SAN DIEGO – April 16, 2024 – To better serve children in lower-income communities in Southern Calif., the national nonprofit Fresh Start Surgical Gifts has partnered with Vista Community Clinic (VCC). Through this partnership, Fresh Start will host five more free screening clinics throughout the rest of the year in Southern Calif.
Fresh Start Surgical Gifts is committed to transforming the lives of disadvantaged youth with physical deformities by providing comprehensive reconstructive surgery at no cost to the patient and their family. Whether through screening clinics, annual surgery weekends or celebrity golf tournaments, Fresh Start builds a team of world-class medical professionals who generously donate their time and talent to deliver much-needed medical care to children. All financial contributions directly benefit the children’s medical program.
Since opening in 1972, Vista Community Clinic has helped redefine the community clinic model by pioneering innovative models of primary care delivery. With 12 state-of-the-art clinics treating more than 70,000 patients every year, VCC is a key health provider for the Southern California region. With the mission of Valuable Connected Care (meeting the health and wellness needs of our community), VCC is a place where all members of the community can feel welcome, safe and empowered to choose health.
This partnership underscores a shared vision of making high-quality reconstructive surgeries and related medical treatments accessible and equitable for children and families in San Diego. Fresh Start Surgical Gifts and VCC are determined to redefine the standards of high-quality, accessible healthcare to families. See below for the five screening clinics for the rest of the year.
• Wednesday, 4/24 – VCC: Vale Terrace – Pediatrics
• Thursday, 5/16 – VCC: Grapevine
• Wednesday, 9/4 – VCC: Fallbrook Pediatrics
• Wednesday, 10/16 – VCC: The Gary Center (Orange County)
• Wednesday, 12/4 – VCC: The Gary Center (Orange County)
All these screening clinics are hosted by Vista Community Clinic. From 4-6 p.m., nurse Jill will be on-site to complete a free screening clinic and answer questions about Fresh Start and walk-ins are welcome.
“By partnering with Vista Community Clinic, we’re expanding our reach to help even more children who need reconstructive care,” says Shari Brasher, CEO of Fresh Start Surgical Gifts. “These screening clinics are created to encourage more families to make sure their children are living healthier and happier lives all because we believe that everyone deserves to receive life-changing care.”
According to VCC, about one-third of their patients are under 18 years old. They predominantly serve the diverse residents of North San Diego, Southwest Riverside and North Orange counties. In 2022, VCC served 62,480 unduplicated patients, of whom 70% were living in poverty. Insurance coverage for VCC patients was as follows: 18% uninsured,
65% Medicaid, 6% Medicare or dual eligible and 11% private insurance.
Since 1991, Fresh Start Surgical Gifts has made a profound impact by transforming the lives of 9,059 children, reaffirming its commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of children with congenital and acquired cosmetic differences. The organization’s achievements include $60,443,373 in donated medical care. This generous support has enabled Fresh Start Surgical Gifts to reach more individuals and offer more life-changing surgeries and related treatments to children around the world.
Fresh Start remains committed to helping improve the lives of children and families across the U.S., partnering with organizations that share their mission and vision. To learn more about Fresh Start or for more information, please visit FreshStart.org. For media inquiries, contact Bianca Kasawdish at Bianca@TeamInnoVision.com.
ABOUT FRESH START SURGICAL GIFTS
Fresh Start Surgical Gifts transforms the lives of disadvantaged infants, children and teens who have physical and cosmetic deformities through their gift of reconstructive surgery. Providing reconstructive, plastic and neurosurgeries for children across the U.S., Fresh Start’s commitment to children extends far beyond medical care. The organization ensures their children will leave feeling more empowered than before. Every child receives the highest quality medical care and the families never see a bill for the services provided.
100% of contributions go directly to medical programs. To learn more, visit FreshStart.org.
