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Press Releases
For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Sam Gil
Camillus House
305-374-1065 ext. 328 (office)
samgil@camillus.org • www.camillus.org
CAMILLUS HOUSE LAUNCHES FUNDRAISING SOCIETY TO SUPPORT HEALTH CARE SERVICES FOR THE HOMELESS
MIAMI - Camillus House announced today the launch of the Society of Saint Camillus, a new fundraising initiative designed to widen community support for the health care services provided to persons who are homeless by Camillus Health Concern (CHC), the charity’s health care arm.
The new Society, named in honor of St. Camillus de Lillis, a Catholic patron saint of the sick, aims to bring individuals and organizations with a passion and interest in improving the overall health and well-being of men, women, and children who are poor and homeless in the Greater Miami area.
“It’s appropriate that we launch this important initiative today on the Feast Day of St. Camillus,” Dr. Paul R. Ahr, President & CEO of Camillus House said. “The Society of Saint Camillus will provide an opportunity for persons and organizations of goodwill in our community to share their compassion with individuals and families who have nowhere else to turn for their primary health care needs.”
Camillus Health Concern, which was established in 1984 by Brother Paul Johnson and Dr. Jose Pedro Greer, Jr., is a Federally Qualified Health Center for the homeless. Originally a medical outreach initiative, today, CHC provides adult primary health services, women’s preventive health services, pediatric care, dental care and a number of specialized services including podiatry, and mental health care to more than 5,000 men, women and children each year.
Healthcare providers at CHC are especially trained to meet the unique healthcare and social service needs of persons who are homeless with a strong emphasis on providing culturally sensitive services in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole.
“An important goal of the Society of Saint Camillus will be to encourage greater community involvement while recognizing the philanthropic efforts of individuals who have devoted their time, talent and resources to meet the healthcare needs of persons who are homeless,” explained Sam Gil, Vice-President of Marketing for Camillus House. “We want to engage healthcare providers, doctors, nurses, pharmaceutical companies as well as the average person in this healthcare-driven, fundraising initiative because we know that the benefits that come from having a healthier community will improve all of our lives,” Gil added.
Membership in the Society will be granted to individuals and organizations at various levels of financial support. For more information, contact Jerry Cohen, Major Gifts & Planned Giving Officer at 305-374-1065, ext. 201.
About Saint Camillus de Lillis
Saint Camillus de Lillis, an Italian canonized in 1746 for dedicating most of his life to the care of the sick was declared the patron saint of the sick, and healthcare providers. His feast day is July 18th.
About Camillus House
Camillus House has provided humanitarian services to the poor and homeless populations of Miami-Dade County for nearly 50 years. Established by the Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd in 1960, Camillus House has grown steadily over the years from a small overnight shelter into a full-service center for persons who are poor and homeless.
