Table Of Contents - FernCare Free Clinic, Inc.

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Table of Contents
Page
Introduction
4
Board of Directors
6
Standing Committees
9
Clinic Team
10
Organization Design
11
Organization Chart
12
Financial Review
13
Highlights of the 2013 – 2014 Year
14
Board
Clinic
Publicity
Fund raising
Information and Community Outreach
Community Collaborations
Medical Equipment/Medications Collection Site Project
Summary and Future Plans
19
Appendix
22
2013 Holiday Card
Annual Appeal letter
2014 6th Annual Dinner Program
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2013 – 2014 ANNUAL REPORT
Introduction
FernCare was begun by a group of people, within the Ferndale, Michigan community
organization Citizens for a Fair Ferndale, who were in common agreement that Ferndale
would be enhanced by creating a free medical clinic for the citizens of Ferndale and
surrounding communities.
We opened the initial clinic on August 7, 2010 at the Ferndale Kulick Community
Center. This was a set up/tear down clinic using their Art Room, closet/office space and
the hall as our clinic. A team of very organized volunteers literally hauled everything
needed for clinic use to Kulick and then, when clinic was over, packed, hauled and stored
everything until the next clinic session. We did this for 13 months…..a story in itself.
We moved into our permanent space September 24, 2011.
We are open 3 times a month, the 1st and 3rd Saturdays from 9 am to noon and the 4th
Thursday from 6:00 – 9:00 pm as clinic sessions. We are also open twice a month with a
support group for people with Type II Diabetes, the 2nd and 4th Wednesday every month
with in-depth (6 to 12 weeks) counseling sessions and twice a month for ACA Insurance
Exchange and Healthy Michigan enrollment assistance.
It works, it is real….it is a clinic helping people who would not otherwise have
medical/health care.
Everyone, except the Clinic Manager, is a volunteer. Everything that FernCare has
accomplished has been when someone or some people could fit it in with all of the other
things they do. This continues to be an incredible charitable commitment by so many
people.
The Affordable Care Act, both the Insurance Exchange and Healthy Michigan went into
effect during this fiscal year. We were able to sign a few people up for the Insurance
Exchange but the bulk of our patients were and are eligible for Healthy Michigan. With
that said, the clinic will remain open for the foreseeable future.
As I say so often……hold on. We still have patients and we will continue to treat them
until they have insurance. Many patients are enrolling but it is often a lengthy process and
we need to help them with the process. Both plans are not yet a year old.
Julie Darnell, PhD, MHSA from the School of Public Health, University of Illinois at
Chicago put together a presentation helping to explain why free clinics will still be
needed after ACA: (1) still be gaps in coverage (2) still be gaps in services provided (3)
still be gaps in the availability of providers (4) volunteerism benefits both patients and
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providers (5) provide high-quality care (6) can more easily change and stream line
services. This study was completed early in 2013 and is still relevant.
The Board of Directors is humbled by the solid support of Ferndale and surrounding
communities, the time and skills of everyone who volunteers at the clinic and the news
media that is so ready to put out the information on clinic news and fund raising events.
Personally, it continues to be my abject pleasure to head this fine organization of so many
good hearts who put their muscle, time and money into insuring that the clinic continues
to serve those without medical insurance and without medical/health resources.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The membership of the board reflects people with company paid insurance, self-insured,
catastrophic insurance only, without any health insurance and people of all ages.
Executive Committee
Ann Heler
Board President
Ferndale, Michigan
[email protected]
Ann is a member of Citizens for a Fair Ferndale, is a BPOE (Elks) member,
represents free clinics on the MichUHCAN Board of Directors and is on the Free
Clinics of Michigan state board. She is a retired special education teacher. She
was awarded a MichUHCAN Health Heroes Awards in 2012 and The Justice
Caucus Spirit of Millie Jeffrey Award in 2013.
Rudolph (Rudy) Serra, J.D. Attorney
Ferndale, Michigan
[email protected]
Rudy is an Attorney in private practice. He is a former Judge for the 26th District
Court in Detroit, MI (2004 – 2007) and a former Oakland County Commissioner.
