CareNow is a nonprofit organization formed to bring help and hope to the uninsured and underserved in America’s urban communities. The organization works with local community resources and volunteers to produce free clinics providing comprehensive medical, dental, and vision care to individuals and families who are without access to the healthcare they need. There is no cost for the services provided. Clinics are staffed by professional and general volunteers, and supported by donations–both financial and in-kind–from local and national supporters.
Last October, CareNow partnered with Maria Shriver to produce the Modern House Call, a free clinic in Long Beach. Prior to that, the same team of local providers and organizers collaborated with Remote Area Medical to produce two large free clinics in Los Angeles. Together, these three events served 15,330 L.A. residents and provided 36,120 medical, dental and vision services–free care valued at more than $7.1 million. This year, the same group of dedicated community stakeholders and CareNow’s team of volunteers will undertake yet another groundbreaking effort.
CareNow will transform the Los Angeles Sports Arena into a giant clinic to provide free healthcare services to men, women and children needing medical, dental and vision care. CareNow is looking for healthcare professionals from those fields to volunteer for the event. Volunteers may sign up for half day or full day shifts. The event will take place on Oct. 20-23, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Sports Arena, located at 3939 S. Figueroa St.
“Los Angeles is an epicenter of healthcare need, but there is much we can accomplish together to meet that need,” said Don Manelli, president of CareNow. “There are vast healthcare resources in our community eager to help, and we’re expanding our services with every event, providing not only quality care but continuing care for those who need it. Our success depends on medical professionals who are willing to donate their time.”
In addition to professionally trained medical specialists, CareNow is looking for non-medical volunteers to help register patients, manage patient flow and assist professional staff. For more information or to register as a medical or non-medical volunteer, please visit www.CareNowUSA.org.
“The Los Angeles medical, vision and dental communities have shown an amazing level of commitment, from our local medical and dental schools and businesses, to individual volunteers and the entertainment community, we have received overwhelming support,” said Manelli.
To date, CareNow has confirmed the following sponsors and partners: Bill Maher, Mark Gordon, Jason Flom, Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, L.A. Care Health Plan, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Geffen School of Medicine of UCLA, VSP Vision Care, Marisa Foundation, Live Nation, Molina Healthcare, Southside Coalition of Community Clinics, Los Angeles Dental Society, VOSH, Loma Linda University School of Dentistry, Henry Schein Dental, Western Reserve University, Southern California School of Optometry, and more than 50 other healthcare organizations, manufacturers and suppliers.
