Caring Chronicles

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

A New Chicken Soup for the Soul Collection Provides a Hilarious Alternative to the News

The Humpty Dumpty Institute (HDI) is pleased to announce that as a result of a large donation of medical equipment by the China Construction Bank (CCB) New York Branch we were able arrange for 10,000 protective masks, 2,000 face shields, and 200 infra-red thermometers distributed to community health centers and its frontline workers in Newark and Jersey City on May 11, 2020.

COS COB, Conn- Chicken Soup for the Soul LLC, the parent company of Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment Inc. (Nasdaq: CSSE), today announced the company-wide initiatives it has undertaken to provide comfort and support to people and animals alike, during the COVID-19 crisis. The much-loved company has been giving back to the community in a variety of ways, such as providing extensive pet food donations across the country, making several of its e-books downloadable for free, and creating a free educational channel for families with young children.

Cosmo Cares a private, charitable foundation introduces its website: www.CosmoCares.com 

Cosmo Cares is a private, charitable foundation rooted in the passion for advancing World Health, Cultural Diplomacy, Humanitarian Recognition and Conservation. An extension of Cosmo DeNicola Companies (CDC) – a privately held company with a diverse portfolio of businesses ranging from healthcare, technology, publishing, professional sports and entertainment.

The Cosmo Cares team (CC team), compiled of Cosmo DeNicola, Morgan DeNicola and Natalie Scarantino, was onsite for the grand opening of the Clara Barton Elementary School Pantry project in Philadelphia, PA on Thursday September 12. CC had the privilege of establishing the Pantry by donating Snacks, Food, School Supplies and Student Clothing for the benefit of the students (grades K-2) including a washer and dryer for keeping everything fresh.

CDC Programs Manager, Morgan DeNicola, in partnership with the American Thoracic Society, presented a 2019 Scientific Scholarship to Ahmed Ddungu of Uganda at this year's ATS International Conference in Dallas TX . The scholarship was presented to Ahmed for his research regarding screening HIV patients in Africa for (COPD) Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. COPD is the 3rd leading cause of death worldwide . Data from Africa indicates that the prevalence of COPD is high (up to 25%). Ahmed’s research sought out to determine its association with HIV. His findings determined that although low in this HIV infected population he recommended that these patients be proactively screened.