Non Profit Organization Hands Up for Haiti to Honor Danbury Resident Judy McAvoy

Judy McAvoy, a resident of Danbury Connecticut is one of four individuals being honored by Hands Up for Haiti at its annual gala celebration on April 21st. Hands up for Haiti is a nonprofit medical organization dedicated to improve health care in northern Haiti with an emphasis on teaching and empowering local medical professionals. This year’s theme at the event is to recognize volunteers that have gone “Above and Beyond” expectations in initiating projects that truly embody the mission of the organization.

Ms. McAvoy has been a resident of Danbury for 29 years, along with her husband Jim and their three children, Tim, Brendan and Erin. As a registered nurse her career has been devoted to children and mothers. She has worked in the hospital and office settings in Pediatrics and Maternal Child Health for her entire career over the last forty years. She is a Certified Lactation Consultant, a Lamaze Instructor and a Certified Grief Counselor. Over the course of her career, she has worked at New Milford Hospital, the Danbury VNA and Center for Pediatric Medicine and as a Patient Care Manager at CareMount Medical group in Pediatrics. She has volunteered manning the hotline for the Battered Women’s Shelter. She is a member of Saint Gregory the Great Parish in Danbury. In 2014, Hudson Valley Magazine honored her as the Nurse of the Year.

In 2010 she went on our inaugural trip to Haiti to administer medical care to communities who had never received care. Since that time, she has been a founding member of Hands Up for Haiti, and has traveled back to Haiti several times each year. She is being recognized at this year’s event for her contributions in establishing a program for furthering the educational opportunities with Haiti’s nursing schools and students, and for her work on behalf of improving newborn survival through promoting breast feeding, and teaching Helping Babies Breathe, newborn resuscitation for traditional birth attendants. She has served on the Hands Up for Haiti Board of Directors since its inception.

The event will take place at Whippoorwill Country Club, Armonk New York on April 21st at 6:30 PM. For tickets, journal ads and more information please see our Website: HandsupforHaiti.org. Or write to events@handsupforhaiti.org. Mail correspondence: PO BOX 913 Mount Kisco New York, 10549