Today we’d like to introduce you to Deborah and David Alessi.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Deborah and David. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Face Forward’s mission is to provide emotional support and reconstructive surgery for women, children and men who have been victims of domestic violence, human trafficking or other cruel acts of crime. Face Forward vows that all individuals who cannot afford the fees associated with proper internal and external care will be treated pro bono.
The survivor Face Forward serves typically suffers from very severe disfigurement as a result of their injuries from a violent crime, and many patients require between five to ten surgeries, each. The charity, is now starting our 10th year in existence and aids an average of 20 new patients each year from all around the globe, donating over a million dollars in surgical and emotional support services in 2017 alone.
My husband and I co-founded Face Forward as I was a domestic violence survivor myself, and he is a brilliant surgeon….we married not only in life, but also our passion for giving back and helping others.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The “idea” of Face Forward became a reality in 2007, and then the need to let the world know about the organization began. In the grassroots beginnings only a few patients received help in a given year, while raising awareness and funding of course were some of the biggest first obstacles, as is common for most non-profits. After a few years, we began hosting our annual fundraising Gala event to generate donor support as the organization began to connect further with the community and we started building a name and recognition. Dr. Alessi began as the sole provider to Face Forward patients with surgical care. Donating many hours and his own personal time and funds to help provide services for survivors in need. However, his specialty lies in Facial reconstruction and many patients began reaching out with needs outside his specialty area, such as dental and vision repair. So he began reaching out to colleagues in other specialty fields to join Face Forward’s Advisory Board and to help aid with services in each of their specific areas of care. The need to also help with psychological care for patients also became very evident early on, so partnering with local therapists became key as well.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Face Forward – what should we know?
Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking are enormous issues on a global scale. What Face Forward provides however, is very small and specific under the umbrella of these causes. In doing outreach with other nonprofits we often hear that we’re the “missing piece of the puzzle” for them. There are very few organizations who provide surgical care for victims, and none to our knowledge that treat near the volume of the patients that we do or at the level of care we are providing, aiding with both the external as well as internal healing. The other organizations we have found that provide some form of surgical assistance to victims, are not providing the other necessities for any required travel, airfare and accommodations, nursing expenses etc. Nor are they providing patients with counseling services as part of their care plan.
Our Face Forward team takes the time to personally connect with each and every patient who comes to us for help. We introduce them to our Board Members and we get them to actively involve in volunteering efforts. We honor and recognize them at our annual Gala fundraising event, even pamper them with makeovers for the event to help make them feel beautiful inside and out.
We know that when women, children or men are damaged due to domestic violence or human trafficking, such injuries can be devastating. The urgency in providing relief to innocent individuals lies in the fact that the lasting physical and emotional effects of domestic abuse have a documented ripple effect through generations and can affect many others than just the abused. The scars of abuse are a constant reminder of the abusive event, causing physical and psychological pain often times lasting much longer than the abuse event itself. These reminders can cause victims to feel shamed, ostracized, and unable to fully recover on their own. This is why all of our Face Forward patients are also required, and provided with mental health counseling services as well.
Face Forward works with community leaders and organizations locally and around the globe, to identify victims of domestic violence and human trafficking who are working toward recovery and who carry the physical evidence of past abuse. We are able to provide our services to individuals who are committed to their recovery by partnering with local community centers, which offer complementary relief, housing, counseling, job searches and legal assistance. If Face Forward is not able to help a patient directly, we always try to connect them with other resources who can.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
You can’t get to the top of the mountain without a team. So our Board of Directors, Committee and Volunteers are so important to helping us reach our goals each year. From fundraising efforts, to aiding with surgical or counseling services, or simply donating personal time to interact with patients while they are in town for surgery…..our team steps up to help in whatever capacity we need them.
Contact Info:
- Address: 9735 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 300
Beverly Hills, CA 90212 - Website: www.faceforwardla.org
- Phone: 310-657-2253
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @deborah.alessi
- Facebook: Deborah Alessi
Image Credit:
Rony Armas
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