GRACE COTTAGE...SOUTH
A Few Words from Dr. Backus, Family Physician

"The majority of my giving is to U.S. causes, my favorite being Grace Cottage Hospital. Overseas, my favorite choice is the Fundacio Esperanca of the Amazon Africa Aid Organization.

Why give overseas? They need it. I studied this group for two years before I spent three weeks working for them this past November in Santarem, on the Amazon River, in Brazil. The Fundacio Esperanca is lean, compassionate, honestly run, and real, just like Grace Cottage. Their annual budget of $1.5 million supports six community-based programs and four health services known for their excellence. The average family income of the program's recipients is $200 per month.

For more information, the web site is www.amazonafrica.org. If you would like to give to Fundacio Esperanca, the U.S. address is
c/o Daniel Weiss, 3AOA, P.O. Box 7776, Ann Arbor, MI, 48107.
Volunteer medical/dental skills are always welcome in Santarem as well."

A grateful daughter writes: "Mom was so fond of her wonderful Dr. Backus and Grace Cottage Hospital, where she always received such personal and loving care, not only from Dr. Backus, but the entire hospital staff. As long as she was there, she always felt "safe." Thank you for all you always did for her. Grace Cottage is a very special and unique place." Elizabeth Sanders, daughter of Elizabeth Parker. Mrs. Parker, who died at Grace Cottage in September, 2001, at age 97, was a resident of Brookline.