He holds a Juris Doctor from Wayne State University Law School and a Master of
Arts (Communication) from Central Michigan University.
John Sterritt Secretary, Historian
Ferndale, Michigan
[email protected]
John is a long time resident of Ferndale. He is a member of Citizens for a Fair
Ferndale. He is a retired public school teacher.
Steele Lindbloom
Treasurer
Detroit, Michigan
[email protected]
Steele is a student at Wayne State University – Accounting. He is a Personal
Banker at Urban Partnership in Detroit. At a previous non-profit organization, he
managed a $400,000 budget successfully.
Board of Directors
Kate Baker
Development Team
Ferndale, Michigan
[email protected]
Kate is Managing Director of the Detroit Historical Society. She is a member of
the Ferndale Education Foundation. Kate is a former Ferndale City
Councilwoman and Mayor Pro Tem (2008 – 2011).
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Pamela (Pam) Bellaver Clinic (Counseling) Team
Oak Park, Michigan
[email protected]
Pam is the Supervisor of the Ferndale Career Center, Michigan Works office. She
serves on the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce and Ferndale School Arts Booster
OrchSupport Board. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and a
Master’s Degree in Counseling with a Michigan license as a Professional
Counselor. She volunteers with us as a Counselor.
Shawna Ivancic Clinic Team
Farmington, Michigan
[email protected]
Shawna is a graduate of the Pharmacy School at University of Michigan. She
volunteers regularly at the clinic as a pharmacy tech.
Melissa (Mel) Jones, RN Clinic Team
Farmington, Michigan
[email protected]
Mel is a student at Michigan State University – College of Medicine. She was our
interim Clinical Manager from October, 2012 through June, 2013.
Linda McKenzie, MD Clinic Team
Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan
[email protected]
Linda is a graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School and trained at
Henry Ford Hospital where she was a Chief Medical Resident. She has worked as
an Internal Medicine residency faculty member training new doctors in both the
inpatient and outpatient settings. She currently works as a medical consultant to a
major insurance company. She is an active member of the American College of
Physicians and is committed to service of the medically underserved. She is a
regular volunteer at FernCare clinic.
Christine Rainey, RPH, DSci
Clinic Team
Northville, Michigan
[email protected]
Christine is a pharmacist and medical issues author who holds a doctorate in
Health Care Administration. She is a part-time Instructor at Madonna University
in Livonia, MI. She is the clinic Director of Pharmacy and volunteers regularly at
the clinic.
Brian Wahl Clinic Team
Pleasant Ridge, Michigan
[email protected]
Brian is a Senior Benefits Account Manager at GKN North America in Auburn
Hills, MI. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and English from
Western Michigan University. In addition to FernCare, he volunteers for the
Accounting Aid Society and Pleasant Ridge Foundation.
He is Benefits Manager at the clinic and has volunteered in that capacity since our
first clinic session!
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Liaisons to the Board (do not vote)
Amy Davisson, MS, PA-C
Clinic Manager
[email protected]
G. Christopher Popp, MD
Medical Director
[email protected]
David Coulter
Mayor of Ferndale
Southeast Oakland Coalition (SEOC) Health issues affecting families with an emphasis
on alcohol and drugs
Carly Podzikowski , Program Director
Ferndale Public Schools Together – Head Start and Grant Early Education Center
Amy Rooney, Family Advocate
Immediately after the pipe break, Jan. 9, 2014
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Standing Board Committees
Executive Committee
Ann Heler, President
Rudy Serra, Vice President
John Sterritt, Secretary
Steele Lindbloom, Treasurer
Finance Team
Accounting, budget(s), taxes, financial planning
Steele Lindbloom
Matt Nowaczok
Jay McMillan
Rudy Serra
Development Team
Grant writing, fund raising plans
Kate Baker, Chairperson
Julie Osburn
Annual Dinner Team
Kate Baker, Chairperson
Linda Baker
Lynn Cottrill
Katie Hershberger
Gail Hincz
Sharon Chess
Publicity/Marketing Team
including Website/Facebook/Constant Contact
Michael Larson, Chairperson, website manager
John Sterritt,
Constant Contact
Kate Baker
Facebook
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Clinic Team
G. Christopher Popp, MD
Medical Director
Amy Davisson, MS, PA-C
Clinic Manager
Diane Dengate, RNC, Chris Milosevich, RN
Christine Rainey, PharmD, DSCI
Peg Given
Donna Reeves, RN
Brian Wahl
Amy Davisson, MS, PA-C
Linda Baker
Geoff Blumenthal
Amy Davisson, MS, PA-C
Najette Jasey
Amy Davisson, MS, PA-C
John Ulinski
Head Nurses
Pharmacy Manager
Lab Manager
Patient Assistance Program (PAP)
Benefits and Community Resources
Appointment Desk, Reception
All round Assist
IT Assist
Social Worker
Holistic Nutritionist
Counseling Manager
Purchasing Agent/
Building Maintenance
Statistician
Affordable Care Act assist
Michael Kruger
Amy Davisson, MS, PA-C
The Clinical Manager reports to the Board of Directors monthly at the regularly
scheduled Board of Director meetings.
