Steve Brammeier, left, and Hugh Pavitt have supported MFK for 14 years.
Steve Brammeier and Hugh Pavitt of Clayton, Missouri, started supporting Meds & Food for Kids in 2012 when Dr. Pat Wolff was their sons’ pediatrician. Joe and Ben Brammeier both had a rare blood disorder. “Dr. Wolff kept them alive,” Steve says. “She was a blessing in our lives.”
Fast forward 14 years, and you will find Steve and Hugh surrounded by friends and family at a trivia night for MFK every summer. The trivia night honors Joe Brammeier, who passed away at age 37 in 2018. A group of Joe’s longtime, childhood friends has organized the trivia night every year since Joe died to raise both funds and awareness for MFK.
Dr. Wolff attends the trivia night with her husband, Michael. After this year’s event, where $4,277 was raised, she said, “The proceeds from the event will save the lives of at least 50 children. It is a rare and profound honor to be able to save even one life. Well done, friends of Joe!”
Steve’s reason to support MFK echoes Dr. Wolff’s sentiments on saving lives.
“We support MFK because being able to save the lives of children in Haiti is a miracle,” Steve says. “We also appreciate that MFK is a grassroots organization. We feel like we can see where the money is going better than with a larger organization.”
Steve is a retired veterinarian, and Hugh retired as a researcher at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Steve says they also believe in supporting Haitians because the country’s history has been so difficult.
“MFK doesn’t just give Haitians a fish. It’s teaching them how to fish,” he says.
If you would like to follow the lead of Steve and Hugh and organize a fundraiser for MFK, please contact Melissa George, fundraising manager, at mgeorge@mfkhaiti.org.