Coalition of Hope

Last updated

Coalition of Hope Foundation
FormationAugust 2010 (2010-08)
Type NGO
Legal statusNon-Profit Charity
PurposeGlobal humanitarian assistance and disaster relief
Location
Founder & CEO
Timothy J. Keegan
Website www.coalitionofhope.org

The Coalition of Hope Foundation, Inc. (COH) is a US-based 501(c)(3), not-for-profit, charitable organization that provides global humanitarian assistance and disaster-relief support. COH was founded by Timothy J. Keegan in 2010. [1]

Contents

The Coalition's primary goal is Project Excelsior, a plan to utilize recently decommissioned Tarawa-class amphibious assault ships as its primary operations platforms. These vessels, referred to as a humanitarian assistance disaster relief vessels (HADR/V), will serve as a sea-based platform for conducting humanitarian assistance disaster relief (HADR) operations. [2] [3]

Operations

2021 Afghan Rescue Operations

As of 24 August 2021, the Coalition of Hope had airlifted 27 Afghan citizens out of Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul. Coalition of Hope Foundation functions as a vetted and approved NGO by multiple US Government agencies, including the US Department of State and Department of Defense. COH is as an authorized facilitator of humanitarian relief and evacuations, according to a 24 August 21 Catholic Herald Tribune online article. [4]

2012 Hurricane Sandy

In October 2012 Hurricane Sandy devastated the US Northeast. The Coalition of Hope Foundation partnered with Catholic Relief and focused on providing assistance to residents of Rockaway Beach, Long Island, NY.[ citation needed ] A fundraising concert to benefit Rockaway Relief featuring 'Celtic Thunder' was sponsored by Coalition of Hope on 3 December 2012 [5]

Coalition of Hope also began a mold-remediation program in partnership with TruPro Restoration of Spring Brook Township, PA. [6] Coalition of Hope Foundation ended its involvement with Hurricane Sandy relief operations in June 2013. On 18 June, CoH held a "Post Superstorm Sandy Rebuilding Resources Conference" at the Museum of Modern Art, Rockaway New York. This conference served to close out CoH's involvement in relief operations and provide the remaining stakeholders a forum to discuss best practices and lessons learned. [7]

2010 Haiti earthquake

The Coalition of Hope Foundation was active in relief operations to Haiti after the January 2010 earthquake. Foundation CEO Tim Keegan solicited corporations for donations of relief materials, and corporate sponsors responded and donated an estimated 1.2 million pounds of supplies for Haiti relief operations. Keegan worked with Operation Big Heart Brigade and the 143rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command (ESC) to transport the donated supplies to Haiti from the Florida collection-point at Opa-Locka Airport in Miami FL. [8]

Project Excelsior

The Coalition of Hope Foundation's Project Excelsior focuses on acquiring decommissioned U.S. Navy assault carriers (LHA) and rebuilding them as dedicated HADR/V vessels. [9]

In response to the 2010 earthquake which devastated Haiti, the U.S. sent the USNS Comfort (T-AH-20) as a relief operation. USNS Comfort, and her sister USNS Mercy (T-AH-19), are converted oil tankers and were designed to serve as floating hospitals for USN carrier groups. In the Haiti mission, USNS Comfort proved to have shortcomings in disaster relief operations. The two major shortcoming were the vessel's speed (17.5 knots) and patient transfer capability.

Patient transfer to USNS Comfort is hampered by a small flight deck, with space for only two CH53 Sea Stallions, and hull access from the waterline via a two story external ladder. In comparison, the Tarawa-class amphibious assault ships have 11 landing zones for rotary wing aircraft, and a well-deck at the rear of the vessel for launching and receiving amphibious vehicles headed to and from shorelines. Additionally, Tarawa-class LHA's draft is two meters less than either the USNS Mercy or USNS Comfort, enabling a shorter stand-off distance from shorelines. Said CEO Tim Keegan, "These vessels were designed to put men and machines on shore as quickly as possible, we want to use these platforms for doing the same in reverse"

The United States Government last released a former US Navy vessel for humanitarian missions in 1960. From 1960 through 1974, the People to People Health Foundation operated the former USS Consolation (AH-15) as the SS HOPE, cruising to bring medical relief to underdeveloped areas of the world, including South Vietnam, Peru, Ecuador, Guinea, Nicaragua, Colombia, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Jamaica, and Brazil. [10]

Recent media coverage

Catholic Herald [11] "American Catholic Leading Relief Efforts to Evacuate Afghan Refugees" August 2021

Washington Life Magazine [12] "40,000 Tons of Hope: Coalition of Hope's bold new approach to humanitarian assistance operations" December 2019

Tallahassee Democrat [3] "An FSU grad's big plan: Acquire a retired Navy ship to respond to humanitarian crises" September 2018

Defense Update [13] "Navy Asked to Donate Ex. USS Nassau to Support Humanitarian Relief Worldwide" November 2013.

