Kennedy Aids Fund Appeal for Free Clinic

Launching a $2-million fund drive for the Los Angeles Free Clinic, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) on Tuesday called it “a place of caring and feeling, the place where people reach out and say, ‘How can we help?’ ”

“There are children in this community that are healthier and stronger because of this clinic,” Kennedy said. “There are mothers who have (had) successful childbirths because they’ve been able to come here and received counseling and guidance and medical attention which otherwise they would never have received.”

Kennedy spoke to about 200 volunteers, supporters, show business personalities and state and local politicians gathered for the event in the parking lot of the clinic in the 8400 block of Beverly Boulevard.

Building Plans

Officials said the existing one-story Free Clinic headquarters--already the largest continuously operating clinic of its kind in the United States--will be razed to make way for a new three-story structure that will triple its size.

The new structure will be called the Seniel Ostrow Building in honor of the late philanthropist, who was one of the Free Clinic’s most generous backers.

Building fund co-chairwomen Mimi West and Ellen Hooberman said more than half of the $2-million goal already has been raised.

Ground-breaking for the building will be Dec. 17, which also will mark the 20th anniversary of the founding of the clinic, which has provided medical, dental and legal aide to more than 800,000 people since it opened.

Key Role in Senate

Kennedy, chairman of the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee and a longtime crusader for a national health plan, said that eight years ago, “27 million of our citizens had no health insurance and now it is 37 million.”

He said that the great majority of the 10 million additional uninsured are children and most of the rest are women.

“This . . . is a scandal for a nation of our wealth,” he said.

In his speech, Kennedy made a joking reference to “testing the presidential waters,” but as he left the clinic he told reporters, “I’ve indicated my service is to the U.S. Senate.”