Changed by War


Patch has had a strong and deep connection with what it means to be a combat veteran since his childhood, when his father came back from Korea, forever changed by war.

That’s why he has been working for Peace throughout his whole life. His first radical act of peacemaking was a clown trip to Russia during the Cold War, a project which has been going on for over 35 years. And that’s why Gesundheit! Institute has been doing so much to help the veteran community.

The VA Hospital in Beckley, West Virginia is one of Gesundheit!’s favorite clown visit locations, where we have brought free, fun, compassionate care for many years now. Because the hospital is so close to Gesundheit! Institute, many of our educational programs on the land have been bringing participants and activists with their caring strategies and a red nose to the patients of the VA Hospital.

Supporting Combat Veterans through Clowning

 

And then in 2016 we had another radical idea. After more than 35 years experiencing how transformative and healing our humanitarian clown trips, we decided to expand our ClownVets Program creating a clown trip exclusively for combat veterans.

We invited those who were suffering the most, and who attempted suicide several times, to join a staff of our most experienced clown activists on a trip to Guatemala, to bring love, care, fun and their own vulnerability to places where suffering is as deep as theirs. We know how healing it is to bring care through performance, and we knew how potentially transformative the trip would be, but what we witnessed exceeded all expectations.

If you wish to hear the consequences of the program from the very voices of the veterans who participated, you can watch the mind-blowing documentary we filmed during the trips. You’ll find the link to the full documentary and also a shorter preview of it at the bottom of this page.

“When I first heard that over 6,000 Vets in the United States killed themselves every year, I wept. Then I said to myself: “Patch, we’ve got to do something,” and I immediately called up Vet organizations.”

– Patch Adams

Teaching Center & Clinic in West Virginia

 

We are so proud and excited for the ClownVets Program that we want to expand it at home in West Virginia. One of our ongoing projects is changing the way combat veterans are reintroduced to civilian life, via the same free, fun, compassionate care.


That’s why our community is building a Teaching Center and Clinic. There we will offer even more educational programs and also free healthcare. And it will support not only those who have served, but anybody in need in West Virginia.

 

This extraordinary building is already half built and it is situated on Gesundheit! Institute’s land in marvelous Pocahontas County, among mountains, forests, a lake and waterfalls.

 

The Teaching Center and Clinic will have 2 meeting halls: large auditorium (50 people) and small hall (20 people), a small media station, 6 classrooms, a blackbox performance hall: with stage and seating for 30 people, an institutional kitchen and dining hall, serving up to 30 people, 3 cafes, one per floor, a variety of sleeping accommodations (up to 30 people), 6 bathrooms, with a variety of shower and bath facilities, media studio, art studio, exercise room, a for the Clinic: consultation room, small examination room, waiting room and an Outdoor Community “Hob-Nobbing” Porch.

All of this will provide safe, fun, free, healing, transformative, life-changing care and education.

How You Can Help

 

We are so excited because the Teaching Center and Clinic is almost there!

If you would like to help us create this place of paradise, please consider donating and giving generously.

DONATE NOW

 

Be part of our efforts in supporting the veteran community.
Contribute to the building of the Gesundheit! Institute Teaching Center and Clinic and to expand our ClownVets Program. – THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

BuildingLearn more about our Hospital Project simple-R-arrow

The Teaching Center and Clinic building is planned in 25,000 square feet and in three stories with passive solar construction and green roof features. It is built over Pocahontas Creek. The center also has performance hall, black box theater, housing for 50 students, kitchen and cafe to serve 100 people.

LEARN MORE

ClownVets, the Documentary

A film by Esteban Rojas produced by Patch Adams

Every day in the US, over 20 Veterans commit suicide due to Post Traumatic Stress and those who survive become victims of a constant suffering. In an effort to relieve these invisible wounds, Patch Adams MD takes a group of these Veterans on a trip to Guatemala to immerse them into the world of humanitarian clowning, where the red nose works as an excuse to connect these men and women with love, compassion & laughter, things that for these heroes seemed forgotten.

Watch the Full Documentary

Patch Adams MD & Gesundheit Institute, P.O. Box 307, Urbana, IL 61803

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