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Fundraising breakfast supports local SVdP’s medical, dental clinic
By Andrew Junker, The Catholic Sun
November 15, 2007
SCOTTSDALE — Hundreds gathered for a fundraising breakfast Nov. 8 at the Camelback Inn to support the Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s Virginia G. Piper Medical and Dental Clinic.
As the attendees ate and drank, emcee Mark Curtis of Channel 12 news reminded those in attendance that “a lack of medical insurance is not just a national problem, but a local one as well.”
That’s where The Virginia G. Piper Medical and Dental Clinic comes in. Last year alone, the clinic welcomed 13,000 patients who otherwise would not have had access to health and dental care.
“The people we serve in our clinic are the working poor,” said Steve Zabilski, executive director of the Phoenix Society of St. Vincent de Paul. “We really worry about these families. These are hard-working families.”
He said that many parents work two jobs just to make ends meet, but have no insurance for medical care or prescriptions. Especially worrisome is the dental state of many of these families’ children.
“This is not what life should be, especially for a child,” Zabilski said.
Last year, the clinic provided more than $1 million worth of dentistry for children. More than 150 volunteers a month help the dental clinic operate, bringing hygiene and health to thousands of children.
“We educate the students” about dental hygiene, said Ken Snyder, director of the dental clinic. “We make them good dental patients in the future. The other thing is, we have fun.”
The breakfast featured testimonials from some of the patients served by the clinic. Alberto, an 18-year-old high school student, found himself losing his balance last year. He tried to ignore it, because he knew his family would be hard-pressed to pay for treatment.
“My family has no money,” he said. “We couldn’t afford a doctor.”
But he ended up visiting the clinic, which diagnosed him as suffering from seizures and high blood pressure. The doctors put him on medication which the clinic helped pay for. Now, Alberto has dreams of attending culinary school and becoming a chef and owner of his own restaurant.
Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted told the crowd that caring for the needy comes second nature to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
“Everyday, they reach out to our neighbors in need with great love and compassion,” the bishop said. “As they reach out, we ourselves are inspired to do even more. This great organization puts love into practice.”
For Zabilski, all the time and money put into the clinic and the society’s other charitable work help fulfill the group’s mission.
“Is this not our destiny?” he asked the crowd. “Is this not what we are called to do?”
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