Dear Friends,

Because of your faithful support and prayers, North Coast Health Ministry has unique opportunities to make a significant impact on the health care available to the uninsured in our community, and I am humbled by the support we have received this year. It is our responsibility to be the best we can be and to provide quality care to the most economically vulnerable among us. I have the privilege of working with a talented staff and volunteer team who always keep the patients’ needs in mind in all decisions every day.

We don’t know yet how health care reform will truly impact the patients we serve and their ability to access the health care they need, in large part because all the rules are not yet written and a large portion of the reform will not take place until 2014. We are monitoring the implementation of health care reform and will communicate the impact of it in the year ahead.

There are some things we do know for certain – that the number of uninsured in our community is growing and that their needs are immediate. We know the newly uninsured are seeking our care when they have depleted all of their resources, including, often, the loss of their home. Most who come to us have multiple chronic diseases and cannot afford their medications.

Though we are hopeful for a system in which all who need care can access it regardless of means, for now the plight of our low-income uninsured patients remains unchanged. Their options for accessing appropriate and needed health care are extremely limited—and that is unlikely to change in the near future. That’s why it’s important that North Coast Health Ministry is here to serve them--today, in 2011 and beyond. We will stay focused on our mission of providing health care to the low-income uninsured as long as the need exists.

On behalf of our patients, I thank you, sincerely, for your support.

Lee E. Elmore

Executive Director

Thank you to all our supporters for a record-setting 15th annual Celebration of Caring fundraiser.   Through the combined efforts and generosity of all who supported the event, we raised a record of over $120,000, which represents over 10 percent of our agency’s annual operating budget and an almost 20 percent increase over proceeds from the previous year’s event.

“We are humbled by this extremely generous level of support from our community, especially given the challenging economic times we continue to experience in our region,” says Executive Director Lee Elmore.  “We are able to serve those in need only through the combined efforts of our many valued partners, volunteers, donors and supporters in the community.”

In addition to providing valuable operating support, this year’s generous event proceeds will allow us to equip and restore our patient exam rooms and clinic facility.

At the event the following 2010 award winners were honored:

1. Community Champion Award:   Brian M. King
2. Partner Award:   Fairview Hospital
3. Hahn/Hoeffler/Sanders Memorial Award for Outstanding Medical Volunteers:   Dr. Neal Chadwick and Dr. Michael Dobrovich
4. Angel Volunteer Award:   Betsy Hutcheson

Thank you to our Celebration of Caring sponsors!

Also a special thanks to the event’s honorary chairs Milan “Mike” Busta and Ed and Shannon FitzGerald.

Junk2Funk

Thanks to all who came out to support us through this art and fashion auction at Local Girl Gallery benefiting NCHM on April 24, 2010. Thank you
to event sponsors: Local Girl Gallery, GreenSmart Gifts, EcoLakewood and Lakewood Is Art.

Coffee for a Cause

Purchase a bag of coffee from Coffee For a Cause and benefit North Coast Health Ministry. For every bag sold, NCHM will receive $2. To place an order, go to www.coffee4acause.net.

Special Thanks To:

• Players on Madison for hosting the 2nd Annual Meal that Heals on July 11, 2010.

• The Plain Dealer for selecting North Coast Health Ministry as a Holiday Spirit agency this year. NCHM was selected from almost 90 local charities that applied. Look out for coverage of NCHM and the other selected charities in the Plain Dealer this holiday season.

• Groups that have conducted toiletry drives for North Coast Health Ministry patients, including the Girl Scout troops of Bay Village and the Lakewood Early Childhood PTA.

• Our many individual supporters who participate in the United Way campaign and designate North Coast Health Ministry as the recipient of their United Way contributions.

• St. Peter’s Episcopal Church for its selection of NCHM as one of its mission giving recipients for the last several years.

Correction:

In our 2009 Annual Report, we inadvertently omitted the name of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church from our list of valued church supporters. We apologize for the error and are extremely grateful to St. Peter’s and our other supporting church communities for their contributions.

Annual Campaign

Our 2010 annual campaign is in full swing. Make a gift today to help us keep our doors open to our low-income neighbors in need without health insurance. All donations are tax-deductible. Making a donation in honor of a loved one is a holiday gift idea for that hard-to-buy-for person on your Christmas list. Just tell us on the enclosed gift envelope whom the gift is in honor of and where the acknowledgment should be sent. Donations can also be made online at www.nchealthministry.org/donate

Volunteer Wish List

• A volunteer who can lift at least 50 pounds to help us pick up hospital supplies once per week.

• Volunteer nurses willing to work a women’s health clinic on Saturday, February 12, 2011.

• Volunteers to meet with NCHM patients to address their social service needs.

• Volunteers willing to organize toiletry drives for NCHM patients at church, school or other community groups.

• A volunteer that enjoys planning parties to help us organize our spring and fall mini-fundraising events.

• A volunteer with floral arranging skills to help create centerpieces for our Sept. 1, 2011 Silver Celebration event.

• Volunteers willing to help with periodic special projects, such as mailings.

If you would like to volunteer in any of these ways, please call Mary Ludwig at 216-228-7878 ext. 122 or email at mludwig@nchealthministry.org.