A church in Ohio awarded COCINA a “challenge grant” in January by which the church will match cash contributions for the clinic from other sources, dollar-for-dollar, that are received by COCINA by October 31---up to a cap of $60,000 that could be paid out by the church.

Hugues Bastien, the COCINA Board of Directors and the Board’s Univers Medical Center Committee are moving on an expedited plan to jump-start the operation of Univers Medical Center (i.e. clinic) in Ouanaminthe as a full-time primary care facility operating 30-40 hours per week. July is when the clinic will start full-time operations with the available Haitian staff. Most of the positions have been filled.

To build enthusiasm in other prospective donors for jump-starting the full-time operation of Univers Medical Center (UMC), Upper Arlington Lutheran Church in Columbus, Ohio awarded COCINA a “challenge grant” in January, 2008 of up to $60,000; this grant will be paid out by matching, dollar-for-dollar, other contributions to COCINA for UMC. The closing date for getting your UMC-directed contribution doubled by this challenge grant is October 31, 2008---or earlier if $60,000 in other contributions is received before that date. So, send a check ASAP and it will be matched. Write “clinic” or “UMC” on the memo line of your check. Mail contributions to C.O.C.I.N.A., P.O. Box 12695, Columbus, OH 43212. As of May 1, $22,300 had been contributed by donors for jump-starting the full-time operation of the clinic.

The first year’s operating budget for UMC as a full-time primary care clinic is close to $180,000. About 1/3 of this amount is expected to come from patient charges for services and medications. The other 2/3 ($120,000) has to come from outside sources, which presently must be COCINA. So the key to obtaining the needed $120,000 is to receive UMC-directed cash contributions of at least $60,000 from churches, individuals, foundations and businesses by October 31 and thereby receive the full $60,000 in matching money from the church’s challenge grant. Here are some expenses that could be funded by your contributions:

• Budgeted annual salary for a Nurse is $11,000
• Budgeted annual salary for a Nurse Aid is $5,200
• Budgeted annual salary for Lab Technician is $13,000

To take advantage of this matching grant, CLICK HERE for a mail-in
contribution form and check 'The Clinic Operations".

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