Health Partners celebrates 25 years of service
Nonprofit provides health care to thousands in area
“The Clinic that God built” has changed people’s lives from the youngest to the oldest, and on Sept. 22 Health Partners is poised to celebrate its 25th anniversary.
Health Partners is a charitable clinic dedicated to helping families within the community, serving Charles County and the surrounding area. It was started under the auspices of the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., and it came into
existence in 1992 when nuns Michaeleen and Gladys Marie, of the Sisters of the Holy Cross, learned of sick children deprived of the necessary healthcare because of a lack of money and transportation.
The work that was started by the two pioneers has blossomed into a nonprofit organization that assists thousands of residents living in Charles County.
Today, with more than 2,000 volunteers to include doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, dietitians as well as other professionals and non-professionals who give their time and talents to the clinic and its patients, they have made Health Partners what it is today.
“We have evolved from where we started … people get help no matter what,” said Chrisie Mulcahey, executive director of Health Partners.
“I am certainly looking forward to seeing the buildings and how things have evolved since I was last in Waldorf,” said Michaeleen,
one of the founding members of Health Partners.
Both of the founding members of the organization will be in attendance for the gala event. This years anniversary will be celebrated with an old tradition called “celebrity bakers.”
“Celebrity bakers raise money toward getting a cake, then you get the opportunity to make the cake. Participants are welcomed,” Mulcahey said. “Those who enter will compete for a chance to be recognized as Health Partners Celebrity Bakers of 2017.”
This years gala will feature a dessert feast along with entertainment, dinner, live and silent auctions, and a special presentation from the Health Partners founders.
“Those who have helped us through the organization, those who have benefited from this program and in addition those who given of their time and talents to help further the cause of this organization are also welcomed,” Mulcahey said.
Today, because of the work that has gone into Health Partners, the organization boasts two locations in Waldorf and Nanjemoy. In February, Health Partners opened its Nanjemoy location.
One of the many ways in which Health Partners reaches out to the community is by giving free dental cleanings and extractions to the public at various locations. This is made possible through grants the organization receives.
“We have been able to get out into the community and do really good dentistry work on people who would have otherwise gone without getting this help,” said Mulcahey. “We have extractions, fillings, cleanings, X-rays right there at the site and it was all free.”
“Health partners take Medicare and Medicaid and if you don’t have any insurance you’re welcome to come in as well,” Mulcahey said. “And we also offer another dentistry appointment at reduce cost.”
Health Partners 25th anniversary will take place on Sept. 22 at the Greater Waldorf Jaycees Hall and the program is set to start 7 p.m. and end at 10 p.m. For ticket information, call 301-645-3556.