Spring Soiree: Back to Our Roots

Alliance Medical Ministry’s Annual Spring Soiree: Back to Our Roots on May 18, 2012 was a huge success.  Alliance would like to personally thank all the sponsors, donors, volunteers, and attendees for making Friday night’s event one to remember.  A special thanks to Wells Fargo, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, and WakeMed Health & Hospitals for sponsoring Alliance’s Annual Spring Soiree.

The evening’s event honored Dr. Charles Mann, Provider, Co-Founder and faithful volunteer of Alliance Medical Ministry.  It was Dr. Mann’s passion for care that inspired him to bring the idea of a clinic for the working uninsured to Wake County and create Alliance Medical Ministry.

This year’s event was held at Alliance Medical Ministry to complement our theme of “Back to Our Roots.”  Alliance raised nearly $90,000, including $8,000 in auction items.  We are so grateful for the success of this year’s Annual Spring Soiree and to be able to continue to grow in our mission.

Alliance Medical Ministry Honors Dr. Charles Mann at Annual Spring Soiree

Raleigh, N.C.,– Alliance Medical Ministry, a faith-led non-profit organization serving  working uninsured adults of Wake County,will honor one of its four founders, Dr.Charles Mann, on May 18, 2012 at its Annual Spring Soiree, themed Back to Our Roots.    

“The Alliance mission of care stems from core beliefs of Dr. Mann.  Alliance is honored to pay tribute to Dr. Mann but we’ll never truly be able to repay him for his dedication and passion in creating an affordable healthcare option for Wake County residents,” said Sean Harrison, Executive Director of Alliance Medical.

In 1999, after attending a physician continuing education conference where Dr. Mann heard a lecture by the founder of the Memphis-based Church Health Center, the idea of Alliance was born.  This idea took root in January of 2003 when Alliance opened its doors to the Wake County community. 

Dr. Mann has practiced in the Triangle area since 1982 and has resided in Cary, NC since 1991 when he opened Mann ENT Clinic.  A native of West Virginia, he graduated from West Virginia University and received his M.D. in 1966.  Dr. Mann spent five years in the U.S. Navy serving as a flight surgeon and received his specialty training at the University of Florida.

Dr. Mann is Board Certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery as well as being specially certified by the American Board of Otolaryngic Allergy. He continues to practice medicine today.

The Spring Soiree: Back to Our Roots will be held at Alliance Medical Ministry, 101 Donald Ross Drive, on May 18, 2012 from 6:30 pm until 11:00 pm.  This exciting evening full of food, music and laughter is open to the public. Proceeds will help Alliance meet its fundraising goal of $100,000.  Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina has pledged to be exclusive matching gift sponsor for the event.  WakeMed is continuing their support of Alliance through their Gold Sponsorship.  For more information about the special event visit alliancemedicalministry.org.

About Alliance Medical

Alliance Medical Ministry is a faith-based nonprofit providing a medical home to the working uninsured of Wake County.  More than 120,000 adult residents of Wake County, lack access to affordable acute and primary medical care. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 79 percent of the uninsured in North Carolina reside in a working household.  Without insurance these hard-working citizens are less likely to receive preventive care, and are more likely to be hospitalized for conditions that could have been prevented. Most uninsured families struggle financially to meet basic needs, and medical bills, even for minor problems, can quickly lead to medical debt. 

 

Alliance currently provides a primary care medical home to more than 8,000 low-income adults, with 98 percent having an annual household income of less than 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.  Comprehensive medical care provided at Alliance includes acute and chronic medical care, pharmacy services, health education, disease management, and pastoral counseling.  Patients are referred to Alliance from local area hospital emergency departments, from the Health Department and other local social service organizations.  Many are patients who would otherwise go to local emergency rooms for treatment of non-emergency health care needs, costing approximately $1,596 per visit.  The clinic is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM and select Saturday from 9 AM to 12 PM. 

 

For more information call, 919-250-9254 or go to http://www.alliancemedicalministry.org.

 

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Who is an Alliance patient?

Dr. Sheryl Joyner speaks her heart for Alliance patients and makes a connection that cannot be disputed or doubted. She is pictured below with Morton Spivey, an Alliance patient who works as a caterer, as well as two additional jobs, to support his family.

     “An Alliance patient delivers my morning paper, fixes my latte at Starbucks, bags my groceries, pumps my gas, and inspects my car. They work at my gym and teach at local preschools. An Alliance patient is often behind the counter at the library, video store, shoe repair shop and dry cleaners. They fit and alter my daughter’s prom dress and help my son fit his new pair of tennis shoes. 

     When its been a long day, Lax is running late, Walton is at Bible Study and the kids are hungry, it is often the smiling face of an Alliance patient that serves me at Wendy’s, Char-Grill, Snoopy’s, or K&W.  Alliance patients works in restaurants all over town both waiting tables and in the kitchen. I frequently see Alliance patients in my neighborhood cleaning houses, working as nannies, pushing strollers, and maintaining yards.

     They are plumbers, electricians, pest control technicians and appliance repairmen. They teach dance, gymnastics, karate, and swim lessons. They pastor churches and are musicians. Many of my patients own their own businesses including ethnic restaurants, janitorial services, and salons. They cut hair, give pedicures and work as massage therapists. They are bookkeepers, dog walkers, taxi drivers, caterers, yoga instructors, and personal trainers. They service my car, change my oil, and rotate my tires. They sell me my cell phone and wait patiently while I ask a million questions.

     In many ways these patients are similar to those of us that work at Alliance. They go to work, receive a paycheck, pay taxes, raise families and contribute to the community. They simply do not have health insurance. So many people whose lives touch mine every day and in turn touch yours. I am honored to take care of them because they take care of me.”