NEWS RELEASE...

Moore Free Care Clinic Receives $50,000 from the
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation

John Mills ( pictured left), executive director of the NCAFC and Kathy Higgins,
Vice President of BCBSNC Foundation present Dr. H. David Bruton, chairman of the MFCC with a grant for $50,000.


June 3, 2004 - Carthage, NC - Organizers of the Moore Free Care Clinic announced today that the free clinic has received a $25,000 start up grant from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation. The clinic also qualified to receive an additional $25,000 matching challenge grant because of successful local fundraising efforts. Clinic representatives met at Moore Free Care Clinic today with business and community leaders including John Mills, executive director of the North Carolina Association of Free Clinics (NCAFC), and Kathy Higgins, vice-president of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation (BCBSNC Foundation).

"We're pleased to present the Moore Free Care Clinic with $50,000 on behalf of the BCBSNC Foundation and NCAFC," said Higgins. "We're proud to be partnering with North Carolina's free clinics to meet the health care needs of North Carolinians and we recognize that local support is vital to a clinic's success."

According to the Moore Free Care Clinic, 4,500 Moore County residents lack health insurance - most of them working parents with families. A group of volunteers has been working to start the free clinic, which opened its doors to the needy on April 29, 2004.

"This grant is simply wonderful," said Dr. H. David Bruton, chairman of the board of the Moore Free Care Clinic. "When we started working on this clinic over a year ago, we knew we had to build strong volunteer and financial resources for this clinic to succeed. During each clinic we see firsthand the tremendous need in Moore County for this assistance. We thank BCBSNC Foundation and NCAFC for their generosity."

Medical and citizen volunteers are needed for a variety of tasks, including reception, administrative work, data entry, and providing health care services. To volunteer or for more information, call 910-947-6550 or visit the clinic's website www.MooreFreeCare.org and click the Volunteer Opportunities tab. Contributions to the clinic may be mailed to Moore Free Care Clinic, P.O. Box 1656, Carthage, NC 28327.

North Carolina has more free medical clinics than any state in the country. Free clinics are private, nonprofit, community-based organizations, which provide health care to those in need through the use of health care professional volunteers, such as physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists and hundreds of other health care professionals and community volunteers.

"NCAFC is excited about our partnership with the BCBSNC Foundation to support existing clinics and to create new ones, like the Moore Free Care Clinic," said Mills. "The formation of the Moore County clinic is an important step toward our goal of providing statewide access to health care and expanding the number of clinics in the state from 57 to 85."

The grants are part of a five-year commitment by the BCBSNC Foundation to help care for the uninsured and underinsured people of North Carolina through its free clinics initiative. Distribution of the grant monies is through the NCAFC, a private, non-profit, 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt organization that conducts advocacy, research, public relations, resource development, training and technical assistance on behalf of its member free clinics and the people they serve.

About the Moore Free Care Clinic

The Moore Free Care Clinic provides high-quality primary, preventive and specialty care to limited income people living in Moore County who are uninsured and can't afford access to health care. Health care services at the MFCC are provided by volunteers including: nurses, lab technicians, physician assistants, clerical workers and physicians. The clinic is located at 705 Pinehurst Avenue, Carthage, NC 28327. For more information about the clinic, its volunteer opportunities or to provide a donation, please contact the clinic office at 910-947-6550 or visit the clinic's website, www.MooreFreeCare.org.

About the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation provides financial support to improve the health and well being of North Carolinians. This mission is achieved through programs and services funded in response to grant requests, as well as through funding for programs supporting needs identified by the Foundation. The Foundation's primary focus areas include access to care for the uninsured and underinsured, eliminating racial and ethnic health disparities, physical activity, and screenings and education, all with a focus on preventive care.