With all the debate about access to healthcare in this country, these organizations are stepping up and truly helping people.

The core mission of The Charatan/Holm Family Foundation is to aid and grow charities that make a difference in the New York City community and, hopefully, to make the city and the world a better place.

I take this mission and vision seriously—and not just because my name is on the foundation’s website. I believe that time, energy and money can be leveraged in such a way that the lives of New Yorkers will improve.

Of course, in order for people to live engaged, fulfilling, lives they must first have access to good medical care, especially during times of a health crises.

That’s one reason our foundation supports a variety of health and medical organizations, ranging from those that help transplant patients to groups that do cancer research and provide early detection services.

In a previous blog, I discussed the Charatan/Holm foundation’s relationship with The Ellen Hermanson Foundation and the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation. Succinctly, these are partnerships I’m particularly proud of because supporting these two organizations tackles cancer from two angles: research and early detection and treatment.

The Ellen Hermanson Foundation’s mission is to help people on the East End of Long Island access state-of-the-art breast health care and empower people affected by cancer.

On the other end of the cancer-fighting spectrum is the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation.

As stated on their website, “the Foundation is a pioneer in cancer research and its mission is to eradicate cancer by funding cutting-edge research that identifies and corrects abnormal gene function that causes cancer. This research is the basis for developing minimally toxic treatments for patients. Through the Foundation’s collaborative group of world-class scientists, the Institute Without Walls, investigators share information and tools to speed the pace of cancer research.”

Another group we partner with, The Kidney & Urology Foundation of America, approaches their work holistically, helping with everything from public education to direct support for people awaiting transplants. Their broad and inclusive mission, “dedicated to helping people with kidney and urologic diseases and individuals waiting for organ and tissue transplants” allows them to work at all levels.

Their website states that “The Kidney & Urology Foundation focuses on care and support of the patient, the concerns of those at risk, education for the community and medical professionals, methods of prevention, and improved treatment options.” This ability to work with patients and professionals alike is invaluable, and in line with our foundation’s focus on community and care.

A similar foundation, the Kellner Pediatric Liver Foundation, is also on our roster of excellent charities. The mission of the foundation, reducing the incidence of pediatric liver disease through research, awareness and education, and providing resources to families who are affected by pediatric liver disease, again encompassing the problem of pediatric liver disease in its entirety.

Finally, I want to highlight the work of the Caron Foundation. Addiction is a disease, a horrible disease and it’s reaching epidemic proportions. Overdose deaths have been on the rise in New York City for the past five years, and last year there were more than 1,000 deaths due to accidental overdoses.

In 2012, in New York, there were nearly 43,000 hospitalizations related to alcohol use and dependence.

The Caron Foundation and associated treatment centers have been helping individuals and families recover from and combat addiction for decades.  Caron’s stated mission is to “transform lives impacted by drug and alcohol addiction through proven, evidence-based, comprehensive and personalized behavioral healthcare.”

Addiction is as complicated as any other disease, and has the added burden of being stigmatized—as though the addicted person is somehow at fault for their illness.  I believe that people dealing with addiction need genuine, compassionate, and deserve access to excellent care—just as those dealing with cancer and other diseases.

Proper medical care, for New Yorkers and the extended New York community, is key to enjoying all this great city (and state, and world) have to offer.

The Charatan/Holm Family Foundation is dedicated to helping healthcare and medical charities, so those organizations can do what they do best—help people get treatment, become and stay healthy, and stay engaged in life.