Champions for Families Event Benefits RotaCare
Posted
on Nov 30, 2015
On November 9th, friends and supporters gathered at The Westbury Manor to recognize a dedicated group of Long Island’s top advocates for healthy families. The Champions for Families event benefited RotaCare, a Uniondale-based free medical clinic offering primary care and medications to those in need. The “Class of 2015” advocates were an impressive group: Dr. Cornell C. Frank, Administrator & Dean of Business Affairs, CUNY and VSC and former President of Staten Island Rotary Club and Charter President of a Rotary E-Club, Dr. Joseph Frey, RotaCare Board Director, PDG Dr. Eileen Gentilcore, Past President RotaCare/Emeritus Board, PDG Katherine Gibson, former President Locust Valley Rotary, Dr. Kathleen Lamaute, CNE Professor, Division of Nursing, Molloy College and President, RotaCare Board of Directors, John Lane, RotaCare Board Director, Prakash Pisipati, Founder & President, The New Protocol, Inc. Jennifer Poupis, Account Manager Procter & Gamble, Jane Schwartz, RotaCare Board Director, PDG George Solomon, General and Municipal Securities Principal / Division Manager, FSC Securities Corp. & RotaCare Board Director, Ronald Steimel, Executive Vice President / Chief Administrative Officer Mercy Medical Center and St. Joseph Hospital. Each of the honorees works tirelessly, sharing time and talent to better the lives of those in need on Long Island and promote healthy families.
With the goal of addressing the needs of the uninsured in Nassau County, Long Island, members of the Rotary Club of Mineola-Garden City launched Rotacare in 1992. Working with the representatives of the Interfaith Nutrition Network, volunteers from Rotary District 7250 (now District 7255) and community minded people, their idea took root. Grumman Aerospace provided RotaCare’s first funding grant. From the start, RotaCare has worked to make Long Island’s poorest families stronger and healthier by assisting with healthcare challenges. RotaCare President, Dr. Kathleen Lamaute said, “Champions for Families is an important event that recognizes leaders among us. RotaCare is grateful to be the beneficiary of this event. These funds will enable us to continue our mission to facilitate health care for the most needy on Long Island.”
Staffed by a qualified, all volunteer staff, RotaCare is able to reduce cost through preventive care and the management of chronic disease. The numbers are impressive: on a yearly basis 100+ volunteers see 800 patients and offer 14,000 service hours and $4 million dollars worth of free services. RotaCare provides primary care to prevent complications that may require hospitalization and costlier care. This approach keeps patients out of the hospital, minimizes use of emergency rooms, and enhances medication and treatment compliance.
RotaCare patients have become increasingly marginalized. Through generous support, RotaCare has created a space where people in need can access health care in a setting that treats them with dignity and respect. This makes a big difference not only for RotaCare patients, but for the overall health of our communities as well.
For more information about RotaCare, or to volunteer, please log on to www.RotaCareNY.org or phone 516-539-9834.
Donations may be mailed to: RotaCare, 875 Jerusalem Avenue, Uniondale, NY 11556.
Champions for Families Honorees 2015 from left to right: Ron Steimel, Dr. Eileen Gentilcore. Jennifer Poupis, John Lane, Dr. Kathleen Lamaute, Prakesh Pisipati, Dr. Joseph Frey, Katherine Gibson, George Solomon, Jane Schwartz and Dr. Cornell Frank (not photographed). (Photo: Bill Moseley/BBA Photography Corp.)