| Medicines for Humanity Honors Major League Shortstop Julio Lugo with Humanitarian of the Year Award (continued) Medicines for Humanity has selected Major League shortstop Julio Lugo as the recipient of its first annual Humanitarian of the Year Award. The award recognizes Lugo’s commitment to improving the lives of children in his hometown of Barahona in the Dominican Republic, and was officially presented to the athlete at a dinner reception held yesterday evening, September 24, at Boston’s Seaport World Trade Center.
Lugo has teamed up with Medicines for Humanity and Major League Baseball Players Trust, the charitable foundation of Major League Baseball Players Association, to initiate a $200,000 project in January 2007 designed to help improve overall child health and reduce issues of child mortality in Barahona. The project will provide healthcare services and donate critically-needed medicines to the most vulnerable children in the Barahona region. The program also will work to help educate Barahona mothers about basic healthcare and nutrition.
“When I was a child in Barahona, I had enough to eat and shoes on my feet but many children didn’t,” said Lugo. “I’ve seen firsthand what these kids need, and access to simple medicines and medical care is the least I can do to help.”
Founded in 1997 by Hull resident Tim Bilodeau, Medicines for Humanity works with healthcare partners in developing countries to provide the basic healthcare and medicines needed to combat illnesses that take the lives of over 20,000 children each day. The organization helps in-country healthcare partners implement effective and sustainable health initiatives for children.
“It’s devastating to me that one child dies almost every seven seconds because they lack access to medicines and healthcare to treat and prevent basic illnesses,” said Tim Bilodeau. “The generous donations and passionate support from individuals like Julio Lugo and organizations like The Players Trust make our work possible. They enable us to make a significant impact on child mortality and offer families around the world the gifts of life and hope.”
Lugo was first introduced to Medicines for Humanity, and its specific work in San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican Republic, through The Players Trust. This charitable group of Major League Baseball Player’s Association has provided financial support to Medicines for Humanity for several years, and was also recognized at the award ceremony for their outstanding commitment to children in developing countries.
Last year Medicines For Humanity and its in-country partners provided life-saving medicines to more than 150,000 children. The organization’s scope of work expand |  | Julio Lugo Receives MFH Humanitarian of the Year Award |  | Donald Fehr (second from right) and Major League Baseball Players Trust Receive MFH Special Recognition Awards | |
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