Wood River Health Hosts Ribbon Cutting Celebration

HOPE VALLEY, RI (NOVEMBER 29, 2023) – Wood River Health hosted a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Open House for its new building on Monday, November 20, 2023, at 5:00 PM at 823 Main Street, Hope Valley, RI. The event marked the official opening of an addition to the federally qualified health center’s existing facility and celebrated the people who made the expansion possible.

Event speakers included Senator Jack Reed, Representative Seth Magaziner, Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos, and General Treasurer James A. Diossa. Wood River Health’s President and CEO Alison L. Croke provided an update on the Capital Campaign. Board Chair Regan Pennypacker and Board Member Kalpesh Shah also spoke during the short event program. After the Ribbon Cutting, attendees were invited to tour the new building.

During her presentation, President and CEO Alison Croke shared that Wood River Health’s “Your Home for Health” Capital Campaign has raised over $4 million to date. She thanked the Capital Campaign Committee, Board Members, and donors for investing in this project. She acknowledged Partners in Philanthropy for their guidance on the campaign, Vision 3 Architects for designing the beautiful space, and A-Z Corporation for constructing the new building.

Senator Jack Reed stated, “We are here to celebrate opening this wonderful facility and a tremendous contribution to this community in terms of healthcare.” He thanked the legislators for supporting this project and particularly Congressman Jim Langevin for helping to secure the first million dollars for this initiative. He thanked the providers and staff for all they do every day and for making Wood River Health “a place that is not just a facility, it is a place of great expertise, comfort and confidence by the community.” He said, “This is a great state of the art addition to Wood River Health; it matches the quality and skill of all the workers here and it is wonderful because it embraces the community as well.”

Representative Seth Magaziner stated, “This expanded facility is going to be an absolute game changer. Just another step of adding to the range of services and the accessibility of high-quality care that Wood River Health has been known for, for quite some time.” He gave special recognition to Senator Jim Langevin, who was “especially proud that he was able to help with this expansion because this is an organization that has such a tremendous reputation for helping so many people”. Magaziner pledged his commitment to serve as an advocate and champion of Wood River Health, as Langevin has been for so many years.

Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos thanked the donors and legislators who made the expansion possible. She congratulated Wood River Health for expanding healthcare services in its community. She said, “The services you provide are so key and so needed in our neighborhoods. It is important for people to have access to the services right where they live, especially dental services and mental health.”

“Community health centers are near and dear to my heart,” stated General Treasurer James A. Diossa. “It makes it so much better for the patient to be able to go to one facility as a one stop shop for all their services. For the health care providers, it’s great because they get to know their patients well and interact with other professionals. But more importantly, it creates a real community around healthcare and that, more than ever, is the future of our country.”

Board Chair Regan Pennypacker, a patient of Wood River Health, thanked the Capital Campaign Committee Members, which included Susan Brough of Washington Trust (Chair and Former Board Member); Senator Dennis Algiere (Honorary Chair); Ruth Morgan (Vice Chair and Board Member). Other Wood River Health Board Members who served on the Committee included Daniel Fitzgerald and Frank Hopkins. Jennifer Brinton of Grey Sail Brewing Company and Ed Smith of Chariho Furniture served on the Committee. Wood River Health staff included President and CEO Alison L. Croke; Associate Medical Director Nadia Duvilaire, MD; and Director of Development and Communications Sarah Channing.

Pennypacker expressed her gratitude to the donors who invested over $10,000 in the campaign. Those who contribute at this level have the option to be acknowledged by donor recognition signs displayed throughout the new building or on a bench situated on the grounds.

“Donating to this new building project is not just about bricks and mortar,” stated Board Member Kalpesh Shah, a patient of Wood River Health and a Richmond resident for over 30 years. “It’s about a shared vision for a healthcare facility that goes beyond the conventional, one that embraces innovation and inclusivity. This campaign represents an opportunity to shape the future of healthcare delivery for this area.” “The vision of Wood River Health in this project aligns with my family’s belief in fostering a healthier community,” Shah continued. “This isn’t just a donation; it’s an investment in the future of healthcare accessibility and quality for all.”

The building addition enables Wood River Health to better serve its current patient base and increase community access to medical, dental, behavioral and social services. It expands its clinical space by 57%; increases dental patient visits by 1,200 per year, and expands behavioral health services access to individuals, families, and groups. It enables the nonprofit to offer physical therapy and specialist services, creates private spaces for practitioners and staff to conduct meetings, and provides nonprofits with free access to a Community Conference Room.

To date, Wood River Health’s Capital Campaign has been supported by over 60 donors, including 100% of Wood River Health’s Board of Directors and its Executive Leadership Team. Corporate and Foundation support has been received from The Champlin Foundation, Delta Dental of Rhode Island, Fred M. Roddy Foundation, The Kimball Foundation, Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island, The Warren Alpert Foundation, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of RI and Optum, The Washington Trust Charitable Foundation, and Westerly Community Credit Union. Local service clubs that have supported the new building include the Rotary Club of Chariho, the Rotary Club of Westerly, and the Lions Club of Westerly.

In celebration of its donors, Wood River Health will host an Art Show and Donor Appreciation Reception in Spring 2024. The event will showcase the beautiful paintings donated by Art Connection Rhode Island, whose mission is to enrich and inspire underserved populations by providing community service organizations with access to original works of art created by local artists at no cost. A concrete sculpture that was generously donated by Richard Thoreau, a patient of Wood River Health, will be unveiled during the event. Attendees will be able to view the donor recognition signs and benches featuring the names of donors who have pledged at least $10,000 to the campaign.

During the reception, Wood River Health will unveil its Donor Tree, which will feature the names of individuals or groups that invested $1,000 or more to Phase I and Phase II of the Capital Campaign. Phase II of the Capital Campaign will expand Wood River Health’s dental operatories while increasing dental visits by 1,200 patient visits per year. Donations for Phase II are still being collected, and leaves will be added to the tree as pledges are fulfilled. For details about the Capital Campaign and photos of the new building, please visit woodriverhealth.org/support-us/capital-campaign.

About Wood River Health

Since 1976, Wood River Health has delivered medical, dental, and social services to southwestern Rhode Island and southeastern Connecticut communities. Its mission is to provide its patients with high-quality and affordable healthcare services through a compassionate, team-based approach. Its vision is for every member of its community to experience physical, emotional, and social well-being.

A private, non-profit Community Health Center, Wood River Health is devoted to providing quality patient care to over 8,600 patients. It is recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a Patient-Centered Medical Home. As a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), Wood River Health receives funds from the HRSA Health Center Program to provide primary care services in underserved areas.