The Clinic Team decides protocols, vets new volunteers, sets clinic volunteer schedules,
operates the clinic, handles all patient issues between clinic sessions and produces the
yearly Clinic Review.
We have about 130 volunteers that work various sessions in various capacities on a
regular basis. We are very aware of how fortunate we are that so many people want to
work with us.
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Organization Design
FernCare works in three units; loosely grouped as Outreach, Clinic and On-Going. All of
the work is under the auspices of the Board of Directors. These are fluid and change as
the organization evolves.
The Outreach Projects are
1. Website especially the Resource pages
2. Medication and medical equipment collection project
3. Social media (Facebook and Twitter)
4. Information table and resource handouts
5. Ferndale Friends bi-monthly column
6. Ferndale Chamber of Commerce membership
7. SOAR (Southern Oakland County human resources networking)
8. Detroit/Wayne County Primary Care Council
9. MichUHCAN (citizen’s advocacy group for universal health care)
10. Working with the 43rd District Court Probation Community Service
11. Monthly article for Drayton Presbyterian Church newsletter
12. ECHO – Oakland County project to identify the county’s health issues
The Clinic Project
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Clinic day to day operations
Clinic session operations
Clinic health care volunteer co-ordination
Developing additional programs to better serve patient’s needs
Publishing a yearly Clinic Review
The On-Going Projects are
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Development – grant writing, over-seeing fund raising projects/plans
Soliciting for Board and Clinic volunteers
Fund raising events
Fiscal stability
Extending clinic services and hours
Developing working collaborations with other health and human
service organizations
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Financial Review
FernCare has been in a position of some financial stability from our first clinic session.
The Board of Directors takes the responsibility of patients very seriously and works to
maintain a solid financial position.
Our funds come from a variety of sources; individual donations, local fund raising, larger
community events (e.g. Bowl-A- Thon and the Annual Dinner), and charitable
foundations. Through Amazon’s Affiliate Program donations are a per cent of the
purchases made through our website link to Amazon. This past year we received 7 grants
and worked 16 fundraising events that were hosted by us or held for us. See the list of
fund raisers and grants awarded in the 2013 – 2014 Year in Review.
We continue to receive a considerable amount in in-kind donations - volunteers working
various events, equipment for the clinic, donations for our Annual Dinner Silent Auction,
groups offering to do fund raisers for us, medical staff and general non-medical staff
volunteers are examples. The volunteers and all of those people who so kindly assist with
“stuff” and donations are now all primarily word of mouth contacts.
Our total current and fixed assets are just above $192,000. We file a Form 990-ES due
to our IRS Code 501 (c) 3 non –profit status... The 990-ES can be seen on line at
www.ferncare.org.
We are a registered Michigan Corporation and hold a current Solicitation license.
This year we were awarded the GuideStar Gold Standard for our transparency both
financially and as a Board supporting open Board meetings and sharing all relevant
information. Go the www.GuideStar.org for more information on their non-profit vetting
process.