Rock Thiz Magazine [14] and The Pulse Magazine [15] both ran feature stories about CoH and Project Excelsior in April 2014.

Related Research Articles

USNS <i>Mercy</i> Hospital ship of the United States Navy

USNS Mercy (T-AH-19) is the lead ship of her class of hospital ships in non-commissioned service with the United States Navy. Her sister ship is USNS Comfort (T-AH-20). She is the third US Navy ship to be named for the virtue mercy. In accordance with the Geneva Conventions, Mercy and her crew do not carry any offensive weapons, though defensive weapons are available.

USS <i>Kearsarge</i> (LHD-3) Amphibious assault ship of the U.S. Navy

USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) is the third Wasp-class amphibious assault ship of the United States Navy. She is the fifth ship to bear that name, but the fourth to serve under it, as the third was renamed Hornet (CV-12) before launching.

USS <i>Tarawa</i> (LHA-1) US Navy amphibious assault ship

USS Tarawa (LHA-1), the lead ship of her class, is an amphibious assault ship that served in the United States Navy from 1976 to 2009. She is the second ship to be named for the Battle of Tarawa, fought during World War II. Tarawa was decommissioned on 31 March 2009, at San Diego Naval Base.

USNS <i>Comfort</i> Hospital ship of the United States Navy

USNS Comfort (T-AH-20) is a Mercy-class hospital ship of the United States Navy.

<i>Mercy</i>-class hospital ship

The Mercy class of hospital ships are converted San Clemente-class supertankers used by the United States Navy. Originally built in the 1970s by the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company, they were acquired by the Navy and converted into hospital ships, coming into service in 1986 and 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Unified Assistance</span>

Operation Unified Assistance was the American military's humanitarian response to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. On 28 December 2004, elements of the Combined Support Force were deployed to U-Tapao International Airport in Thailand. More than 12,600 Department of Defense personnel were involved in the relief effort.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurricane Katrina disaster relief</span>

The disaster recovery response to Hurricane Katrina in late 2005 included U.S. federal government agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the United States Coast Guard (USCG), state and local-level agencies, federal and National Guard soldiers, non-governmental organizations, charities, and private individuals. Tens of thousands of volunteers and troops responded or were deployed to the disaster; most in the affected area but also throughout the U.S. at shelters set up in at least 19 states.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit</span> Military unit

The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit is one of seven such units currently in existence in the United States Marine Corps. It is a Marine Air Ground Task Force with a strength of about 2,200 personnel. They are currently based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and fall under the command of the II Marine Expeditionary Force. It is the most decorated of the U.S. Marine Corps' seven MEUs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2nd Marine Regiment</span> Infantry regiment of the United States Marine Corps

The 2nd Marine Regiment is an infantry regiment of the United States Marine Corps. They are based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and fall under the command of the 2nd Marine Division and the II Marine Expeditionary Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">15th Marine Expeditionary Unit</span> Military unit

The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit is one of seven such units currently in existence in the United States Marine Corps. The Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) is a Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) with a strength of about 2,200 personnel. The MEU consists of a command element, a reinforced infantry battalion, a composite helicopter squadron and a combat logistics battalion. The 15th MEU is currently based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California.

USNS <i>Richard E. Byrd</i> Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USNS Richard E. Byrd (T-AKE-4) is a Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship in the United States Navy. She is the second United States Navy ship to be named after polar explorer Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd (1888–1957).

USNS <i>Big Horn</i> Oiler of the United States Navy

USNS Big Horn (T-AO-198) is a Henry J. Kaiser-class replenishment oiler of the United States Navy.

The timeline of rescue efforts after the 2010 Haiti earthquake of 12 January 2010 involves the sequence of events in the days following a highly destructive 7.0 Mw earthquake with an epicenter 25 kilometres (16 mi) west of the nation's capital, Port-au-Prince. With at least 70% of the city's buildings destroyed, the earthquake also caused damage and loss of life in other parts of the country. The Haitian government experienced a near-collapse and affected people were left mostly to their own resources until foreign aid arrived in the following days. Initial death toll estimates ranged between 50,000 and 200,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Unified Response</span> The United States militarys response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake

Operation Unified Response was the United States military's response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake. It was conducted by Joint Task Force Haiti and commanded by United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) Military Deputy Commander Lieutenant General Ken Keen, although the overall U.S. government response was headed by Rajiv Shah, administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The procurement of Landing Platform Docks (LPD) by the Indian Navy, formerly known as the "Multi-Role Support Vessel Program" (MRSV) - is an initiative of the Indian Navy (IN) to procure a series of landing platform docks, specific vessels dedicated to amphibious warfare, as part of the service's strategy to augment its capabilities of amphibious warfare, disaster-response, humanitarian assistance and auxiliary duties.

