At Mayo Clinic, experts care for patients, communities and each other. Contributing to health and well-being is central to Mayo Clinic’s mission, and includes factors such as stable housing, access to quality healthcare, shelter, clothing, food and education.
As part of its commitment, Mayo Clinic is contributing $22 million to organizations in Arizona, Minnesota and Florida that are working to make communities stronger by helping meet the needs of underserved vulnerable populations.
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“We are proud to recognize and support the valuable work of Circle the City, Adelante Healthcare and The Society of St. Vincent de Paul with a contribution of $2 million,” Mayo Clinic said in a statement. “Our longstanding collaboration with these values-driven, mission-minded organizations in Arizona has helped to provide healthcare, hope and healing to people in our communities for the last decade.”
“Our core value is that the needs of the patient come first, but we’re on a pathway to try and touch people everywhere around the world,” says Richard Gray, M.D., CEO of Mayo Clinic in Arizona. “We actually have a goal of touching more than half of the world’s population by 2030. So that means patients that we don’t directly interact with, we still care about, and we still want to do the right things for, and we want to facilitate others who can more directly impact those people as well. This is just an extension of that strategy to do the right thing for people wherever they are, through the right people to meet those needs.”
Arizona non-profit Circle the City will receive $1 million from Mayo Clinic. The organization provides medical care to men, women and children experiencing homelessness in Maricopa County. Its innovative model of care includes respite care where patients recovering from a serious illness or injury receive a bed, meals, daily medical care, and support to find stable housing. Circle the City plans to use the funds to build its third respite center in the East Valley.
“Often when patients come to us, they’ve lost all hope. Respite care provides them with a time and place to heal with compassion, dignity and respect,” says Kim Despres, CEO of Circle the City. “We are so grateful to Mayo Clinic for helping us provide this healing and hope in the East Valley.”
Johnny is one of Circle the City’s patients recovering from a medical condition that left him homeless. “If it weren’t for Circle the City, I wouldn’t be here today,” says Johnny. “I was hurting, and they cared for me and held my hand. Now I’m doing better, and they are helping me find a place to live. Thank you, Mayo Clinic, for supporting this great place.”
Adelante Healthcare will receive $500,000 from Mayo Clinic. The federally qualified health center has nine locations in Arizona that provide care to uninsured and underinsured patients. Adelante offers family medicine, pediatrics, women’s healthcare, dental and behavioral health.
“The generosity of the Mayo Clinic and the impact it’s going to have on Adelante Healthcare and our patient population is incredible,” says Pedro Cons, CEO of Adelante Healthcare. “We can’t do this alone and together with partners like the Mayo Clinic…working together as a team to close gaps in care…and being able to touch the lives of patients in our communities, the way we do collectively is powerful.”
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul will receive $400,000 from Mayo Clinic. The non-profit works to feed, clothe, house and heal individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Services include medical and dental care, housing, shelter, clothing and food to thousands in need daily. “It changes people’s lives, lets them feel valued and know that they’re loved, and that they can get well, back into the community living the lives they were meant to live,” says Shannon Clancy, CEO of St. Vincent de Paul. “We couldn’t do what we do without partners like Mayo Clinic who come together and lead with their hearts and their compassion.”
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego calls Mayo’s award a huge win for Phoenix in helping heal homelessness. “This boost in funding will go a long way in providing critical healthcare to those who need it most, ultimately helping put more Phoenicians on a path to permanent housing,” says Mayor Gallego. “Solving our biggest challenges will require each and every one of us, and I’m grateful to have Mayo Clinic as an ally in this important work.”
The remaining $100,000 will go to a variety of non-profit organizations and Title 1 schools to assist in meeting critical health and educational needs in the community.
