Gifted Hands hero to help Books in Homes
Duffy Books in Homes General Manager Linda Vagana is thrilled to be part of a charity event on March 6 in Auckland featuring US paediatric neurosurgeon and philanthropist Dr Ben Carson, whose journey from extreme poverty to world-renowned neurosurgeon featured in a hit movie starring Cuba Gooding Jr.
Dr Carson is the guest speaker for a Charity auction and dinner presented by Mainfreight at the SKYCITY Convention Centre, with proceeds going to Duffy Books in Homes and the Starship Foundation. Director of Paediatric Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Dr Carson gained worldwide attention when he successfully separated twins joined at the head in 1987 with a lifesaving technique never used before.
What makes his story all the more remarkable was his upbringing in a poor suburb in Detroit. Brought up by his single illiterate mother, he was a below average student until his mother turned off the television and made reading the No 1 priority in her children’s lives.
He has personally been responsible for bringing books back into American schools that have lost their libraries due to budget cuts. His story made the big screen in 2009 with the movie Gifted Hands, starring Cuba Gooding Junior.
Vagana says his life story is an inspiration for all and aligns itself perfectly with Books in Homes’ aims to get more books into the hands of children from lower-decile areas, where Pacific and Maori children are all too prominent.
“To be a recipient of the auction is a huge coup and I’m sure his presence and his story will help raise awareness of the importance of literacy in this country,” she says.
Books in Homes has more than 200 schools in their programme which sees every child in a low decile school receive a minimum of five new books of their own to keep each year.
Funds for the Starship Foundation will go to the rebuild of the Starship Hospital’s Level 6 Neuroservices and Medical Specialty Wards where conditions including neurological disorders, brain tumours, metabolic and genetic disorders, head trauma and suspected child abuse injuries, respiratory illnesses and infectious diseases are treated.
For more information contact: drbenvisit@booksinhomes.org.nz or phone 0800 383 392
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