(Providence, RI)   On January 21, 2010, the Rhode Island Free Clinic (RIFC) announced the award of a two year grant from the Kresge Foundation.  The award is for a total of $300,000 and will be distributed equally in 2010 and 2011.  RIFC was competing with more than 300 other healthcare organizations from around the country for this prestigious honor.

“This is the first time our institution has been successful in securing a national grant,” said Lynne Urbani, CEO of RIFC.  “I have nothing but the highest praise and thanks for the members of our staff who worked tirelessly to make this dream a reality.  This will go a long way towards helping the Rhode Island Free Clinic achieve its goals for 2010,” Ms. Urbani added.

This money will be used to help expand the clinic hours, increase the number of patient visits and add to the number of physician volunteers.  Goals for 2010 include increasing the clinic hours to 80 hours per month (presently 59), providing a total of 8,000 patient visits (up from 4,000 in 2009) and bringing the corps of physician volunteers up to a total of 200 or more (presently 133).

The Kresge Foundation (www.kresge.org) is a $2.8 billion private, national foundation that seeks to influence the quality of life for future generations through its support of nonprofit organizations in six fields of interest including health.  The foundation was established in 1924 for the “promotion of human progress”.  Grantmaking decisions are guided by values which aim to create access and advance opportunity for low income and underserved populations.

The Rhode Island Free Clinic (www.rifreeclinic.org) is the only licensed ambulatory care facility in Rhode Island to serve the uninsured exclusively.  RIFC draws upon a successful ten year history of providing free, high quality, comprehensive primary care to adults between the ages of 19 and 64.