Florida Hospital Flagler Foundation Donates $15,000 to the Flagler County Free Clinic

PALM COAST, Fla., September 21, 2016 On Sept. 12, the Florida Hospital Flagler Foundation donated $15,000 to the Flagler County Free Clinic to help expand the clinic's diabetes services.

The funds were raised during the Florida Hospital Flagler Foundations 2016 Moonlit Gala, chaired by Laura Gilvary, Florida Hospital Flagler Foundation board member with a personal passion for diabetes awareness and treatment. Her husband John has Type 1 Diabetes.

Approximately half of all Florida adults are afflicted with diabetes; about 13 percent have diabetes and an additional 38 percent have prediabetes, said Gilvary. Supporting the free clinic's diabetes services is so important because people with diabetes have medical expenses that are approximately 2.3 times higher. Over time, that can really add up.

Complications from diabetes can be very serious and include heart disease, stroke, amputation, end-stage kidney disease, blindness and even death, said Dr. Ron Jimenez, Florida Hospital Flagler CEO. That's why the hospital strives to educate our community about diabetes and the treatment options available. We are blessed to have the opportunity to help support the Flagler County Free Clinic and their service to our community.

About Florida Hospital Flagler

Florida Hospital Flagler is a member of Adventist Health System, a faith-based health care organization with 46 hospital campuses and nearly 8,200 licensed beds in 10 states. With 99-beds, Florida Hospital Flagler is one of the six Florida Hospitals in Volusia and Flagler counties that composes the Florida Hospital East Florida Region. As the largest hospital system in the area, the Florida Hospital East Florida Region has 923 beds and more than 6,000 employees. With a mission to extend the healing ministry of Christ, the Florida Hospital East Florida Region collectively contributed nearly $120 million in benefits in 2015 to the underprivileged, the community's overall health and wellness and spiritual needs, and capital improvements. For more information about Florida Hospital Flagler, visit www.FloridaHospitalFlagler.com.

Photo Caption:

On Sept. 12, the Florida Hospital Flagler Foundation donated $15,000 to the Flagler County Free Clinic to help expand the clinics diabetes services. From left to right, Florida Hospital Flagler Foundation board member Laura Gilvary, Florida Hospital Flagler chief operating officer JoAnne King, Flagler County Free Clinic president Dr. Steve Bickel; Florida Hospital Flagler Foundation board member Tony Papandrea; Florida Hospital Flagler chief executive officer Dr. Ron Jimenez, Florida Hospital Flagler operating board member Barbara Revels, Florida Hospital Flagler Foundation executive director John Subers and Florida Hospital HospiceCare Foundation director Bill Tol.