A Plea for United Way

It’s not news that a recession is affecting Ventura County’s residents. Health care is one area especially affected by the recession. As more and more people are losing their jobs, they are also losing their health insurance.

The Medi-Cal rolls have grown substantially, yet few physicians in the county will accept Medi-Cal insurance. Uninsured residents with limited resources find few affordable sources of medical services. As the recession lingers, they are seeking care in increasing numbers at the nonprofit community clinics in Saticoy, Fillmore and Oxnard operated by Clinicas del Camino Real Inc.

United Way of Ventura County has been an important source of revenue to support the operation of Clinicas del Camino Real and of many other nonprofit social service organizations in Ventura County. When Clinicas saw the need to establish a clinic in Fillmore in 1986, a onetime supplemental grant from United Way was instrumental in opening the clinic. Last year alone, Clinicas del Camino Real provided more than 40,000 medical encounters and 50,000 health education and outreach encounters. Through United Way’s investment, Clinicas has become the area’s primary source of medical care for the medically underserved population of Ventura County.

All of the United Way agencies are depending on the generous participation of the county’s residents in this year’s United Way of Ventura County campaign in order to meet the $6.6 million goal. Please help us alleviate some of the sting of the recession by contributing to the United Way of Ventura County.

ROBERTO S. JUAREZ

Executive Director

Clinicas del Camino Real

Camarillo