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Highlands Today

Free Medical Clinic Has First Fundraiser

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By LAURA NESBITT

Highlands Today

Published: March 31, 2009

SEBRING - Samaritan's Touch Care Center held its first annual fundraising dinner last Saturday night. The primary and specialized care clinic provides free medical care to area families who have no medical insurance of any kind, including Medicare and Medicaid, and whose income is at or below 200 percent of federal poverty guidelines.

"These are the people who fall through the cracks," said Executive Director Diana S. Furr.

Over 100 guests attended the dinner held on the patio of a model home that Arthur Rutenberg Homes donated for the evening.

Doctors at the clinic have seen 900 patients since opening, and there are almost 400 patients on the waiting list, said Luis Pena, medical director.

"Nobody believed it was going to survive, and it's getting bigger," Pena said.

Since the clinic opened in May 2007, over $3.13 million in medical care has been donated by medical organizations, physicians and dentists, Furr said.

The event netted over $12,000 as of Monday afternoon, including corporate sponsorships, registrations and money from the silent auction, Furr said.

Highlands Today reporter Laura Nesbitt can be reached at (863) 368-5857 or lnesbitt@highlandstoday.com.

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