Barretstown, a specially designed camp in Kildare, Ireland, provides therapeutic recreation programs for children with serious illnesses and their families. Founded by Hollywood actor Paul Newman in 1994, and modeled on his renowned Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Connecticut, the camp serves children from Ireland, Britain and throughout Europe. Patricia Harty talks to … [Read more...] about Serious Fun
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Serving By Your Presence
The work of two extraordinary Irish nuns, one of whom works with women who have been trafficked for sex or labor. The other helps first-time offenders stay out of prison. If you run a Google search for “safehouse nyc,” one of the first results is for a bar in Greenpoint called Brooklyn Safehouse. The menu includes a yellowfin tuna burger and kale salad. It’s a far cry from the … [Read more...] about Serving By Your Presence
Sacred Space and Health
Spending time in nature’s sacred places can bring balance to the whole self and help you reach your optimal level of health. Good health and a happy life are determined by the balance of the four quadrants of life – physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. It is possible by listening to the symptoms, observing the signs, and undertaking a thorough clinical examination to … [Read more...] about Sacred Space and Health
Behind the RISE Foundation
Frances Black, the founder of the RISE Foundation, which is helping families cope with addiction and showing that the impacts of addiction go far beyond the addict. Earlier this year, Ireland’s Health Services Executive published a survey called “Alcohol’s Harm to Others in Ireland.” Among the primary findings of the study was the fact that at least a quarter of the population … [Read more...] about Behind the RISE Foundation
Parkinson’s Disease: My Father’s Strength
His physical strength was his currency, now it’s his patience and forbearance. On the afternoon before my college graduation in 1999, there was a ceremony for graduates who were getting department prizes. My father was a New York City tunnel worker (a “sandhog”) and at that time he was working on Roosevelt Island, a 20-minute drive from Barnard’s campus. He always showered … [Read more...] about Parkinson’s Disease: My Father’s Strength