2nd Annual Harvest for Health Raised $65,000 for Wood River Health
The sold-out event netted just over $65,000 for the Federally Qualified Health Center. This amount is a $20,000 increase over the previous year's gala. All event proceeds will support programs and services that improve the quality of life of Wood River Health’s patients.
Presenters included Wood River Health’s Board Chair Regan Pennypacker and President and CEO Alison Croke, who shared that the nonprofit was recently recognized as a Health Center National Quality Leader (NQL). This distinction is awarded to health center awardees that meet or exceed national benchmarks for one or more of the clinical quality measure (CQMs) groups that promote behavioral health, heart health, diabetes health, HIV prevention and care, and maternal and child health. Wood River Health was recognized for its efforts to improve access, address social risk factors to health, reduce health disparities, and advance health information technology.
During the
event program, Alison Croke provided an update on the health center’s $5
million building project at its main facility at 823 Main Street in Hope
Valley. The addition will enable it to grow its Hope Valley clinical space by
57%, increase annual dental visits by 1,200 per year and expand behavioral
health services.
The gala
was supported through many generous sponsorships made by community partners,
local businesses and members of the Board of Directors. Neighborhood Health
Plan of Rhode Island served as Harvest for Health’s Presenting Sponsor.
Professional Planning Group served at the Over the Harvest Moon level and A/Z
Corporation was a Cornucopia Sponsor.
The event's
Earth’s Bounty Sponsors included CLA, Integrated Healthcare Partners, Sun Media
Group, United Healthcare, and Westerly Hospital - Yale New Haven. Home and
Hearth Sponsors included Arnold Lumber, Genoa Healthcare, HILB Group, Vision 3
Architects, and Washington Trust Company.
During the
speaking program, a heartfelt patient testimony was delivered by David Maher.
In a prerecorded video, Maher stated how Wood River Health’s Medication
Assisted Treatment (MAT) Program saved his life. To listen to his experience
and learn how he was supported by Wood River Health’s collaborative team of
Doctors, Nurse Practitioners, Nurses and Behavioral Health Clinicians, visit
WoodRiverHealthServices.org.
A live
auction brought in an additional $7,500. The auction was led by Rhode Island
native Poppy Champlin, a nationally acclaimed comedian who has appeared on
Oprah, Showtime, HBO and Joan Rivers and is President and Owner of Poppycock
Productions.
The event
provided the opportunity for guests to participate in a Wine Surprise Raffle,
where they received a bottle of wine and a gift card up to $100 in exchange for
a $46 donation. The raffle raised over $2,000 for Wood River Health. Gift cards
were donated by local businesses. Wood River Health is also grateful to
Haxton's Liquors Tollgate, Hopkinton Liquor Depot, Wakefield Liquors and The
Wine Store for contributing wine to the event.
A Raise the
Paddle brought in an additional $10,000 for the nonprofit health center. These
funds will be used to support the cost of its expansion of its 823 Main Street
facility in Hope Valley.
Photos of Harvest for Health’s attendees were taken by Yamuna Smith Photography and can be viewed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/WoodRiverHealthServices.
Clark
Farms donated beautiful mums that decorated the tables and added to the harvest
theme of the event. Attendees were given a small box of maple sugar candy to
commemorate the evening.
The event
was orchestrated by members of the Harvest for Health Gala Committee and was
chaired by Board Vice Chair Dan Fitzgerald. Committee members included Board
Chair Regan Pennypacker; Board Members Sue Brough and Kate Porter; and Pam
Sawyer. Staff included Alison Croke, President and CEO; Sarah Channing,
Director of Development and Communications; Dayna Mendolia, Marketing and
Events Coordinator; and Jennifer Madden, Marketing and Communications
Specialist. Event program and signage were designed by LDM Designs.
Wood River Health's 3rd Annual Harvest for Health will take place on Friday, September 22, 2023 at The Haversham House. Take it to the Bridge has been secured for the occasion.
About Wood River Health
Services
Since 1976,
Wood River Health Services (WRHS) has provided high-quality affordable medical,
dental and social services to the communities of southwestern Rhode Island and
southeastern Connecticut. A private, non-profit Community Health Center, WRHS
is devoted to providing quality patient care to more than 8,000 patients. It is
recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a Patient-Centered
Medical Home. WRHS is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), a
community-based health care provider that receives funds from the HRSA Health
Center Program to provide primary care services in underserved areas. FQHCs
must adhere to a stringent set of requirements including providing care on a
sliding fee scale based on the ability to pay and operating under a governing
board that includes at least 51% patient-members. For information about its
programs and services, visit WRHSRI.org.