Global Medical Relief Fund: One child at a time

She brought that boy to the U.S. for treatment. Kenan Malkic, now 28, helps Montanti run her tiny charity with a mighty name: the "Global Medical Relief Fund."

"Global Medical Relief sounds really big," Pelley pointed out.

"It's big in the sense that we reach out to the world. But it's small in that it's really me," Montanti said.

She runs Global Medical Relief out of her home - a 57-year-old single woman with a computer and a phone.

"My office is my former walk-in closet. And I added a window. And it works. And I speak to the world right outta my walk-in closet," she told Pelley.

Asked where the 112 children she has helped come from, Montanti told Pelley, "Bosnia, El Salvador, Liberia, Niger, Sierra Leone, Iraq, China, Indonesia, Pakistan, Haiti. Did I say Nepal?"

Asked how she keeps it running, Montanti told Pelley, "On a prayer."

She simply begs and borrows from doctors and hospitals - whatever it takes. She has traveled to the Middle East, arranging passports, cutting red tape and getting wounded children out one at a time. Word spread among soldiers in Iraq that an American charity called Global Medical Relief is a lifeline.

Now she gets a dozen e-mails a month from the war zone, most of which start with "Dear Sir."

"How do these letters end?" Pelley asked.

"Please help," Montanti said.

It was an e-mail like that that started Wa'ad on his journey with Montanti. Seven weeks after he arrived, Wa'ad was scheduled for his first surgery to repair his face. He walked into the hospital thanks to his new prosthetic leg.

"When you first met Miss Elissa, do you remember what she told you that she would do for you?" Pelley asked the little boy.

"She said they will help me to make surgery and fix my arm, leg," Wa'ad said.

Dr. Alizadeh's goal is to minimize the scar that runs from Wa'ad's scalp down to his chin. The surgery was done at North Shore University Hospital, which donated its facilities.

"My plan today is to go ahead and expand the skin surrounding the scar, putting a sophisticated tissue balloon underneath the skin and the skin slowly stretches over time," Alizadeh explained.

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[taoc79]

It's a familiar pattern. The U.S. invades another country, kills and maims hundreds of thousands of men, women and children, then produces maudlin news segments that enable Americans to pat each other on the back about how kind and generous we are. All without the slightest hint of irony...unbelievable.

[vonkie1]

What a wonderful, compelling story. My family was very moved. Children are children all over the world, it is just great to see that there are people on both sides of these stories that want to do something for these innocent victims - soldiers in Iraq, doctors and civilians in the United States. A lot of the comments on this article are very distatesful and are more telling of the people who submit them than the compassionate people who have made it their life's mission to help out.

[JBattiloro]

Thank you 60 Minutes Crew for bringing attention to Elissa Montanti. She is someone we should model our lives on. Not baseball players, Rappers, Television Stars ( sorry guys). Let's remember each of us has a higher purpose and well, some of us achieve it and others don't. Not only was your piece on GMRF inspiring but the majority of the comments here are expressions of thanks and love. Well done 60 Minutes, you got it right!

[Regular-Viewer]

Another worthwhile report from Leslie.

I noticed she mentioned Canada. For decades, U.S. tv seldom, if ever, mentioned Canada, but recently we've been mentioned more. For some reason, it was much more comfortable when the U.S. seemed unaware that we shared the continent. It feels like nothing good can come from U.S. acknowledgement of our existance - it remains to be seen.

[borney1959]

OHHH MY GOD, I cant believe this.... thank you trustbutverify!!!
You know I went to their website, and I clicked on the about us link and at the middle left I didnt see a link to GuideStar where their financials are available. You know it makes me mad, how dare she take a $47.000 salary???? Who does she think she is, a fast food restaurant manager????? Any one can do what she does.... And DONT EVEN get me started on $17000 in car expenses, doesnt their car run on rainbows and unicorns like my does???? I even bet that the car is insured and gets regular checkups.... PHONE $13.000 wowwwww what does she dooo call international, she probably lets the kids she brings call their families. $18000 in rent ohhhh I cant, did she pay rent where she housed her kids, $14,700 for improvements for what let the families stay in a tent. Call me old fashioned but $8,900 for computers, whats wrong with a typewriter??? Thats how I do all my work, best part I never have to worry about what font to use, best thing ever... Now you blew my mind, you mean to tell me that the Dr. is on her board, I didnt see his name 3rd in line under the board members page. Ho can 60 miss this???? If you ask me I think this is a conspiracy.... I think 60 should have first named the board members then stated the financials then did the story, because how would we know???? Its not like the information is on their website.... One more thing, this is not from the NYS Attorney General but I heard that with all the money she is stuffing in her mattress went and bought a villa in Iraq and people say it has golden toilettes. Dont go by me, there is no way a person would do good for the sake of doing good...