Our goal is to have enough cash on hand to run the clinic programs as they are for one
full year. This is very conservative but we have seen the difficulty in placing patients
with other clinics. The Affordable Care Act/Healthy Michigan has certainly impacted the
number of patients we serve but we need to be aware of the patients that for all kinds of
reasons do not meet the requirements of either Healthy Michigan or the Insurance
Exchange. We still maintain a waiting list and services are still needed in our community.
We do not add new programs, extend clinic hours or create new clinic sessions without a
trial period to make sure that we can afford them over a long term.
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Highlights of the 2013 - 2014 Year
Since July, 2013,
BOARD of DIRECTORS
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Held the annual Board of Directors work retreat in October, 2013.
Melissa (Mel) Jones, RN stepped down from the position of Clinical Manager
and returned to the Board in July.
Steele Lindbloom joined the Board in September. He took the position of
Treasurer that had been filled by both Matt Nowaczok and Michael Shuler as
interim Treasurers.
Pamela (Pam) Bellaver joined the Board in November. She is Director of
MIWorks and is very active in the Ferndale community. She volunteers with us as
a Counselor twice a month. She was also recognized as a Citizen for a Fair
Ferndale Good Neighbor AWARD in May, 2014.
Linda McKenzie, MD joined the Board in May, 2014. She works for a large
insurance company and volunteers with us as a physician for our Thursday
evening clinics.
Ann Heler was elected to the Board of the Free Clinics of Michigan. She is also
in her second year as a Board member of MichUHCAN (Michigan Universal
Health Care Access Network). She is also a participating member of ECHO
(Emerging Connections for Healthier Oakland) as well as a participating member
of the Detroit Wayne County Community Health Authority (DWCHA)
Primary Care Network.
Shawna Ivancic graduated from the University of Michigan School of Pharmacy
in May, 2014.
Rudy Serra is running for State Representative. The primary is in August.
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It is estimated the board and Friends of the Board gave about 1900 volunteer
hours over the year or about $38,000 in in-kind assist to the FernCare.
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We received the GuideStar Gold Standard for our organization transparency in
May, 2014. This is now on our website homepage. See the Financial Report for
more information.
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PUBLICITY
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Continue to publish articles in every Ferndale Friends edition since January, 2008
Continue to set up the information table with our resource sheets and pamphlets
whenever we have a chance. See Information Outreach
Continued membership with the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce
Revamped and updated the FernCare website, www.ferncare.org. We do this
annually.
Continue to put out press releases/Facebook/Constant Contact announcements on
all of our events, things of special interest and both the Board of Directors
monthly meeting agenda and each meeting’s minutes after Board approval.
Once again, we sent out Holiday cards to our supporters. Ben Rubenstein created
the card. SEE Appendix
We have become much more active on Facebook. Kate Baker, posts regularly
for us.
We are listed with a number of local agencies as a free clinic, the latest being
FindCare.org.
CLINIC
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Amy Davisson, PA-C was hired as Clinic Manager in July, 2013. She was one
of the original clinic team members when we were just beginning to design a
clinic.
Completed the 2013 clinic review. This is our 4th review. Michael Kruger, Joe
Eggly and Lisa Goedert also worked to compile the statistics.
Just some highlights from the review: 62% of our patients are 50 and older. About
half of our patients are employed either full time or part time but only 26% make
over $15,000 a year. 73% of our patients reside in Ferndale, Detroit, Southfield,
Hazel Park, Royal Oak or Madison Heights. We truly are a clinic serving
Ferndale and surrounding communities. Hypertension and high cholesterol were
our top two diagnoses. 74% of our patients have more than one diagnosis. For
more information and to read the complete report, go to our website:
www.ferncare.org.
We hosted a “Thank you” holiday brunch for our clinic volunteers in December.
Volunteers have clocked 3604 hours of clinic volunteer time. This is about an
$80,000 in in-kind donation from our clinic staff using the lowest IRS volunteer
rate.
