News Release

December 15, 2008

North Coast Health Ministry Selects 2008 Partner Award Recipients

North Coast Health Ministry (NCHM) has selected Community West Foundation and The Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Foundation as the recipients of its 2008 Partner Awards.  

The NCHM Partner Award is given to organizations that have demonstrated outstanding commitment to North Coast Health Ministry by financial or in-kind support and/or through encouragement and motivation of others to take leadership roles through philanthropy and community involvement.  

The awards were presented at a December 10, 2008, recognition celebration at Rae-Ann Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center at 29505 Detroit Road, Westlake, Ohio 44145.

"The Community West Foundation and the Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Foundation have been critical to the success of North Coast Health Ministry over a period of many years," said NCHM Board Chair Brian M. King.  "These two foundations are true partners of North Coast Health Ministry in providing health care to the medically underserved in our community. We are extremely grateful for their support and honored to present the awards to them."

NCHM Executive Director Lee Elmore said that recent contributions by each of the foundations have allowed NCHM to meet the growing local demand for health care by the low-income uninsured.  "In recent years, Community West has provided funding for North Coast Health Ministry's full-time medical director and also for its prescription assistance program," said Elmore.  "The Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Foundation gave us a substantial grant that allowed us to purchase and refurbish our current building in 2002, and they have provided continued operating support.   Without these two partners, we would be much harder pressed to serve the increasing numbers of our neighbors in need who come to North Coast Health Ministry seeking care."

Since 1986, North Coast Health Ministry has been providing health care to low-income individuals and families without medical insurance in western Cuyahoga and eastern Lorain counties.  A faith-based free clinic located in Lakewood, Ohio, NCHM is a bridge to better health for more than 2,100 patients who have no other route to care.  With the support of over 100 volunteer physicians, nurses and other caregivers, NCHM is able to provide primary health care, specialty referrals, prescription assistance, and health education to the medically underserved.

For more information, contact Jeanine Gergel, Director of Development at 216-228-7878, ext. 107.

email:  jgergel@nchealthministry.org