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Lyon-Martin Health Services Announces Fundraising AppealSAN FRANCISCO - January 26th, 2011 - Lyon-Martin yesterday announced its intentions to close its doors due to financial crisis. A community forum, organized in response to yesterday's announcement, has generated grassroots mobilization and fundraising aimed at keeping Lyon-Martin's services available to its nearly 2,500 patients. "We're thrilled at the response we've gotten from key decision makers in San Francisco, and from the overwhelming community support pouring in," said Dawn Harbatkin, the clinic's Interim Executive Director. "The community's actions show how important Lyon-Martin's survival is to so many people." Since the press release yesterday, the clinic had already raised $28,000 in donations and pledges. The immediate overall goal is $250,000.
"The outcry from the Bay Area, across the nation, and around the world has been overwhelming," said Lauren Winter, the President of the Board of Directors. "We're hoping that with support from enough people, none of Lyon-Martin's patients will have to go without the compassionate care the clinic provides." Ms. Winter has personally raised more than $50,000 from friends and family in the past 24 hours.
Dr. Harbatkin is working with the board to create a closure plan that ensures that the clinic's patients can safely and smoothly transfer care to other appropriate providers. In the meantime, the clinic will continue to see patients.
Lyon-Martin needs to raise at least $250,000 to reduce immediate debts and be able to continue providing invaluable healthcare to its patients. Should that happen, Lyon-Martin may be able to reorganize rather than close. To this end, the clinic will continue to accept donations and pledges. "We're looking to community members to support us at this time," said Harbatkin. "Any money raised will be used to help reduce our debt in hopes of continuing patient care."
Community members interested in answering Lyon-Martin's appeal for emergency funding can take one of the following steps:
- Donate online at www.lyon-martin.org.
- Send a donation via check to: 1748 Market Street, Suite 201, San Francisco, CA 94102.
- Make a donation over the phone by calling 415-901-7131
- Attend Lyon-Martin's fundraising event Sunday, February 13th from 6-9pm. The evening will include food from Queer Food for Love, drink, and a silent auction worth thousands. Tickets are available online ONLY at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/140886.
Lyon-Martin provided care to almost 2,500 patients in 2010. 42% of these patients are queer identified, 33% of these patients are people of color, 17% are homeless or marginally housed and 84% live below 200% of the federal poverty level.
Without Lyon-Martin,
- 7 women would have had their breast cancer advance undiagnosed.
- 20 patients would have had their HIV viral load increase, risking advancement to AIDS and spread of HIV to others.
- Nearly 100 patients would have had their diabetes go out of control, risking blindness, limb loss and kidney failure.
- 150 people would have had their abnormal pap smears progress to cervical cancer.
- More than 400 transgender patients would have had to buy black market hormones.
- Nearly 2,500 people would not have had the necessary information to answer the question, "How are you?"
| | Media/Other Inquiries
Contact: Lauren Winter
Board President
lauren@lauren-winter.com
510-390-6508 |
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