It Feels Great to Give! The 2010 Salvation Army Angel Tree Adoption Project

Dec 15, 2010, 17:27 PM by Julia Essex

Family Medicine has the biggest heart and acts such as these make me feel proud to work here!”  Leah Fanuiel, LMSW

Family Medicine and Medical Humanities opened their hearts and their wallets to make sure boys and girls were joyful this Christmas.  Twenty-eight Galveston County children were adopted by Family Medicine faculty, residents and staff as part of the Salvation Army Angel Tree Adoption Project.  

This year’s adoptions were orchestrated by Family Medicine’s Leah Fanuiel.  Leah is a faculty member and social worker for UTMB’s Department of Family Medicine and offers a hand to the Galveston Community throughout the year.  Leah recalls, “I remember telling our residency program director that one child’s wish was for a stuffed animal and her eyes welled up with tears”.  

There are many less fortunate families in our community and it is in the true spirit of Christmas that these individuals gave freely and selflessly to make sure these children had something to be excited about under their tree this Christmas.

A Special Thank you to:

Leah Fanuiel – FM Faculty
Barbara Thompson – FM Faculty
Victor and Michelle Sierpina – FM Faculty
Samantha Malave – FM Resident
Maria Mejia – FM Resident
Tina Salinas – FM Staff
Patricia Hewlett – FM Faculty
Trish Elliott – FM Faculty
Catalina Triana – FM Faculty
Linda Hubbell     – FM Staff
Elizabeth Leigh – FM Clinic Staff     
Antonia (Toni) Hernandez  – FM Resident     
Marisela Sifuentes - Medical Humanities Staff
Judy Dimarco   – FM Staff   
Syed Azhar – FM Faculty       

Jennie Gounah - Medical Humanities Staff   
Michele Carter - Medical Humanities Faculty    
Becky   Hamilton – FM Staff               
Julie McKee – FM Faculty            
Dorothy Trevino – FM Faculty                 
Joyce Mahinda – FM Clinic Staff        
Cassandra Arceneaux – FM Faculty
Luisa Hernandez – FM Clinic Staff
Kathy Bell– FM Clinic Staff
Hanan Hussein – FM Faculty
Saleh Elsaid – FM Faculty
Nina Propst – FM Clinic Staff
Angela Shepherd – FM Faculty
Ty Calvin – FM Staff
LaToya LeTroise – FM Staff

**Two additional families, 6 more kids, were also adopted by Family Medicine Staff outside of the Salvation Army Angel Tree Project.