May 18, 2010

Dear Gilead Outreach and Referral Center Supporter,

After 10 years of service, the Board of Directors lead Outreach and Referral Center has agreed to dissolve the Gilead Outreach and Referral Center as of June 30, 2010 due to ongoing funding shortfalls.

The Gilead Center was organized in 2000 as a project of United Power for Action and Justice, to help uninsured individuals claim health benefits for which they are qualified.  Supported by a number of stakeholders, Gilead employed a unique community partner model and worked with local non-profit organizations to help educate and enroll uninsured populations that often were unaware of or had trouble connecting with public coverage options.  Additionally, Gilead marshaled the expertise and investment of a wide array of organizations, including the hospital community, insurers, unions and the faith community.  During its tenure, the Gilead Center assisted over 167,000 individuals - linking them to health benefits programs – and produced an annual report on Illinois’ uninsured population to help educate the debate on the societal issue of the uninsured.  

In only the last decade, we have been honored to be a part of the efforts at the local, state and federal level to help bring about coverage for all Illinoisans, including the implementation of Illinois’ AllKids program and our newly enacted federal health care reform law.  We also remain hopeful that the recently-enacted national health reform law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148), will put Illinois’ uninsured population much closer to our vision of affordable, accessible health care as a reality for all Illinoisans.

There is, of course, more work to be done, and we are supremely confident that Gilead’s legacy will continue through the two organizations selected to carry on our work.  The Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council (MCHC) will maintain some of Gilead’s community outreach and education efforts while United Power for Action and Justice will continue Gilead’s focus on community organizing on health care issues.  

On behalf of the Gilead Board of Directors, I would like to thank our past and present financial supporters, community partner organizations, staff, board members and volunteers for working with Gilead to serve the uninsured.

Sincerely,

Steven M. Derks
Board President

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