When leaders of the student-run Weill Cornell Community Clinic began organizing their January fundraiser, they expected to raise $5,000 to support patient care.
Instead, their sold-out art benefit last month raised more than five times that amount, funding nearly six months of health care for underserved and uninsured New Yorkers.
Hosted at The Astor Center in NoHo, the fundraiser — themed "Without a Safety Net" — replenished the clinic's coffers with more than $25,000 that will support existing programs and also help finance clinic leaders' plans for expansion with the goal of doubling its patient population.
"We are amazed that we were able to raise that amount," said Megan Riddle, an MD-PhD student at Weill Cornell and co-director of the clinic. "Right now, there is much more demand for our services than we are able to offer. This puts us much closer to our goal of being able to do that."
The Weill Cornell Community Clinic, which serves underserved and uninsured New Yorkers, raised more than $25,000 from their art benefit fundraiser Jan. 27.
"It's really exciting to see how much support people have for our mission," said Ximena Levander, a fourth-year student at the Medical College and co-director of the clinic.
Founded in 2003, the clinic provides free primary care, women's health and mental health services to more than 100 patients a year who slip between the health care safety net's holes and have no where else to turn.
The clinic — funded entirely by donations and grants and staffed by volunteer students, physicians and social workers — collaborates with pharmacies in order to get prescription medications at discounted rates. It also has agreements with Weill Cornell physicians and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital for consultations and imaging and diagnostic tests at reduced cost. Social workers screen patients for health insurance eligibility.
"The students are amazing," said Dr. Carla Boutin-Foster, faculty adviser for the clinic and a member of its Faculty Advisory Board. "They are self-motivated students who really have an interest in public health, and everything they do is to make sure we provide the best in quality care to patients treated at WCCC. It's a great educational experience. What the WCCC does is provide students with the opportunity to be leaders in public health and public health advocates, as well as patient advocates."
The event, the clinic's largest in size and scope, featured a juried silent auction of 15 pieces of art created around the "Without a Safety Net" theme and donated for the fundraiser. Artist Elissa Iberti was the curator.
Clinic leaders, who expect to organize the fundraiser annually, sold out of about 200 tickets days before the event. Hospitality Holdings donated the hors d'oeuvres while Fataah Dihaan of Arcade44.tv provided the music.
"We needed to create an annual fundraising event to support the clinic's mission," said Dr. Patricia Yarberry-Allen, the Women's Health Clinic physician for the community clinic and a member of its advisory board. "Now the clinic has a template for a successful annual event."
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