Sutter Health Contributes $300,000 to Marin Community Clinic Expansion

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Dec. 21, 2006 – Sutter Health announced today it is giving $300,000 to the Marin Community Clinic for its planned expansion in Greenbrae. The capital being expended not only covers more than half the entire cost of the development, but is in addition to contributions provided to the clinic for many years by Sutter Health.

"Sutter Health and the Marin Community Clinic are both committed to making health care services accessible and affordable to those who are most vulnerable financially," said Ed Berdick, Sutter's Bay Area regional executive officer. “We are proud to spend this additional capital for the clinic because it such a vital resource for Marin's most underserved residents."

The Marin Community Clinic, a non-profit organization that provides low-or no-cost medical services to Marin County's medically indigent and uninsured population, is planning to expand its operations beyond its current facility on the Marin General Hospital campus to include additional space located at 1350 South Eliseo Drive in Greenbrae.

The clinic currently serves more than 45,000 patients a year and has outgrown its existing facility, according to Carol Patterson, executive director of the Marin Community Clinic.

"For many years, we have dreamed of being able to serve more patients. After identifying the South Eliseo location, we needed to fund the necessary facility upgrades," said Patterson.

"Sutter Health's contribution is an extraordinary holiday gift to the clinic," added Patterson. "With more than half of the necessary funding from Sutter, we can now move forward on critical expansion planning. But most importantly, this contribution means we will be able to serve more people in need."

Construction on the new clinic location is scheduled to begin next month and is expected to be completed in spring of 2007. Organizations and individuals interested in contributing to the clinic's expansion fund should contact Jill Madison at 415-448-1563.

Contact:
Karen Garner (916-286-8297)
Carol Patterson (415-448-1500)