Brother's Brother Foundation Celebrates 1-Year Anniversary in Fairfax

BBF (Brother’s Brother Foundation) recently celebrated its first anniversary, on July 26 in Fairfax. The event was a resounding success, with 75 guests, including Virginia and Pennsylvania staff, board members, volunteers, local hospital and business partners, and other community members in attendance. In addition to having a celebration, hundreds of items were donated for hygiene, birthing and first-aid kits.

Here’s a little more information about the foundation:

Q & A with Brother’s Brother

1. What was the importance of establishing a Virginia location for Brother‘s Brother?

Brother’s Brothers’ headquarters is in Pittsburgh. They receive medical equipment and supply donations from a large geographic area. However, because of their distance away from this DC Metro area, which has many hospital systems with dozens of hospitals, it was important to launch a new location for collecting donations and
shipping donations in this area. Since the launch last year, BBF is picking up donations from 15 medical facility locations in Virginia, Maryland and DC which had not previously donated supplies. On a side note, BBF provides a service to these facilities while at the same time receiving donations. Hospitals are continually changing out beds, other equipment and updating their supplies. As they bring in more modern equipment and newer supplies, their desire is to recycle (versus throw away in a landfill) the old items. BBF provides a way for them to
recycle and partner with humanitarian work at the same time…………and prevents usable items from being put in landfills.

2. Brother’s Brother has done an amazing job of providing necessary services and equipment to those in need around the globe, efficiently. How has this been achieved over the years? How does Brother’s Brother determine who to help and in what capacity?

BBF’s Pittsburgh-based Board of Trustees and staff pride themselves in making every penny of financial support count. BBF adheres to the highest standards of non-profit financial accountability. BBF is one of Forbes’ five all-star charities and in 2013 tied for first place as most efficient and effective charity. BBF also achieved a 4-star rating for sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency from Charity Navigator. And, the Better Business Bureau continues to give BBF its “Wise Giving Alliance Standards” seal of approval. Volunteers in both Pittsburgh and Virginia extend the necessary staff to keep the mission thriving and expanding. The President and other BBF leaders make decisions about the countries and projects BBF supports. Some humanitarian project locations around the world are well-known to BBF and multiple contacts and relationships have been established for ongoing work. But, BBF is always interested in new project locations.
Those interested in doing medical humanitarian work can apply online, explain the purpose and parameters of the project, and provide a list of equipment and supplies needed. Every project will be considered. If a small number of items is needed for a hand-carry mission, BBF provides as much as they can with what is available at no cost to the project leaders. If the project includes shipping large amounts of equipment and supplies in ocean-going containers, processing and shipping fees are necessary.

3. In celebrating the one-year anniversary of the new Fairfax location, what are some of the efforts this location manages?

This location picks up and ships supplies just as the Pittsburgh location does. One additional process the Virginia location is responsible for…is a major “sorting” function. Medical manufacturers and hospitals often donate packs of outdated surgical trays and miscellaneous equipment. Staff and volunteers open all of the trays and boxes and retrieve thousands of usable items.

4. If readers wish to volunteer or provide donations to Brother’s Brother, how would they go about it?

Call or email our Pittsburgh or Virginia locations. Any staff member can connect you to the Volunteer Coordinator and someone who can explain the donation process. BBF can email lists of volunteer opportunities and lists of what BBF routinely collects.

PHOTO: Luke Hingson addressing guests about BBF’s mission & progress (background: Dr. Rev. Baucom of Columbia Baptist church, BJ Leber, Barry Byer (Board member) and Billy Thompson (President of Greater Merrifield Business Association)