Sri Lanka RPCV Paul Bollinger is executive director of Southwest Washington Medical Center, the region's only free medical clinic



Sri Lanka RPCV Paul Bollinger is executive director of Southwest Washington Medical Center, the region's only free medical clinic

Free clinic receives $75,000 donation

Thursday, December 30, 2004
By TOM VOGT, Columbian staff writer

The Free Clinic of Southwest Washington received a $75,000 grant Wednesday from a hospital support group, its second five-figure donation in three weeks.

The two grants the earlier one was a $35,000 gift from a Portland-area nonprofit total $110,000.

Wednesday's grant was awarded by the Southwest Washington Medical Center Foundation, through its Healthier Communities Committee.

The grant continues the foundation's long tradition of support for the clinic, said Shirley Gross, clinic development director.

"The hospital even housed the Free Clinic for a time," she said.

The increase this year in charity care at Southwest Washington Medical Center shows the need to support the region's only free medical clinic, said Paul Bollinger, the clinic's executive director.

The money will help support the general operating budget of the clinic at 4100 Plomondon St. in the Jim Parsley Center.

That comes in handy, Gross said, because some gifts to the clinic are designated for specific purposes, and even a volunteer-based organization needs funding to keep the lights on and the bills paid.

The $35,000 grant on Dec. 9 came from Social Venture Partners Portland. That grant is designated for children's care. This is the third year in a row the group has awarded a grant to the Free Clinic, bringing the total to $111,400. That has helped the clinic boost its children's medical outreach program, "resulting in a 65 percent increase in the number of children served," said Paul Bollinger, executive director.

Social Venture Partners Portland is a group of philanthropists who use a "venture capital" model in awarding grants. Members of the group also donate their time and expertise to grant recipients.

The Free Clinic of Southwest Washington is a nonprofit urgent medical clinic that offers free basic medical care to people with no or low income who do not have health insurance or state medical assistance. It is staffed by over 500 volunteer doctors, nurses, and other professionals.

When this story was posted in January 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:

Peace Corps issues appeal to Thailand RPCVs Peace Corps is currently assessing the situation in Thailand, anticipates a need for volunteers and is making an appeal to all Thailand RPCV's to consider serving again through the Crisis Corps. Also read this message and this message from RPCVs in Thailand. All PCVs serving in Thailand are safe. Latest: Sri Lanka RPCVs, click here for info.

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January 1, 2005: This Week's Top Stories Lesotho RPCV starts "Touching Tiny Lives" 1 Jan Guatemala RPCV was grassroots veterinarian 31 Dec Reginald Hodges will head Durham Literacy Center 30 Dec Ed Seidel is Director of Marine Resources Aquarium 30 Dec PC wants happy, shiny faces without felony convictions 29 Dec Newspaper says PC could go to India and Indonesia 29 Dec Tom Johnson choses to spend Christmas in Sierra Leone 28 Dec Barry Rosen helps compile textbooks for Afghanistan 28 Dec Dorinda Dove learned to appreciate midwifery in Africa 28 Dec RPCVs host Exhibition at University of Rochester 28 Dec Mike Tidwell calls on Sierra Club Official to step down 28 Dec RPCV says we can express patriotism as we see fit 26 Dec more top stories...

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The World's Broken Promise to our Children Former Director Carol Bellamy, now head of Unicef, says that the appalling conditions endured today by half the world's children speak to a broken promise. Too many governments are doing worse than neglecting children -- they are making deliberate, informed choices that hurt children. Read her op-ed and Unicef's report on the State of the World's Children 2005.

Changing of the Guard With Lloyd Pierson's departure, Marie Wheat has been named acting Chief of Staff and Chief of Operations responsible for the day-to-day management of the Peace Corps. Although Wheat is not an RPCV and has limited overseas experience, in her two years at the agency she has come to be respected as someone with good political skills who listens and delegates authority and we wish her the best in her new position.

Our debt to Bill Moyers Former Peace Corps Deputy Director Bill Moyers leaves PBS next week to begin writing his memoir of Lyndon Baines Johnson. Read what Moyers says about journalism under fire, the value of a free press, and the yearning for democracy. "We have got to nurture the spirit of independent journalism in this country," he warns, "or we'll not save capitalism from its own excesses, and we'll not save democracy from its own inertia."

RPCV safe after Terrorist Attack RPCV Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, the U.S. consul general in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia survived Monday's attack on the consulate without injury. Five consular employees and four others were killed. Abercrombie-Winstanley, the first woman to hold the position, has been an outspoken advocate of rights for Arab women and has met with Saudi reformers despite efforts by Saudi leaders to block the discussions.

Is Gaddi Leaving? Rumors are swirling that Peace Corps Director Vasquez may be leaving the administration. We think Director Vasquez has been doing a good job and if he decides to stay to the end of the administration, he could possibly have the same sort of impact as a Loret Ruppe Miller. If Vasquez has decided to leave, then Bob Taft, Peter McPherson, Chris Shays, or Jody Olsen would be good candidates to run the agency. Latest: For the record, Peace Corps has no comment on the rumors.

The Birth of the Peace Corps UMBC's Shriver Center and the Maryland Returned Volunteers hosted Scott Stossel, biographer of Sargent Shriver, who spoke on the Birth of the Peace Corps. This is the second annual Peace Corps History series - last year's speaker was Peace Corps Director Jack Vaughn.

Charges possible in 1976 PCV slaying Congressman Norm Dicks has asked the U.S. attorney in Seattle to consider pursuing charges against Dennis Priven, the man accused of killing Peace Corps Volunteer Deborah Gardner on the South Pacific island of Tonga 28 years ago. Background on this story here and here.

Your vote makes a difference Make a difference on November 2 - Vote. Then take our RPCV exit poll. See how RPCV's are voting and take a look at the RPCV voter demographic. Finally leave a message on why you voted for John Kerry or for George Bush. Previous poll results here.

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