Stories

Written by Amy Andrews

Hadassah is an international women’s organization whose mission is to heal our world. Through programs, research and advocacy, Hadassah works every day to bring healing where it is needed most in the US, Israel and around the world. Everything that the Charlotte Hadassah chapter does is in support of this mission. 

At the heart of Hadassah is a focus on health and wellness. Hadassah has two hospitals in Israel that are global leaders in care, treatments and research whose work serves over a million women, men and children, regardless of religion, race or nationality. 

Locally, Hadassah champions a host of medical causes, most notably breast cancer, infertility and heart health. 

Breast cancer is the second most deadly cancer for women in the US, causing 40,000 deaths each year. Hadassah is fighting back with three proven strategies: education and awareness, US advocacy and support for groundbreaking research at the Hadassah Medical Organization (HMO). 

Hadassah Charlotte will continue its tradition of making mammography as accessible as possible to all Charlotteans this spring with its mobile mammography event. The Novant Health Breast Center Mobile Mammography Unit will be at Shalom Park/The Levine Jewish Community Center on April 5, 2021 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Readers can get more information and find out how to sign up in advance for an appointment here. 

Infertility and the struggles toward parenthood are often topics of hushed conversations and quiet suffering. Hadassah is reConceiving Infertility, by bringing women, men and the greater community together to raise awareness and confront taboos while driving policy change and empowering patients to advocate for their health. Readers who would like to urge legislators to support policies that expand access to and reduce the financial burden of infertility treatment can add their support today. 

Dana Kapustin, Chair of the Young Women’s Cabinet of Hadassah, shared that heart health is also central to Hadassah’s education and awareness programs, as heart disease is the leading cause of death among women in the US. Since 82% of heart disease is preventable, Hadassah is working to teach women across the country how to eat a heart-healthy diet and keep fit through their Every Move Counts program.

For more information about Hadassah’s focus on Health and Wellness, please visit their website.

The Charlotte Hadassah chapter includes over 1,000 women of all ages and professional backgrounds who are creative thinkers and problem solvers.  They are the “Women Who Do” and the reason Hadassah has been a strong organization for many years.  Within their 1,000 members is a group called EVOLVE.  These dynamic, super-savvy women are under 50 and are passionate about paving the way forward for all of Hadassah’s initiatives. Together, Hadassah benefits from the collective wisdom of all its members.  To find out more about Hadassah, EVOLVE and all Charlotte events, contact them here.

Learn about more local nonprofits who serve and support individuals facing chronic disease, as well as their families, here.