JERUSALEM, Nov. 22, 2022 – Faith-based humanitarian organization LiveBeyond is excited to announce the opening of its brand new Johnny’s Kids Center, serving children with disabilities in some of the most impoverished areas outside of Jerusalem. An expansion of its previous program visiting children in their homes and providing nutritional support to those in need, now, they have a place to gather as well as to receive physical therapy and an education.
The center officially opened Nov. 7 and is equipped to serve 40 children and their families, at capacity. The goal of the program is to help these young people become as independent as possible while also helping them and their caregivers understand they are not alone, and there’s no shame or stigma because of a disability.
“We look forward to helping these precious young people and their mothers who often feel isolated, to find a sense of community and the encouragement that comes from knowing they’re not alone,” said LiveBeyond CEO and founder Dr. David Vanderpool. “Often in their culture, these children are seen as ‘defective’ and aren’t even allowed to attend school, so it’s our desire first and foremost to let them know they are loved and valued, and then help them to integrate into the general population.
“We’ve learned from our work in Haiti that once they begin interacting with other children, they will be accepted,” Dr. Vanderpool continued. “Naturally, younger children don’t perceive differences, and it’s such a blessing to see how the able-bodied children will carry on their backs those who can’t walk as they run around together playing soccer.”
The Johnny’s Kids program is named after Dr. Vanderpool’s brother-in-law, Johnny Stallings who had Down syndrome and passed away at a young age, but not before making his mark on the world. There are many buildings named in his memory, most notably on the campus of the University of Alabama where his dad coached football and Johnny was a light in many people’s lives, touching the hearts of thousands.
The first Johnny’s Kids program was established in rural Haiti, where Dr. Vanderpool and his wife Laurie moved fulltime after the devastating earthquake in 2010. They built a compound with a clinic to provide maternal and child health care, a school, a training farm, and outreaches to the local community to provide nutritional support for those in need.
LiveBeyond kicked off the work in Israel last year, beginning with a similar nutritional support program targeting poorer communities around Jerusalem and especially families of those with disabilities. This work is funded, in part, by the Tim Tebow Foundation, and serves approximately 80 families in the area, many of whom are long-term refugees.
“We are grateful for all of the support that has helped us to launch this program, and now, this world class center,” Dr. Vanderpool added. “We know our donors see these people as children of God, just as we do, and join us in wanting to build them up and help them to see their value and their worth.”
For more information about the Vanderpools’ work in Haiti, see www.livebeyond.org.
About LiveBeyond
LiveBeyond is a faith-based humanitarian organization bringing medical and maternal health care, clean water, education, orphan care, community development and the gospel of Jesus Christ to the oppressed in Thomazeau, Haiti. After 20 years doing volunteer medical missions work, and following the devastating 2010 earthquake, Dr. David and Laurie Vanderpool sold everything, purchased 63 acres in this region outside of Port-au-Prince and moved to Haiti full-time. The LiveBeyond compound consists of a medical clinic, a teaching center and school, a training farm, a worship center and a guest house.
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