Medical Bridges
Medical Bridges was started in 1997 by Dr.
Patricia Brock after a trip to El Salvador where
she witnessed and was struck by the country’s
incredible lack of basic medical supplies.
Accompanied by founding board member, Dr.
Peggy Goetz, Dr. Brock returned from this
journey determined to address this shortage all
too prevalent in the developing world. Armed
with the knowledge that $6.25 billion of
medical surplus are discarded annually, Dr.
Brock, along with Dr. Goetz and three other
board members established Medical Bridges.
Today, Medical Bridges has been embraced by
the local health care community, appreciated by
outbound mission groups and, most
importantly, has distributed vitally needed
medical supplies to the indigent population of
nearly sixty countries. This has been
accomplished by the help of a small paid staff
and a significant team of volunteers who have
given thousands of hours and prepared a total
of nearly 400 shipments. Houston based groups
doing charitable medical work in these
struggling countries have transported a
significant portion of these supplies. Other
goods have been shipped to their destination
through the support of Houston corporations
doing business in these locations, such as
international energy companies. The total value
of these shipments exceeds $15 million
Casa Argentina Houston
Casa Argentina Houston’s mission is to be an
organization that promotes and preserves the
Argentine culture, values and traditions, serve
the Argentine community, and foster cultural
exchange between Argentina and the United
States. Our Values are:

To value the desire to assist others
and integrate individuals’ strengths
for the sake of the community.

To foster growth and positive change
by taking initiative and exercising
planned risk-taking to achieve
innovation while learning from
conflict.

To provide leadership, continuity,
and basic organization for the
association to fulfill its mission.

To believe in the strengthening of the
Argentine
community
through
teamwork
and
effective
communication.
Our vision by the year 2009 is that the value of
CAH to the community will have been
enhanced, making it the first stop for
Argentines arriving or residing in Houston and
the fundamental pillar for the Argentine
community.
In 2003 CAH distributed $26,000 among
hospitals, women’ shelters, orphanages and
schools.
“Instituto de Enseñanza Secundaria” – I.D.E.S.
will be the beneficiary of any funds received by
CAH from the AIPN auction. It is a school
located in the province of Cordoba, Argentina.
I.D.E.S. has 270 students between 12 and 18
years of age. This school emphasizes subjects
of tourism, hotel management and
transportation. The staff is composed of 37
teachers, a principal, and vice-principal. The
government pays their salaries. The school
expenses are designed to be covered from
students’ monthly payments. This tuition is
only $10 dollars per month per student.
Unfortunately, only 60% of the students are
able to make the payment; the other 40% of the
students’ families are not in a condition to pay.
The consequences of the lack of adequate
funding have left the school in precarious
physical condition. One example is the latrines
that were part of the original building erected
50 years ago have never been updated to
bathrooms. This is the only school in the town
of La Cumbre where poor children can afford
to attend. There are two other private high
schools that children of low-income families
are not able to afford. The school is located in a
tourist town called La Cumbre in Córdoba
province. La Cumbre has a population of 7000
people. Unfortunately the influx of tourism
over the short summer season is often
insufficient to provide the people with means to
survive the rest of the year.
The funds received from the AIPN auction will
be used to update the current infrastructure
such as building bathrooms, kitchen, patio,
painting, installing a heating system and buying
classroom material. CAH will be the legal
entity that will receive the funds here in
Houston and will forwarded them to the
I.D.E.S. Parents – Teachers Committee. CAH
is a non-profit organization registered with the
Secretary of State of Texas since 1970.