The Cosmo Cares Team donated gift cards this holiday season to the women of the Laurel House. By donating we made an impact on the families the Laurel House serves. We gave the women the opportunity to go shopping on their own to buy gifts for their children this holiday season.
Philadelphia, PA - The Cosmo Cares Team donated toys this holiday to help the Opus Elite Toy Drive reach their goal of 1000 toys to give to the Bucks County Foster Children. There are over 200 children in their foster care system and this year they will have a Merry Christmas.
New York, NY - The Humpty Dumpty Institute (HDI) works around the world to inform and foster dialogue amongst critical stakeholders on key global issues. We do this through our programs with the U.S. Congress and the United Nations, engaging young people, supporting cultural and sports diplomacy, and working on humanitarian programs. We greatly appreciate the advice and guidance of our bipartisan Congressional Advisory Board (CAB) as we fulfill this mission.
Warsaw, Poland - The Humpty Dumpty Institute (HDI) works around the world to inform and foster dialogue amongst critical stakeholders on key global issues. We do this through our programs with the U.S. Congress and the United Nations, engaging young people, supporting cultural and sports diplomacy, and working on humanitarian programs. The Humpty Dumpty Institute is honored to partner with From the Depths to help bring Christmas cheer to some of the remaining Righteous Among the Nations in Poland and Ukrainian refugees fleeing the horrors of Russian aggression. This year HDI Deputy Chairwoman of HDI’s Board of Directors, Mrs. Morgan DeNicola, and HDI Board Member Mr. Cosmo DeNicola traveled to Warsaw, Poland, November 27, 2022, to December 1, 2022, to work with HDI’s partner organization From the Depths headed by Mr. Jonathan Daniels. From the Depths aims to preserve the memory of the Holocaust and give a name to those who were brutally murdered in the dark days of the Holocaust. One of its major missions is to honor non-Jews who saved Jews during the Holocaust. Each year From the Depths delivers Christmas packages to many of the Righteous who are now in their 90s or over 100 years old and are homebound. This year, its mission was expanded. Millions of Ukrainian civilians, Jews, Muslims, and Christians were forced to flee to Poland as Russian troops moved westward, and Ukrainian cities suffered under continuous bombardment. Poland welcomed these refugees, but private organizations like From The Depths are needed to step in and help the refugees with their daily needs. HDI Board Members Morgan and Cosmo worked with Jonathan delivering Christmas gifts to the Righteous and refugees alike, The Righteous, many of whom are homebound, enjoyed Morgan’s cheer and companionship. Morgan and Cosmo also made a moving visit to the Nazi concentration camp of Treblinka. Visits to the horrors of Nazism are important to keep alive the memory of the victims.
Warsaw, Poland - We landed in Warsaw, a modern European city of 1.8 million people whose population has exploded as they welcomed hundreds of thousands of refugees, fleeing the war in Ukraine.
Our hotel is less than 200 miles from the nearest border with the war torn country, but only 10 minutes away from the physical and emotional pain and suffering of the Ukrainian people.
Our first day brought us to a different type of refugee gathering, there were no “tents” but instead a new Ukrainian city created in a Warsaw Hotel.
Tens of thousands of people have arrived and thrived through this great humanitarian effort, supported by amazing people, who are committed to providing a dignified life to a displaced people.
Although different ages and backgrounds, the inhabitants have one thing in common, they were all displaced by war and had to say goodbye to their homes, family, friends, pets, cars, country and job, some were doctors, nurses, teachers, lawyers, businessmen and some had nothing.
But in this new city, they had all of the elements and services needed to sustain a population who sadly arrived with nothing and if they were “lucky” sometimes with only two bags full of what they were able to grab of their lives.
Morgan (DeNicola Family Foundation Executive Director) and I were able to meet with refugees and hear their stories. We sat with a couple who travelled over 3,000 miles, escaping Ukraine, through Russia in an attempt to find safety and peace.
We attended a children’s culture, geography and language class, the children told us each where they were from, many from cities almost entirely destroyed, with homes and friends they will sadly never see again, we played with beautiful little Amalia, who’s just 14 months old, for most of her life she’s known only war.
We were so proud to bring smiles to their appreciative faces, as we donated much needed clothing (winters are brutal) and school supplies. Best of all was delivering a little of Santa to the children.
Most of the refugees were older adults, women (some pregnant) and children as men between the ages of 16-60 are not allowed to leave Ukraine, they must stay behind to defend their country.
One of the more difficult parts of the visit, was hearing of an 86-year-old Holocaust Survivor who is suffering terribly with Parkinson’s. A man who as a child experienced the worst of humanity, once again experiencing it in his last years.
His city in Ukraine was occupied by the Russians early in the war, unable to escape he had no choice but to stay home with his caregiver and little means. With the harsh Eastern European winter now starting, mass power outages and his city suddenly liberated, he knew he must leave, unfortunately his caregiver has no passport, so even if he was to leave, he would be unable to function alone. Thankfully, through the DeNicola Family Foundation, we were able to alleviate a little of that suffering by providing him with 24 hour care in Poland, until he moves to his new home in Israel.
Volunteers engaged supporters locally and globally to provide necessary goods and services such as healthcare, daycare, education for children, veterinary care for pets, medical equipment including wheelchairs and food.
Shopping boutiques were set up to provide new and donated clothing for all, creating a dignified shopping (free) experience for adults and children, bringing them dignity and decency in these troubled times.
The hotel’s meeting room doubled as headquarters and a kind of new “City Hall“.
Legal services and human rights training, which we had the opportunity to see, was accessible to all as they plan their futures. Security and policing were established to provide a safe haven.
This new city will never have a name or be on a map but will forever have a place in our hearts, as we celebrate the human spirit and resilience of the Ukrainian people, while we pray for the end of the war.
Philadelphia, PA – The Cosmo Cares team donated diapers, baby wipes, baby shampoo & soap, baby lotion and thermometers to the local mothers & babies in need at the St. Philip Neri Church.
New York, NY - The Humpty Dumpty Institute (HDI) works around the world to inform and foster dialogue amongst critical stakeholders on key global issues. We do this through our programs with the U.S. Congress and the United Nations, engaging young people, supporting cultural diplomacy, and working on humanitarian programs.
New York, NY - The Humpty Dumpty Institute (HDI) works around the world to inform and foster dialogue amongst critical stakeholders on key global issues. We do this through our programs with the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Department of State, and the United Nations, engaging young people, supporting cultural diplomacy, and working on humanitarian programs.
New York, NY - The Humpty Dumpty Institute (HDI) works around the world to inform and foster dialogue amongst critical stakeholders on key global issues. We do this through our programs with the U.S. Congress and the United Nations, engaging young people, supporting cultural diplomacy, and working on humanitarian programs.
