Champions of community health honored.

Byline: Anna L. Griffin

LEOMINSTER - Community health champions were honored recently for their work in helping to establish Community Health Connections on the occasion of the agency's fifth anniversary.

"It has been a tremendous challenge to provide services to these communities," said Robert H. Johnson, executive director of CHC Inc.

"We have been flourishing with the support and assistance of a number of people in this room," Mr. Johnson said.

The event was held at the Four Points by Sheraton, 99 Erdman Way, and honored as the 2007 Community Health Champions were Ronald M. Ansin, James O. Garrison and Leo P. LaChance.

These three men were singled out for their work on the "Campaign to Serve 10,000." The campaign is designed to raise money to continue the work on refurbishing the Mary E. Kane Building, Gardner. The building is the site of some CHC programs; however, if all of the space were fully refurbished, more services could be provided.

In 2001 the building was damaged by heavy fire. In July 2005, the deed was signed over to CHC, and in October, the facility that once housed the Gardner Senior Center reopened as the Greater Gardner Community Health Center.

Alberta Bell, publisher and owner of The Gardner News, is the campaign chairwoman of the "Campaign to Serve 10,000." Mrs. Bell spoke about the work the three men have done in helping the campaign to reach its goal.

A brief video presentation hosted by Mrs. Bell that outlined the achievements of the CHC and its goal was played for the audience.

Community Health Connections was opened in February 2002 as the first federally qualified community-owned health center federally mandated to provide health services to the underserved of North Central Massachusetts.

Its first location is in the Bullock building on the UMass-Memorial HealthAlliance Burbank Campus, but since that time, other locations in communities such as Gardner and Leominster, have opened.

CHC offers services for both uninsured and insured patients. The private nonprofit organization offers outpatient health care and social services for people of all ages.

CHC Inc. also noted the following milestones during its first five years as part of the celebration.

2002 - The CHC Family Health center opens at UMass-HealthAlliance Hospitals Burbank Campus. During its first year, it had 7,236 patients, 16,003 visits, 35 staff and a budget of $1.3 million.

2003 - The Dental Service component opens and a three-year strategic plan was developed. School-based dental services were launched in collaboration with the Montachusett Opportunity Council Inc.

2004 - The Health Care Access Program, in partnership with the Joint Coalition on Health, is started. The Leominster Screening Site is opened, in collaboration with the Spanish American Center.

2005 - Greater Gardner Community Health Center opens on the first floor of the Mary Kane Building; this building was donated by the city of Gardner. Pharmacy services open in collaboration with HealthAlliance Hospitals, and a school-based mental health program is started in collaboration.

2006 - The agency's mental health services is licensed; a new site in Leominster opens in collaboration with the Spanish American Center; the Gardner center's "Campaign to Serve 10,000" begins with a goal to raise $1.5 million (to date $725,446 raised); pharmacy service opens at Heywood Hospital for GGHC patients. The agency statistics are: 28,000 patients; 63,000 visits; 125 staff and a $9 million budget.

Those who would like more information on the "Campaign to Serve 10,000" can contact the agency by calling [phone] or by visiting the Greater Gardner Community Health Center, Inc., 175 Connors St., Gardner.

ART: PHOTOS

CUTLINE: (1) James Garrison (2) Leo LaChance )3) Ronald Ansin