In January’s extreme cold, a pipe broke in the Reception area on January 6. We
needed both water extraction and restoration work. Immediately after the water
extraction and before the restoration could begin, a grand group of volunteers
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came to the clinic and cleaned everything. This allowed us to continue to hold
clinic until the restoration was completed.
Lyle Ulinski stepped down as organizer for the front desk/appointment/phone
team on June 30. She worked with us from the beginning of clinic design and
was one of the first two at the appointment desk at our very first clinic, Aug. 7,
2010. We miss her skills and dedication to both FernCare and the clinic.
We restarted the Diabetes Support Group with Anthony Dodson, RN and Carla
Philips, NP as the co-directors.
We began Affordable Care Act enroll assist in November, 2013. 3 volunteers
earned their Certified Application Counselor (CAC) certificates and have been
assisting our patients with either the Insurance Exchange or Healthy Michigan
since then. Sarah Appleman coordinated that team until February when her
daughter was born. Susan Eggly now informally heads the team with Amy
Roemer, Marsha Manning and Susan LaFrate as enroll assisters. This work was
supported by a Blue Cross/Blue Shield Strengthening the Safety Net $10,000
grant. We are registered as an Affordable Care Act Assister location.
COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS
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The South East Coalition and FernCare continue to interact. We share
information from organization to organization and also often have information for
our patients regarding family programs in the community organized through the
Coalition. Carly Podzikowski is our contact.
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Drayton Avenue Presbyterian Church has selected us a one of their social
mission projects for the year. Quarterly we receive both product and financial
donations from the church. In return, Ann writes a monthly column for their
newsletter.
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Judge Chuck Goedert at 43rd District Court in Hazel Park and FernCare work
cooperatively by being one of the Community Service possibilities for people
that come before the Judge. If the person’s issue(s) is not medical in any way and
the person has a current medical license/certification, Judge Goedert will offer
them the opportunity to contact us and if we accept the person, that person can
fulfill his/her community service obligations with us. We have worked with 5
people so far.
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Wayne State University School of Pharmacy and FernCare have a student
internship agreement. Our Pharmacy Manager has agreed to supervise 2 to 3
pharmacy students each semester. They work both in the pharmacy and with
specific patients. This is our 3rd year of partnering. Christine Rainey, our
Pharmacy Manager and Board member coordinates this project for us.
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We have begun a collaboration with Ferndale Public Schools Head Start and
Grant Early Learning program. Many of our patients live in the Ferndale
Schools area or know people who do and this is a chance to get school
information out to those patients. Amy Rooney is our contact.
FUND RAISING
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Received 7 grants;
* Hitachi ($11000.00)
* Michigan Department of Community Health ($4385)
* Dave Lennon Foundation ($200.00)
*The Jewish Fund $7000 (this is a 3 year grant totaling $21,000)
*Blue Cross/Blue Shield Strengthening the Safety Net ($15,000)
*Croll Family Foundation ($500)
*HRSA – Federal appropriate grant – continuing from 2010 ($31,000)
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Held 16 fund raisers: these were either created by us or were organized for us.
Those fund raisers that were organized for us are indicated by the “organized by”
notation.
Pub Crawl, July, 2013
Drayton Avenue Presbyterian Church Vacation Bible School (August, 2013)
DreamCruise rental for use of our parking lot (August, 2013)
DIY parking, September, 2013
Leon & Lulu Sunday – November, 2013
County Commissioner’s Executive Staff Holiday gift December, 2013
Drayton Avenue Presbyterian Church Social Mission Project, 2014
Lyle and John Ulinski Pipe Break Open House – January, 2014
Brian Wahl’s PFIC “Charity Jeans Day: -January, 2104
New Way Bar - 3 Bands for FernCare – February, 2014
Mother Fletcher Vintage 10th anniversary party – February, 2014
Winter Warm Up with Ferndale Rotary – March, 2014
St. Luke’s Gospel Mass Fundraiser, March, 2014
5 Below, April, 2014
Sixth Annual Dinner – May, 2014
Third Annual Garage Sale – June, 2014
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Sent out an Annual Appeal solicitation letter in December SEE Appendix
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Have received money in our Donation jars at information only events
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Have received donations from our patients following their appointments
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Have collected medical record photocopying fees
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Continue to collect a modest amount of money from Amazon by people
purchasing from Amazon through our website
INFORMATION AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH
We consider this to be very important work. The more often we can empower people to
seek out their own medical/health assistance the better. We review all of our resource
sheets every 6 months to make sure the information is current.
