by guest contributor Alexandra de Borchgrave
Photo credit: Tony Powell
The Ambassador of Germany H.E. Peter Wittig and Mrs. Huberta von Voss-Wittig graciously hosted a lovely reception in support of the Light of Healing Hope Foundation at their stunning residence on September 19, 2017. The Light of Healing Hope Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to providing books of hope to hospitals and hospices around the country to comfort patients and their families at a time of adversity.
Photo © Tony Powell H.E. Peter Wittig and Mrs. Huberta von Voss-Wittig and Alexandra de Borchgrave
On the night of September 11, 2001, I prayed for a way to bring comfort to those who had suffered the worst loss imaginable. That prayer led to three books of poetry, Healing Light, Heavenly Order, and Beloved Spirit. Thousands of books have been given as gifts to the 9/11 Survivors’ Families, military families, and people experiencing great personal tragedy. That same prayer has also led to the founding of the Light of Healing Hope Foundation and to finding a fresh way through kind words and beautiful images to bring comfort to those who are suffering.
As Founder and Chairman, I thanked the Ambassador and his wife for their generosity: “Dear Peter, Dear Huberta, thank you with all my heart for this immensely kind and generous support for the Light of Healing Hope Foundation. Everyone in Washington is aware of your wonderful support for so many worthy causes, and we are very honored that you would look kindly on our efforts to bring comfort to those who are suffering. I am very happy to tell you that the international British publisher Giles has scheduled my new book Love & Wisdom for publication on September 1st, 2018 so that all those who are in need of comfort, but are not in a hospital or hospice, will have the ability to purchase the book online, in bookstores and gift shops. The generous donations we have received tonight have allowed us to order 2,500 copies for the Foundation to continue our distributions to hospitals and hospices around the country.”
Photo © Tony Powell. Light of Healing Hope. German Ambassador’s Residence. September 19, 2017 Holly Petraeus and Lucky Roosevelt.
“I am thrilled to tell you we have now delivered over 26,000 gifts to Johns Hopkins, NIH, the Walter Reed, and Fisher Houses, the Ronald McDonald Houses and many hospices as well. The endearing responses from patients and their families only strengthen our resolve to continue providing gifts of comfort to those who are suffering.”
Photo © Tony Powell. Light of Healing Hope. German Ambassador’s Residence. September 19, 2017 Katherine Wood, Alexandra de Borchgrave, Sheila Stabile
Katherine Wood, President, read a testimonial to show the kind of response the foundation is receiving:
“I was Executive Director of Community Hospice until my position was eliminated last year. But I was very sick as well and hospitalized for Multiple Myeloma, so leaving work really had to happen for me. It was while I was at Sibley that I received a copy of your beautiful book, Healing Courage. My reason for writing is to thank you for this incredible volume that I received. It has helped me a lot and will continue to do so, I have no doubt. It is Divine Providence that placed this book in my hands for my use. Once again, it is my privilege to say ‘thank you’.”
Main slider photo: Susan Blumenthal, Annie Totah, Ann Nitze, Alexandra de Borchgrave, Didi Cutler, Suzi Cordish, Huberta von Voss-Wittig. Secondary slider: Holly Petraeus and Lucky Roosevelt. Photo credit: Tony Powell