[JBattiloro]

Bravo, I just stooped down low and called him an as*****e. But YOU, YOU went the extra mile and I applaud you for that. How can anyone with heart criticize Elissa's work. It's a bargain at any price because she is acting as an Ambassador of the USA. We need hundreds more like her and not like "trustbutverify" who obviously has had a pathetic life and has nothing else to do with his/her time.

[nunovyerbeezwax]

Good lord. How can someone, after seeing this story, question a $47000 salary for a woman who LIVES IN NEW YORK CITY? Get a life, trusty. You obviously don't have one now.

[lexiafl]

as i recall she lives in long island. and yes you can find affordable rent with a $47,000 salary on long island. She's a thief. get over it people. She is worse than Christine O'Donnell.. they are both women who were paying their rent with money contributed from others thinking their money was going elsewhere.

[pjm1947]

How can I help???????

[stevador39]

This hag lines her own pockets first. That's how these charities work. Charities are set up to rob the poor. They pay no U.S. taxes. Charities have been scandal ridden for 50 years.

[trustbutverify]

The story about Ms. Montanti and Global Medical Relief was very moving, but it is only half the story. A review of Global Medical's most recent filing with the NYS Attorney General's Office shows that for the year 2010, only 1/3 of the cash contributions were distributed for patient services. The charity paid Ms. Montanti a salary of $47,000. In addition the charity paid her rent of $18,000 for what she said was previously her walk-in closet. There are also disbursements of $17,000 for automobile expenses, $8,900 for computers, $14,700 for leasehold improvements, and #13,000 for telephone expenses. It appears that Ms. Montanti while doing good works is getting paid reasonably well to do so. The majority of the services that the patients receive are donated by providers.
It is also troubling, that CBS did not disclose that Dr. Alizedeh, the Plastic Surgeon featured on the show, who I commend for the donation of his services, is on the Board of Directors of the Fund. This is all information that CBS could have gotten from the organization's web site, and the web site of the NYS Attorney General. It doesn't make for as good a story, but it paints a more balanced view of the foundation and how it operates.


Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8601-504803_162-20047257.html?assetTypeId=41&blogId=&tag=contentBody;commentWrapper#ixzz1HuxFXL4s

[nunovyerbeezwax]

You're an idiot. I have an idea: why don't YOU do what this woman is doing and take not a single dime to cover YOUR rent, YOUR living expenses, YOUR phone bill, or anything else, you moron?

[vonkie1]

Wow, this New Yorker can live on $47K annually, amazing. Clearly you have no idea of the standard of living in New York and you are making a major fool of yourself. And a Board member isnt allowed to participate in an active role in thier own organization?! Its something we would want each board member to do in my organization. We could only wish!

In addition, you seem like a person who lack empathy and compassion! Shame on you!

[lexiafl]

Good work.. if only journalists would start doing their darn jobs! You are smart and the person calling you something else is the word that they called you. Funny how people transfer onto others. And just because you call people on their lies, doesn't mean you lack empathy. It means you will not fall for propaganda. I have a friend who works with foundations.. they say this woman is leading a scam. They say administrative costs for non profits run by one person should be about 30% instead of the 70% this woman takes.

[gibsonjo]

this woman is truly doing a wonderful thing i hope the hate mail stops
maybe if she could help a youngster born in USA one for maybe every
10th forgein child she helps we have victims here of circumstances
not of their making also (hiv/aids and crack cocaine babies)
god bless you Elissa you are a grand person

[soniasdickson]

I loved this story.
How can I helo this organization?
Regard,
Sonia