POUGHKEEPSIE-On Friday June 20, Hudson River Community Health hosted a luncheon to celebrate its expanded women and children’s health services at its Poughkeepsie health center, 29 North Hamilton Street, Poughkeepsie.

These renovations, which were made possible by a $200,000 grant from the Dyson Foundation, resulted in the expansion of women and children’s services and WIC (Women, Infants and Children) nutrition, into one comprehensive center for patient care, with an emphasis on services targeted to low income, uninsured and underinsured women, especially at-risk Latino and African-American women.

“Most important are the expanded services for women and children,” stated Hudson River Community Health’s President and CEO, Anne Nolon. In all, the renovation has resulted in five new exam rooms and two new doctor’s offices. “In addition, the result of this merger is the creation of a single, patient centered environment of care that is efficient and cost-effective and provides expanded services for women and children.” These expanded services will also include prenatal care, in conjunction with the Vassar Hospital Midwifery Group.

Established in 1957, the Dyson Foundation has awarded more than $100 million to worthy organizations, innovative programs and compelling causes. This support to Hudson River Community Health is in keeping with the values and convictions that guide the foundation’s work. “We are very pleased to0 support the work of Hudson River Community Health, an agency that is truly committed to the underserved in this community. “This is a grant we are very proud of,” said Diana M. Gurieva, the Foundation’s Executive Vice President.

Healthy, community and church leaders, state, county and local elected officials and members of the Board of Directors of Hudson River Community Health and the Dyson Foundation were in attendance to celebrate the expanded services to the community.

Founded in 1975, Hudson River Community Health provides high-quality primary health care services for thousands of families throughout the Hudson Valley. Hudson River Community Health has sites through the Hudson Valley, with five centers in Dutchess County in Beacon and a second Poughkeepsie site at the Atrium in St. Francis Hospital, and Amenia, Dover Plains, and Pine Plains, and is a nationally recognized model of care with a wide variety of programs and services. For more information, call 1-877-871-4742, toll free.

Left to right: John Nolon, Congressman Maurice Hinchey, Anne Nolon, Emily Dyson, Robert Dyson, Solange Muller and Mike Duffy. Standing behind and between the Dysons is Roy Hohnson; behind Muller is Michell Speight.