Start the Spark: A Fundraising Activity for Medical Frontliners

Alumnae from St. Theresa’s College QC Batch 2009 organized “Start the Spark”, a fundraising initiative for medical frontliners, and delivered over P500,000 worth of medical supplies to five hospital beneficiaries. 

The idea started when the Lung Center of the Philippines, one of the COVID-19 referral hospitals identified by the Department of Health (DOH), appealed to the public last March 23 for urgent donations of PPEs for their health workers as their remaining stocks would only be sufficient for one day. The following day, March 24, “Start the Spark” was launched. 

In just five days, the program was able to raise P205,225 worth of cash donations that were used to procure medical supplies such as N95 masks, gloves, face shields, coveralls and hospital gowns. Kindhearted individuals and organizations also donated in kind for the medical frontliners of the Lung Center of the Philippines 

Due to the increasing # of COVID-19 cases in the country, the group decided to start the 2nd phase of “Start the Spark” to cover three more hospitals: Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center, San Lazaro Hospital & Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center. Thanks to the continuous support of generous donors, a total of P311,600 was raised by April 13 and these funds were used to procure PPEs and medical supplies for the hospital beneficiaries. 

Finally, the 3rd phase of the fundraising program was launched to raise funds for the medical frontliners of UST Hospital. This was also the group’s way of supporting Dr. Carmina Fuentebella, their STC batchmate and a UST resident doctor, who courageously beat COVID-19. The initial goal was to raise P50,000. But through the generosity of their donors, they were able to surpass the target and raised P70,417 for UST Hospital. 

To date, “Start the Spark” has been able to raise a total of P596,025 cash donations and in-kind donations. They have already turned over 770 PPE Sets, 300 coveralls, 890 KN95 masks, 1,600 surgical masks, 2,450 pairs of surgical gloves, 2,100 head caps, 408 face shields, and other medical supplies to their five hospital beneficiaries.

ADVT.