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Thursday, Mar 28, 2024

Baxter International Grant Given to Conejo Free Clinic

This is a regular feature on philanthropic activities by Valley-area businesspeople and companies. This is a regular feature on philanthropic activities by Valley-area businesspeople and companies. An $80,000 two-year grant from The Baxter International Foundation will provide funding for a medical operations manager at the Conejo Free Clinic in Thousand Oaks, the clinic announced. The Baxter International Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Illinois-based Baxter International Inc., a medical products manufacturer that has sites in Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village. The senior-level registered nurse patient care management position includes the responsibility of overseeing more than 300 clinic sessions – slots of time during which patients can come in and be seen – in three medical specialties annually. Those specialties are family practice, women’s health and pediatrics. Dr. Frank Dawson, the clinic’s volunteer medical director for more than 30 years, said the medical operations manager coordinates care between an all-volunteer group of more than 60 physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners and support staff who care for patients. “This position is vital to serving the increasing number of people who are without health insurance, income or access to timely medical care,” Dawson said. “In 2010, we served more than 5,000 people, a 90 percent increase over the previous year. We see this trend continuing in 2011.” Baxter International Foundation leaders said it was a pleasure to help the clinic. “This grant is a strong reflection of the commitment that Baxter’s Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village facilities and its employees have made to the local community,” said Donna Namath, executive director of the Baxter International Foundation. “We are pleased to assist the Conejo Free Clinic in their effort to expand access to healthcare for the underserved in their community.” Anthem Donates Anthem Blue Cross’s corporate foundation is providing a grant to Boys & Girls Clubs of America to support the organization’s Triple Play health and wellness clubs throughout the state, the Woodland Hills-based insurance provider announced. The Triple Play program encourages members to eat healthier, become more physically active and increase their ability to engage in healthy relationships. More than one million young people currently participate in the program. The three-year, $432,892 grant is part of a e$5 million grant from the foundation of Anthem’s parent company to support Triple Play programming in all 50 states and several Triple Play-related initiatives in 2011. “We’re proud to support the Triple Play program because we know that if we give our kids a healthy start, it will lay the foundation for a healthy future,” said Pam Kehaly, plan president for Anthem Blue Cross. Music Publisher Helps Schools Van Nuys-based Alfred Music Publishing and Brooklyn-based TuneCore have partnered to create Alfred Records in order to help schools raise money and increase awareness for their music programs, the companies announced. With Alfred Records, music groups from any school are now able to record and sell their music on iTunes and other digital music stores. They will be able to sell the music through TuneCore, a digital music distributor, across the major digital retail platforms. TuneCore is providing a 20-percent discount to schools and has worked with Alfred Music Publishing to create step-by-step instructions on how to upload the music, handle royalty registration and payment, and receive earnings from the fundraiser. The two companies will also provide tips on how schools can promote music to their communities. Veterans Group Sponsored Health benefits plan provider UnitedHealthcare plans to help recovering wounded veterans by serving as the presenting sponsor for the Calabasas-based non-profit organization Ride 2 Recovery, the organization announced. Ride 2 Recovery organizes indoor and outdoor cycling events across the nation to support the veterans who are recovering from physical or medical injuries in combat. This is the second year UnitedHealthcare will serve as the organization’s presenting sponsor, providing financial, in-kind and volunteer support. “UnitedHealthcare is honored to support injured veterans in their rehabilitation,” said Forrest Burke, CEO of UnitedHealthcare’s public sector, government, labor and education markets. “We want these men and women to know clearly that they are not alone as they work to regain their health and well-being.” Ride 2 Recovery has planned seven multi-day, long-distance cycling challenges throughout the year. They will be held in Texas, Virginia, France, Minnesota, California, Florida and – in remembrance of 9/11 – from New York to Washington, D.C. The group has also organized more than 40 one-day CycleFests that raise awareness and funds to support injured troops participating in the long-distance challenges. – Compiled by Jessica Vernabe

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