For Immediate Release:                                      
February 9, 2012                                                                           

FHSSA and Pixeldust Studios Create Compelling Web Video Promoting Partnerships between US and African Hospices

African Hospice Partner Program Gets Pro-Bono Boost from Visual Design Studio

(Alexandria, VA)—At the core of its mission, FHSSA, which began as the Foundation for Hospices in Sub-Saharan Africa, works to develop partnerships between U.S. hospice programs and those in thirteen countries in Africa. Through these partnerships, African hospices gain technical assistance, support, and most importantly, friendship.

Response to the partnership program has been tremendous, with 95 U.S. hospices participating. However, there is still a great unmet need: 20 African hospices still await a U.S. partner, representing 670 staff, 800 volunteers, 13,200 patients and 66,000 family members who would benefit from all that a partner has to offer.

This fall, FHSSA coupled with digital animation and visual design firm, Pixeldust Studios, to develop a creative new way to reach out to U.S. hospices with the message about the need for additional partners. The result is a breathtaking three-minute web video that depicts through 2D animation and graphics the dramatic contrast between what it means to provide hospice and palliative services in the U.S. and what it takes to provide such care in an African country where resources are few and the need so great.

“Hospice programs across the U.S. have so generously opened their hearts and arms to programs in Africa, and they work closely together to expand access to much needed palliative care. The rewards are tremendous and quite mutual, but we continue to look for more U.S. programs to join in such a partnership,” said John Mastrojohn, executive director of FHSSA. “Sometimes what it takes to get a message across is a fresh and creative way of delivering that message. We’ve hit a homerun with Pixeldust and are most grateful.”

Ricardo Andrade, executive creative director/founder, Pixeldust Studios, added, “While we are more well known for our animation work for television shows and films, we are equally interested in providing animated content for important, charitable and non-profit causes, such as those promoted by FHSSA. We truly hope this animation will motivate other organizations and individuals to support FHSSA’s critical mission of hospice care in Africa.”

Pixeldust Studios provided their services to FHSSA pro bono. With studios in the metro D.C. area and New York City, they create innovative animations and motion graphics for major network clients including PBS, Discovery Channel and National Geographic Channel as well as for high profile corporations, museums, charities and the U.S. Government.

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Media Contact: Jennifer Ford, Director, Communications 703-647-1577 jford@nationalhospicefoundation.org