Fitzgerald, Spanda do much to help world

Dr. DeAnn Fitzgerald is an amazing and caring individual who is driven to improve the lives of all individuals regardless of age or personal situation worldwide. I was in the audience at Brewed Awakenings and was awed by her passion and unwavering dedication. Gazette reporter Angela Holmes told the story (March 3) well. Fitzgerald is a successful professional who has realized that “the secret to living is giving.” Her charitable organization, Spanda Inc., is a great example of what a motivated individual with a dream and a mission of humanity can accomplish.

Spanda acts locally and globally. I believe we are a world community and all should care about our fellow man. The two arms of Fitzgerald's charitable organization are Cedar Rapids Vision in Motion and Eye Care Kenya. They do so much more than eye care. Her mission includes physical therapy, general medicine, maternity care, dentistry, hospice, building clinics and digging wells, to name a few.

Fitzgerald stated “water is medicine,” which is so true as clean water exponentially reduces diseases in impoverished countries.

All of these services are sustainable (which in my opinion is the key to successful philanthropy) because Fitzgerald and team trained locals in Kenya to continue this important work.

Go to www.span

dainc.com and check out what Fitzgerald and Spanda have accomplished in a short period.

Julie Buckley

Solon