director of Cosmo Cares.”

Cosmo Cares spreads kindness through their Global Health Passion 

Onitsha, Nigeria – Continuing with its Global Health Passion Cosmo Cares made a financial contribution for the support of the Onitsha Youth Welfare Foundation. The Foundations  Mission is to create and support educational, vocational and human development programs regarding the welfare of youths, to curtail the impact of poverty, conflict and war among sub-Saharan African youth. Additionally, they combat and mitigate the socio economic impact of AIDS/HIV and the abusive and harmful treatment of women. Their vision is to empower, develop, regenerate and salvage young people towards self-reliance so they may experience life in its fullness.

“Thank you for your generosity towards our mission in Nigeria. May God bless you! We will make sure your contribution has a positive impact on our youths and future leaders, stated FR Livinus Ugochukwu. We value our friends in Africa and stand ready to support women and youth”, stated CC Chairman Cosmo DeNicola.

Tropical Storm Isaias hit Elmwood Zoo 

NORRISTOWN, PA — This past  August Tropical Storm Isaias caused massive flooding and power outages, along with structural damage to buildings at the Elmwood Park Zoo in Norristown Pa. Janet DeNicola made a timely contribution to the zoo’s Champion Fund to help relieve the financial strain placed on the zoo by the storm and expedite recovery efforts.

Zoo staff reported that they were moving animals to safety as "severe flash flooding and destruction" hit zoo property. A video shared by the zoo showed a churning brown river of water several feet deep moving through the heart of zoo.

"Our dedicated and resilient staff worked quickly to move animals to safety and mitigate flooding, the zoo said in a statement. "As we continued to battle the storm and face a significant cleanup, we greatly appreciate Mrs. DeNicola’s contribution.    

“ I have always been an advocate for animals and it broke my heart to see the Zoo and the animals under stress as a result of the Storm, stated Janet.”

Under the auspices of HDI’s Music Matters program, HDI Celebrity Spokesperson Mary Wilson traveled to Slovenia and Belgium for a week of outreach and performances in honor of Black History Month, February 3-7, 2020. Working with the U.S. Mission to the European Union (USEU) and the U.S. Embassy to Slovenia, Mary Wilson and her six-person band performed at the major concert halls of Maribor, Slovenia and Brussels, Belgium. Miss Wilson also spoke at schools and at the European Parliament on the intersection of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement and Motown.

HDI’s Jazz/Hip-Hop Envoy Maya Azucena had been scheduled to be the special guest of U.S. Embassy Baku for International Jazz Day on April 30, 2020. We are all greatly disappointed that the program has been postponed to later in 2020. Until then, Maya wants to give jazz lovers in Azerbaijan and around the world a preview of the upcoming concert

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