USNS <i>Brunswick</i> Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport

USNS Brunswick (JHVS-6/T-EPF-6), is the sixth Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport, currently in service with the United States Navy's Military Sealift Command. It is the fourth ship in naval service named after Brunswick, Georgia. Brunswick is one of three expeditionary fast transport ships in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility to continue its mission of providing rapid intra-theater transport of troops and military equipment. Like other EPFs of its class, the Brunswick is capable of carrying up to 600 short tons of equipment for distances of 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots.

All Partners Access Network (APAN), formerly called Asia-Pacific Area Network, is a United States Department of Defense (USDOD) social networking website used for information sharing and collaboration. APAN is the premier collaboration enterprise for the USDOD. The APAN network of communities fosters multinational interaction and multilateral cooperation by allowing users to post multimedia and other content in blogs, wikis, forums, document libraries and media galleries. APAN is used for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, exercise planning, conferences and work groups. APAN provides non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and U.S. partner nations who do not have access to traditional, closed USDOD networks with an unclassified tool to communicate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Effects of Hurricane Matthew in Haiti</span>

Hurricane Matthew struck southwestern Haiti near Les Anglais on October 4, 2016, leaving widespread damage in the impoverished nation. Matthew was a late-season Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson scale, having formed in the southeastern Caribbean on September 28. The hurricane weakened to Category 4 before making landfall near Les Anglais on October 4, at which time the National Hurricane Center estimated maximum sustained winds of 240 km/h (150 mph). This made it the strongest storm to hit the nation since Hurricane Cleo in 1964, and the third strongest Haitian landfall on record. Hurricane-force winds – 119 km/h (74 mph) or greater – affected about 1.125 million people in the country. The Haitian government assessed the death toll at 546, although other sources reported more than three times that figure.

Multi purpose vessel (India) Multi Purpose Vessel for the Indian Navy

MPVs are a planned Multi Purpose Vessel for the Indian Navy. Under the programme the Indian Navy intends to acquire two advanced ships. MPVs will be the first of its kind platform, constructed to provide a cost-effective solution to meet a variety of requirements of Indian Navy. These vessels, to be built by M/s L&T shipyard at Kattupally (Chennai), will perform multi-role support functions such as maritime surveillance and patrol, launching and recovery of torpedoes, and operation of various types of aerial, surface and underwater targets for Gunnery/ASW firing exercises. These vessels would also be capable of towing ships and rendering humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) support with limited hospital ship capability. The ship will also act as trial platform for naval weapons and sensors under development, support platform for ISV & salvage operations, and to provide logistics support for India island territories.

References

  1. Hegyes, Tammy KC. "The Future of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief - A Bold New Approach For Global Preparedness" (PDF). The Pulse Magazine article, undated PDF on COH website. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 19, 2014. Retrieved April 17, 2014.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on May 3, 2012. Retrieved April 27, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. 1 2 "An FSU grad's big plan: Acquire a retired Navy ship to respond to humanitarian crises".
  4. "Catholic Herald - American Catholic Leading Relief Efforts to Evacuate Afghan Refugees". August 24, 2021.
  5. "Download of "Sandy Benefit" and Hello! | Celtic Thunder". Archived from the original on December 15, 2012. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
  6. Hurricane Sandy mold and flood Newsday [ dead link ]
  7. "User account".
  8. "USAR Military Intelligence Readiness Command (MIRC) Magazine Online, Vol 4 Issue 1 Fall 2010, Page 24" (PDF). Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  9. "Washington Life Magazine Holiday 2019 Edition - 40,000 Tons of Hope: Coalition of Hope's bold new approach to humanitarian assistance operations".
  10. "Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships" . Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  11. "American Catholic leading relief efforts to evacuate Afghan refugees". August 24, 2021.
  12. "Digital Edition – Washington Life Magazine".
  13. "Navy Asked to Donate Ex. USS Nassau to Support Humanitarian Relief Worldwide". November 13, 2013.
  14. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on April 19, 2014. Retrieved April 17, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. "Archived copy" (PDF). coalitionofhope.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 19, 2014. Retrieved January 13, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)