Variety Care completes Capital Campaign, expands access

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012
Contact: Tres Savage, Variety Care (405) 605-4821

Variety Care finishes Capital Campaign, expands access

OKLAHOMA CITY — Major donors and supporters of Variety Care's recent renovation and expansion projects gathered at the Inasmuch Wellness and Pediatric Center on Monday to celebrate the completion of Variety Care's Capital Campaign, which financed the expansions at Oklahoma's largest Community Health Center.

With two major health center renovations complete and a new administration building also constructed, the $18 million Capital Campaign has added capacity for Variety Care to see about 15,000 more patients a year, many of whom will be uninsured. While a substantial grant from the Health Resource Services Administration covered much of the construction costs, the final $3.9 million of the campaign was raised through local philanthropy.

“Without the community, a Community Health Center is not possible,” Variety Care CEO Lou Carmichael told about 50 donors and supporters in attendance. “And without you in this community, this Community Health Center would not be possible.”

New Variety Care Foundation Executive Director Andrew Rice presented awards to Capital Campaign co-chairwomen Sally Bentley and Linda Schulz, as well as honorary co-chairs Gov. Brad Henry, First Lady Kim Henry and Gene Rainbolt.

“As part of a community, we owe a great service,” Kim Henry said. “There's no greater service we can provide than health, especially to those who are in need.”

The Henrys and other donors also got to a chance to tour the Inasmuch health center, 500 S.W. 44^th St., which features exam rooms named in honor of their donations.

“We are extremely grateful for the support of our lead donors, such as Inasmuch Foundation, Chesapeake Energy, the Albers Family Fund, Devon Energy and the E.L. & Thelma Gaylord Foundation,” Carmichael said. “But every single donation — no matter the size — has helped us finance these health center expansions that are already benefiting our community.”

New patients are taking advantage of expanded services and patient capacity at both the Inasmuch health center and the Straka Family Health Center, 1025 Straka Terrace. Variety Care makes quality health care affordable and accessible to patients with insurance and to uninsured patients. Uninsured Oklahomans pay for care on a sliding-fee scale based on income and family size.

“This campaign allowed us to add more than 21,000 feet of space at our Inasmuch site, which includes a pediatric dental suite, access to counseling and behavioral health care, and an expansion of the largest WIC nutrition program site in the state,” Bentley said. “This is terrific news for the families we serve.”

As part of the Capital Campaign and these expansions, Variety Care built a new administration building at 3000 N. Grand Blvd. to free up space at the Straka site. Variety Care's optometry, lab and x-ray areas were renovated at Straka, and a new wing for pediatric care was added as well. At Straka, patients of all ages can receive care.

Variety Care saw more than 50,000 Oklahomans for comprehensive primary medical, dental, vision, behavioral and WIC nutrition care. These expansions will allow Variety Care to see about 65,000 Oklahomans annually within the next two years.

About Variety Care: (www.VarietyCare.org)

Variety Care is a non-profit community health center with locations in Oklahoma City, Del City, Tipton, Fort Cobb and Grandfield. Variety Care saw more than 50,000 individual patients in 2011, providing primary medical, dental, vision and behavioral health care with multiple services at some sites. A United Way partner agency, Variety Care serves patients with insurance and without insurance and strives to make health care affordable and accessible for all patients.