$28,000 grant helps Good Samaritan Clinic provide medical care
BY BETTY ARCHER ALLEN Gulf Breeze News betty@gulfbreezenews.com

Fred and Shirley Corbett, founders and administrators of the Good Samaritan Clinic and South Santa Rosa Interfaith Ministries, in front of the poster that illustrates the Blue Foundation grant.

The South Santa Rosa Interfaith ministries (SSRIM) received a $28,000 grant from The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida, an affiliate of Blue Cross and Blue shield of Florida (BCBS).

The monies will be used to purchase medications for the Good Samaritan Clinic (GSC). Fred Cornett, the Administer of GSC and Shirley Cornett, the Executive Director for SSRIM, wrote this grant asking for $14,000 but when the Foundation reviewed the request and researched the accomplishments of SSRIM and GSC the Foundation doubled of the grant. They found that GSC is the only free clinic in Santa Rosa County and that it provides medical care, limited dental care and pharmaceutical care. An all-volunteer staff is comprised of 15 doctors, 25 nurses and 20 lay people. In 2006, more than 2,300 patients received medical services at GSC, a 53 percent increase in patients from 2005.

The Grant awarding ceremony and reception was held on Tuesday March 20. Susan Wildes, Assistant Director for the foundation in Jacksonville and Thomas Lampone, M.D, Corporate Medical Director for Blue Cross Blue Shield from Pensacola, came to the clinic and presented the formal check to Fred and Shirley Cornett who accepted on behalf of SSRIM.

Betty Archer Allen/Gulf Breeze News Susan Wildes, center left, from the Blue Foundation and Thomas Lampone, center right, from Blue Cross Blue Shield presented the grant check to Fred and Shirley Cornett of the Good Samaritan Clinic.

Before the ceremony, the representatives from BCBH and the Foundation interviewed two or the clinics patients to determine how well patients' needs were being met at the clinic.

One of these patients was Jerry Negilski. Jerry is a 62- year-old former Regional Director for an Insurance Company whose life got off track due to drug and alcohol abuse. His marriage of 29 years ended; he lost touch with his children; entered life on the streets; and had some "run-ins" with the law.

After some time Jerry said, "I found the Lord and began to straighten out my life but could only find odd jobs to support myself. I also began to have health problems and had no insurance."

One of the GSC staff, Pam Gildersleeve, for whom Jerry had worked, brought him to the clinic. He saw Dr. Bert Jordan who diagnosed Jerry with heart problems and sent him to a Cardiologist. Jerry had to have open heart surgery, all arranged through the GSC.

Jerry says, "This is the best medical service I have ever received, even when I held a position and had health insurance." Jerry has pulled his life together; made contact with his estranged children; and developed a close relationship with a wonderful friend, Mavis Diaz.

Jerry's story is a wonderful testimony to the work of SSRIM and GSC and their all volunteer staff.

It is easy to understand why The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida awarded this $28,000 grant to the South Santa Rosa Interfaith ministries.