Dr. Charles Hesdorffer has made his first gift to CFH in 2018. Since then, he has become one of our most loyal supporters and a valued member of the CFH Family. Recently, we caught up with Charles to discuss why he gives to CFH and why he thinks ending homelessness is a cause worth supporting.

Q: How did you hear/learn about Care For the Homeless?       

A: As a physician, I’d always been struck by the number of, if not homeless, certainly very underserved patients, I had. So, I’d always really been interested in the issue of homelessness and thought that it was a major problem. Of course, over the years, it’s only become more of a major problem. So, three years ago, when my wife and I decided to retire, I decided to look online for a New York organization that was involved in multiple aspects of homelessness.

Not just feeding or sheltering, but also medical, and psychological care for the homeless. Somewhat of a comprehensive program, but not one that was sort of a massive national program, that was obviously well-funded and had millions of supporters and that sort of thing. We wanted something that was small, local, and relatively new. I wanted to be a part of something I could participate in, perhaps, at a more definitive level, besides also obviously putting some money into the program.

I looked through a bunch of programs online and my wife and I donated to a few. That was in 2018. But you guys were the most receptive and the most interactive. And the more I looked online at what you did, including during the pandemic, the more impressed I became. That’s what drew me to CFH and why it has held my attention over the past few years.

Q: Why did you choose CFH to receive your support?

A: It fulfilled my desire to work with an organization that was involved in all aspects of homelessness – health care, shelter, policy, etc. I think many other organizations do one or two of these things. Some do one well, and others certainly don’t juggle three or more aspects. CFH does all those things in a very impactful way. You shelter people, you feed them, and you provide health care across the board for all issues – medical, mental, and behavioral. It struck me that, of all the organizations I was looking at, including the national ones, CFH really provided for all aspects in a very comprehensive and caring manner.

Q: Why do you care?

A: Number one, homelessness is an absolute tragedy. Especially when it exists to the extent that it does in a country like America. I’m an immigrant myself and have here about 35 years after moving from South Africa. So, it saddens me to come from that society at that time, with all its political and social problems, to America with its abundance of everything and see such a large and increasing homeless population. It breaks my heart. And it makes me think that everything that I’ve done in medicine, which is predominantly on a research basis, really comes to nothing.

If a very substantial proportion of our population across the US live on the streets, we must do something about that. And not just for them, but for everybody and for the world. The world needs to see that we can look after the defenseless, the homeless, and the psychologically affected and actually find a safe place for them.

Clearly it needs money and clearly it needs help from people on the ground. My hope with CFH organization is that I could sort of do both.

I mean, obviously I can’t provide what the government can provide and all of us can’t, but a lot of people together can provide something that can help good organizations do a wonderful job in helping people, get themselves back together again and keep society safer and happier.

There’s this old adage of the rising tide that raises all the boats. I think those like myself who have done very well financially and personally have a duty to give back. I feel, since my partial retirement, the need to do more in helping raise everybody’s boat.

About Dr. Charles S. Hesdorffer:

Dr. Hesdorffer received his medical degree from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. He practiced for more than 40 years prior to his partial retirement, specializing in hematology and oncology. He and his wife currently split time between New York and Annapolis. While in Annapolis he continues to work with the NIH as a consultant in hematology at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

We are grateful and humbled by Dr. Hesdorffer’s support and could not be happier to have him as part of the CFH Family.

If you’d like to join Charles in positively changing the lives of homeless new Yorkers, please consider making a gift of any amount today.

Make a Gift