We have an article in the local paper Ferndale Friends bi monthly that also lists health
care information.
In addition to the clinic, we have had the table and resources at
 Transgender Health Fair, October, 2012, June, 2013
 Ferndale Pride Fest, June, 2013.
Our Resources pages on our website, www.ferncare.org is the most visited page of our
website. These pages mirror the resources we have at the clinic.
MEDICATION/MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
REUSE/RECYCLE COLLECTION SITE PROGRAM
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Continued to operate the medical equipment and medication recovery and
recycle collection in cooperation with World Medical Relief and S.A.Y. Detroit
Family Health Clinic, 211 Glendale in Highland Park. See the Donations page of
our website for more information.
We have dropped off 24 truckloads of equipment/medication to WMR and
S.A.Y. since July, 2013.
We have dropped off 14 boxes of expired medications to the Royal Oak
prescription drop at the Royal Oak police station since January, 2014.
We participated in the DEA/SE Oakland Coalition medication drop off day in
March, 2013. We collected 27 lbs. of medication on that one day.
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Clinic Medical and Non-Medical Recognition Awards
Annual Dinner, May, 2014
From left to right: Brian Wahl, non-medical (Benefits) volunteer, Dr. Chris Popp, Medical Director,
Chris Milosevich, medical (Co-Head Nurse) – volunteer, Amy Davisson, Clinic Manager,
Ann Heler, Board President
Summary and Future Plans
“We have been extraordinarily successful. We have been complimented on our
organization, common sense, transparency of operations and our visibility in the
community.
We are strongly supported by the cities of Ferndale, Hazel Park, Oak Park, Berkley,
Pleasant Ridge, Madison Heights and Royal Oak as well as other human service
organizations including Easter Seals, Jewish Family Services, Oakland County Health
Department, Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency and MI Works.
We enjoy positive support by all of our local newspapers; Ferndale Friends, The Daily
Tribune, Woodward Talk, Oakland Press, Detroit Free Press and the Detroit News and
Ferndale 115, Patch.com and the Ferndale Review.
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There is no question that this could not have been done without the work and enthusiasm
of everyone concerned; board members, friends of the board and people who just “want
to help”. We are certainly a textbook example of a “grassroots group with a plan”.
As we move forward, we will continue to expand services and hours at the clinic as we
see as needed and we can afford. Our goal continues to have the clinic open at least once
a week with non-medical sessions or clinics in addition to this core. The other projects;
the medications/medical equipment collection, resource outreach, and working with the
other clinics who work with the uninsured and under-insured will continue.
The success and just under 4 years of clinic experience has made us eligible for more
grant and foundation funding and we plan to continue to aggressively pursue those funds.
Our vision is so full of promise and hope……. through the clinic and our other programs,
we are definitely helping the citizens in Ferndale and surrounding communities improve
or maintain their level of health. As said before in this report, we are not closing in the
foreseeable future….still too much work to do!
This year’s report ends with two testimonials; one from a patient and the other from a
clinic volunteer;
“Thank you so much for the love, devotion professionalism and warmth you bring to this
work! Those characteristics are the gifts you bring us this holiday and the whole year
through. Maybe we need to pose you all and take a picture of you with equipment
befitting your specialties, dressed as contemporary (forgive me all you gender-equality
activists) “Wise Men”?
“To everyone that makes FernCare happen! Volunteering at FernCare is the highlight of
my week! I look forward to spending time with such talented and good-hearted people
every time I volunteer. My experiences here have been essential in my growth as an
EMT and medical professional.”
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Nancy Kaffer,
Detroit Free Press columnist
Annual Dinner May, 2014
APPENDIX
A. Holiday Card
B. Annual Appeal Letter
C. 2014 Annual Dinner Program
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