Palestine Children's Relief Fund

Template:Short description Template:Pp Template:Infobox organization The Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF) is a registered 501(c)(3) non-governmental organization established in 1991, by, according to its website, "concerned people in the U.S. to address the medical and humanitarian crisis facing Palestinian youths in the Middle East."<ref name="Who We Are">PCRF: Who We Are Template:Webarchive (Accessed 13 April 2006)</ref> The main objective of the PCRF is to locate in the United States and Europe free medical care for children who cannot be adequately treated in the Middle East.<ref name="Who We Are" /> Since 1991, tens of thousands of young people have received medical treatment through the PCRF.<ref name="CNN 2021">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The PCRF was founded by Steve Sosebee, who served as the organization's President for 30 years.<ref name="Sosebee bio">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":0">Template:Cite press release</ref>

Humanitarian activities

The Palestine Children's Relief Fund sends medical equipment, supplies, and American medical personnel to the region to treat difficult cases and train Palestinian surgeons. Several injured or sick children are being treated in the U.S. for free. The PCRF relies on volunteers throughout the U.S. who act as host families and donors. The organization also helps suffering children from other Middle Eastern nations, based on medical need. The PCRF has built two pediatric cancer departments in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.<ref name="CNN 2021" /> In addition to physical medical care, the PCRF operates a mental health program in Gaza.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

History

1991: Establishment

The Palestine Children's Relief Fund was established in 1991.<ref name="Who We Are" /> It was founded by Steve Sosebee, a former journalist who, while on assignment in Hebron, brought Palestinian children in need to Akron, Ohio, to receive free medical care.<ref name="Sosebee bio" /> Sosebee later met Huda al Masry, a Palestinian social worker with the YMCA in Jerusalem.<ref name="Sosebee bio" /> Sosebee and al Masry married in 1993, and had two daughters.<ref name="Sosebee bio" />

2004–2007: Attempted donation by the Holy Land Foundation, and Open Heart

In 2004, the Holy Land Foundation—a group which was shut down by the United States government because it was suspected of funneling donations to terrorist organizations—attempted to make a donation of $50,000Template:Efn to the PCRF.<ref name="Strom 2004">Template:Cite news</ref> Steve Sosebee, president of the PCRF, said at the time that if the PCRF received the donation, the money would be used to fund its relief services.<ref name="Strom 2004" /> That same year, NBC televised the fictional film Homeland Security featuring a scene in which the PCRF is referred to as a terrorist organization and "a front for Islamic Jihad".<ref name="Strom 2004" /> As a result, Sosebee received numerous phone calls and e-mails asking about how the PCRF uses its funds.<ref name="Strom 2004" />

In 2006, the PCRF, in cooperation with the British Arts Council, produced the 22-minute documentary film Open Heart. Directed by Claire Fowler, the film is about a nine-month-old boy named Jamal with congenital heart disease, and the efforts by his family, a British surgeon, and the PCRF to provide him treatment.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

2009–2020: Pediatric cancer units

In 2009, al Masry died of cancer, and Sosebee moved to Palestine with his daughters.<ref name="Sosebee bio" /> There, the PCRF built the first public pediatric cancer department in Bethlehem, and named it after al Masry.<ref name="Sosebee bio" /> In 2016, Sosebee married pediatric oncologist Dr. Zeena Salman.<ref name="Sosebee bio" /> In February 2019, the PCRF built a second cancer department, this time in the Gaza Strip.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

2021–present: Ongoing work

During the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis, online streamers and other online content creators on platforms such as Twitch and YouTube held fundraisers in support of the PCRF, most notably Vaush, who raised $292,284.71.Template:Efn<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On 17 May 2021, Israeli airstrikes damaged PCRF offices in Gaza City.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In November 2023, the al-Rantisi hospital in Gaza City, which is run by the PCRF, was struck by an Israeli airstrike, killing eight people and damaging the building.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

On November 16, 2023, PCRF awarded America Near East Refugee Aid, in partnership with World Central Kitchen, a $1.5 million grant to provide hot meals for distribution to displaced individuals during the Gaza war.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Founder Steve Sosebee departed the organization on December 31, 2023, after serving 30 years, to pursue other humanitarian efforts in Palestine.<ref name=":0" />

Reception

Template:As of, PCRF has held a four-star charity rating since September 2012 from Charity Navigator, an independent evaluator of charities' fiscal management.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The organization has received support and endorsements from U.S. senator Paul Sarbanes,<ref>Commendation letter by Senator Paul Sarbanes dated 23 May 2003 Template:Webarchive</ref> former U.S. congressman Albert Wynn, and actor and humanitarian Richard Gere.<ref name = "Gala">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In October 2006, former U.S. president Jimmy Carter issued a video endorsement of the organization.<ref name = "Gala" /><ref>Jimmy Carter's endorsement Template:Webarchive</ref>

See also

• Islamic Medical Association of North America

External links

• Template:Official website
• PCRF's Financial Value Report
• SF Chronicle piece on the impact sanctions have for U.S. physicians who provide medical treatment through PCRF
• Charity Navigator page for Palestine Children's Relief Fund