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PEEKSKILL, NY – Congresswoman Nita Lowey, Westchester County Legislator Catherine Borgia, and Peekskill Mayor Frank Catalina today joined health pioneer Dr. Jack Geiger and executives and staff of HRHCare for a 40th Anniversary ribbon cutting event to rededicate HRHCare’s flagship facility in Peekskill and rename it in honor of Reverend Jeannette J. Phillips. Phillips served as the organization’s first board president in 1975 and is the last living “founding mother” of HRHCare. The other founding mothers were the late Willie Mae Jackson, Mary Woods and Pearl Woods.
In the early 1970s, four women in Peekskill came together to address the lack of health care services in their community and founded the Peekskill Ambulatory Health Care Center. Since the time it opened its doors in July 1975, the organization, now known as HRHCare, has grown into one of the largest community health systems in New York, employing over 200 health care practitioners and serving 135,000 patients annually at sites from Ulster and Columbia County to the east end of Long Island. In 2014, HRHCare saw a total of 480,000 patient visits across its facilities throughout New York State.
In addition to being one of the four “founding mothers” of Hudson River Health Care, Phillips served as the organization’s first board chairperson and has been a key leader in promoting the organization and the cause of affordable healthcare for decades.
“Reverend Phillips is a true leader here in Westchester, and an inspiration to everyone who seeks to provide access to quality health care,” said Anne Nolon, MPH, CEO of Hudson River HealthCare during the ribbon cutting. “We serve tens of thousands of patients at 30 sites around the region, and none of it would be possible without her work.”
“Reverend Jeannette J. Phillips’ tireless work has resulted in a healthier Westchester and a strong Hudson River Healthcare system that improves the quality of life for people throughout our region,” said Congresswoman Nita Lowey. “Rededicating HRHC’s flagship facility in Peekskill in Reverend Phillips’ honor is a fitting testament to her important contributions to the health and wellbeing of residents in the Lower Hudson Valley. I will continue working to bring federal investments to local organizations that help ensure access to affordable health care for local residents.”
“In 1975, I was joined by dedicated people from around Westchester and beyond to make this dream of community healthcare a reality,” Reverend Phillips said. “I never could have done it without the rest of the founding mothers, Dr. Geiger and our local officials. I want to thank Anne Nolon, Alan Steiner, and the rest of my family at Hudson River Healthcare for their commitment over 40 years and more, and for the honor of this rededication.”
“Working here in Westchester, there are people for whom I’ve developed a true admiration and respect, and Reverend Phillips is one of those people,” County Legislator Catherine Borgia said. “She has been working to make this community better and healthier for well over 40 years, and I’m proud to stand with her as she receives the richly deserved honor of this renaming.”
“Over the span of my career, I’ve worked with a great number of people around the country on expanding community health options, and Reverend Phillips is one of the most passionate and dedicated among them,” said Dr. Jack Geiger, who helped to found the movement towards community health centers decades ago. “She deserves this honor due to the great work that she and HRHCare do, here and throughout New York.”
“We’ve been working in this community for over 40 years, and Reverend Phillips has been a part of that from before the very beginning,” added HRHCare Board Chair Hon. Alan Steiner. “Seeing her name on this facility is a recognition of that work, and a promise to always uphold her commitment to helping others.”
Also in attendance was Mrs. Theodosia Green, a 101-year-old local resident who has relied on HRHCare for her healthcare needs since its founding 40 years ago. She is just one of tens of thousands of patients served at the Peekskill facility over the previous four decades.
“At the new Jeannette J. Phillips Community Health Center, we’re committed to serving patients like Mrs. Green for another 40 years or more,” Nolon added. “I want to thank Representative Lowey, Chairman Steiner, and the rest of our local activists and officials for being here today. Most of all, I want to thank Reverend Phillips for all of her work on behalf of the people of the Hudson Valley.”
About HRHCare
HRHCare (Hudson River HealthCare) is a nonprofit, New York State licensed, Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). Founded in 1975 to provide care to the medically underserved population of Peekskill, HRHCare has grown to include 24 directly operated health centers and six sub-recipient health centers delivering care throughout a 10 county region of New York to 135,000 patients with over 200 health care practitioners.
HRHCare provides comprehensive services including adult and pediatric care; obstetrical and gynecological care; family planning; HIV counseling, testing and referral; dental services; mental health counseling; nutrition counseling; podiatry; WIC services; health education; and a full complement of outreach, translation, transportation, benefits counseling and health insurance enrollment assistance.
HRHCare has a profound commitment to the communities it serves and works to improve community health through partnerships and collaborations with key stakeholders including local businesses, social service agencies, housing organizations, food banks, agricultural worker alliances and other community organizations.
For more information contact:
Elizabeth Kenigsberg
646.930.0222
ekenigsberg@skdknick.com
