Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic raises $172,000 for 2,800 free patient visits during ninth annual golf invitational fundraiser
May 12, 2016
Longtime Johns Island resident Wayne Dubose credits Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic (BIFMC), a non-profit organization that provides free health care to uninsured, low income adults who live or work on Johns, Wadmalaw and James Islands, with saving his life. Approximately two years ago, Dubose could barely walk through the doors of BIFMC. His legs were cold and blue. Without health insurance, he was unable to seek the medical care he desperately needed to treat his condition.
At BIFMC, he was diagnosed with peripheral vascular disease that was preventing oxygen to his legs. The medical professionals at BIFMC coordinated surgery for stent placement, saving the use of both legs. The Clinic arranged heart catheterization and a stress test for Dubose, leading to hospitalization and an additional stent being placed in his heart. Today, Dubose is healthy and he continues to receive free medical care from the clinic to control his heart’s strength, all of which is fully funded through generous community donations, grants and fundraisers.
The largest fundraiser is the Celebrity Golf Invitational, held this year on April 25, 2016 at Kiawah Island Club’s Cassique golf course. The ninth annual tournament raised $172,000 for the clinic, which will support more than 2,800 patient care visits. The proceeds will provide operational costs for BIFMC, which cares for more than 4,000 patients and averages 300 monthly visits.
“We cannot express our appreciation and thanks enough for the numerous sponsors, donors and golfers who participated in the Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic’s golf invitational,” said Dr. Jim Hayes, Chairman of the Board and Volunteer Doctor. “These past eight years have seen remarkable growth for the clinic, all centered around serving our community’s needs.”
The tournament attracted 90 golfers, as well as 90 sponsors and donors. A cocktail hour, silent auction, buffet dinner and awards ceremony followed the tournament. During the event, there were additional opportunities to donate to the clinic, including prize contests for putting, holes in one, closest to the pin and longest drive.
Sponsors for the 2016 BIFMC Celebrity Golf Invitational include Kiawah Island Real Estate, Town of Kiawah Island, Bauer Advising, Lien, Karen & Scott Hutchinson, Ed & Tracy Shehab, Claneil Foundation, Robert & Linda Fetch, Drs. Scott & Colleen Parker and Roper St. Francis, among others.
“Kiawah Island Club was proud to host and sponsor the annual BIFMC golf tournament on Cassique,” said Townsend Clarkson, Chief Operating Officer for Kiawah Partners. “We are thrilled with the amount raised for the organization and the event was a great way to connect our community around an important mission.”
Since opening its doors in 2008, BIFMC has provided more than 31,000 free medical office visits to the deserving residents in the community who may not have otherwise been able to see a doctor. Now, eight years later the clinic’s grown rather significantly – BIFMC has 35 volunteer doctors, 26 volunteer nurses and more than 45 administrative volunteers.
BIFMC provides healthcare options to the estimated 22 percent of residents on Johns, Wadmalaw and James Islands who live 200 percent below the Federal Poverty level and cannot pay for health insurance. The clinic provides free primary care and urgent care, including lab tests and imaging. BIFMC helps patients address their medical needs – treating everything from a common cold to chronic diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, coronary disease and depression.
Doctors, nurses, interpreters, diabetic meters and strips, lab tests and x-rays (in-kind donation from Roper St. Francis Healthcare) are free for all patients. In addition, medicine is taken care of by the clinic. While each visit is free for the patient, each visit costs the clinic $60 (a substantial benefit to the overall community when compared to $2,200 costs per visit to an emergency room). All clinic costs are funded through donations, grants and fundraisers.
To make a donation to the Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic, fill out the online donation form or mail a physical donation form to 3226 Maybank Highway Suite 1-A Johns Island, SC 29455.
For more information on the Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic, visit www.bifmc.org or email [email protected].
About Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic
Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic (BIFMC) is a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization that provides a medical source and continuing primary health care provider to uninsured adults living or below 200 percent of the Federal poverty level of Johns, Wadmalaw and James Islands. By implementing the free clinic model of low-cost, volunteer-driven medical care, BIFMC is creating healthier workers and a healthier community. The clinic covers five medical specialties: primary care, orthopedic surgery, dermatology, ophthalmology and gynecology.
About The Kiawah Island Club
The Kiawah Island Club is a private club located on Kiawah Island. The club includes two acclaimed golf courses, Cassique and The River Course. For more information, visit kiawahislandclub.com.
About Cassique
Cassique’s 7,050-yard test ranges through maritime forests and along marshes where the Kiawah River meets the Atlantic Ocean. Since its opening in 2000, the Tom Watson-designed course has garnered numerous accolades and showcases the dramatic flare that has punctuated Watson’s playing career. Cassique, Watson’s first solo design in North America, benefits from lessons learned en route to five British Open Championships. With its walkable layout, the par-72 links-style course is reminiscent of tracts found in Scotland and Ireland. Like those classic seaside settings, Cassique offers little protection from ocean winds, so Watson fashioned holes that could be played in numerous ways depending upon the conditions and the creativity of the golfer.
