Kirkpatrick Family Fund awards $10,000 grant to Good Shepherd Clinic

Good Shepherd Clinic was recently awarded a $10,000 grant from the Kirkpatrick Family Fund.

The grant will be used towards the purchase of a new ventilation system for the dental clinic to meet the new requirements from the CDC infection control guidelines due to the COVID-19 virus.

The dental clinic assists low-income, uninsured residents of Oklahoma City who need oral health care. The grant will allow access to chronically ill patients who have no other option for this much needed care.

“We are honored to receive this grant allowing us to serve even more in our community who otherwise may go without desperately-needed care,” said Pam Timmons, the clinic's executive director. “The funding will enable our organization to bring essential medical and dental services to uninsured Oklahomans while serving as a teaching clinic to hundreds of medical and dental students each year and relieving the burden on other community services.”

The history of the Kirkpatrick Family Fund is closely aligned with the Kirkpatrick Foundation and the Oklahoma City Community Foundation. These philanthropies all benefit from the foresight and generosity of John E. and Eleanor B. Kirkpatrick; their daughter Joan E. Kirkpatrick; and grandson Christian Keesee. The Kirkpatrick family has established a legacy of giving that will continue to benefit future generations in central Oklahoma and the communities they support.

Good Shepherd is a charitable clinic at 222 NW 12. The faith-based clinic provides healthcare to the most vulnerable population. Its purpose is to provide quality medical, vision, prescription medications and dental care to the uninsured, and to meet the emotional and social needs of its patients. The clinic relies on volunteers and donors to provide for those living in poverty and would otherwise go without the needed care.

To date, the Kirkpatrick Family Fund, founded by John and Eleanor Kirkpatrick, has contributed almost $100 million through project, operating and endowment-building grants to qualified nonprofit organizations that work tirelessly to address the greatest needs in their communities.

The grant funds will be used to purchase additional ventilation system that reduces the levels of bacteria and fungi in treated air and reduces the settling of viable bacteria and fungi from treated air on surfaces allowing for a cleaner environmental air necessary for treatments related to oral health care for our patients. These purchases will assist our volunteer physicians as they aim to manage our large population of patients with chronic illnesses to achieve their health outcomes.

For more information about Good Shepherd Clinic or to make a donation to the clinic, call 754-5190 or go to www. GoodShepherdOKC.org.