Free Clinic of Simi Valley Named Non-Profit of the Year

The Free Clinic of Simi Valley has been named the Non-Profit Organization of 2017 by the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce. The Free Clinic received the inaugural award from the Chamber. "This is a wonderful recognition of the work that the Free Clinic has been doing in Simi Valley for over 45 years," said Fred Bauermeister, Clinic Executive Director.

In 2016, while celebrating its 45th Anniversary, the Free Clinic saw almost 4,000 individuals, equivalent to over 14,700 client contacts between its four service areas - medical, legal, counseling and dental. All of these services were provided through a network of over 160 mostly local volunteers and five staff members. The Dental Clinic is one of the only places in Southern California that provides free comprehensive dental services. The Clinic even has an in-home dental program for Seniors 60+. Many of the clients of the Free Clinic have nowhere else to go for help. 

​The Clinic is a partner with Adventist Health Simi Valley in providing a health safety net for the community. The Free Clinic does not receive payments or reimbursements from Federal, State or Local government. The Free Clinic relies entirely on the generosity of individual donors, businesses, service clubs, churches and foundations. Moreover, the Free Clinic is not supported by any national parent corporation or foundation. 

The Free Clinic is proud to be the only Simi Valley based charity to achieve the level of GuideStar Exchange Gold Participant, a ranking for financial and ethical transparency among 501(c)(3) organizations. 

2016 and 2017 were especially tough years for the Free Clinic due to the collapse of the long awaited "Under One Roof" project. Based on the driving force of the Free Clinic and its Board, the Free Clinic looks forward to the opening of the new "Multi-Services Center," which will not only allow the Clinic to combine its two facilities into one, providing greater efficiency in service delivery, but will also allow the expansion into services, such as optometry, while providing offices to seven additional Simi Valley charities. 
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The Free Clinic will be feted at the 2018 Salute to Excellence Gala to be held Friday, January 26, 2018 from 6:00pm-10:00pm at The Vineyards, located at 2525 Stow St. The event will feature cocktails, dinner, dancing and casino games. Also being celebrated are:

• 2017 Business Person of the Year: Alex Gandel
• 2017 Business of the Year: Cal State Site Services
• 2017 Community Volunteer of the Year: Barbara Glodfelty
• 2017 Strathearn Lifetime Achievement Award: Gary White
• 2017 Chamber of Commerce Board Chair: Celina Zacarias
• 2017 Chamber of Commerce Board Chair: Maggie Kestly

RSVP for Gala: Click Here

Full Nominating Statement for the Free Clinic of Simi Valley:

The Free Clinic of Simi Valley has served the community since 1971. It currently provides individuals and families in need with free medical, legal, counseling and dental services. 

In 2016, while celebrating its 45th Anniversary, the Free Clinic saw almost 4,000 individuals, equivalent to over 14,700 client contacts between its four service areas - medical, legal, counseling and dental. All of these services were provided through a network of over 160 mostly local volunteers and five staff members. The Dental Clinic is one of the only places in Southern California that provides free comprehensive dental services. The Clinic even has an in-home dental program for Seniors 60+. Many of the clients of the Free Clinic have nowhere else to go for help. 

Besides providing excellent care to its patients and clients, the Free Clinic serves as a training facility for doctors from two esteemed Kaiser Permanente training programs - Kaiser Permanente Family Resident Program and Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Program. As of 2016, the Free Clinic has trained over 88 residents. Additionally, the the Free Clinic provides internship training for Marriage and Family Therapists, many of whom continue to practice in Simi Valley. To date, over 56 therapists who have interned at the Free Clinic have become licensed MFTs. 

The Clinic is a partner with Adventist Health Simi Valley in providing a health safety net for the community. The Free Clinic does not receive payments or reimbursements from Federal, State or Local government. The Free Clinic relies entirely on the generosity of individual donors, businesses, service clubs, churches and foundations. Moreover, the Free Clinic is not supported by any national parent corporation or foundation. 

​The Free Clinic is proud to be the only Simi Valley based charity to achieve the level of GuideStar Exchange Gold Participant, a ranking for financial and ethical transparency among 501(c)(3) organizations. 

2016 and 2017 were especially tough years for the Free Clinic due to the collapse of the long awaited "Under One Roof" project. Based on the driving force of the Free Clinic and its Board, the Free Clinic looks forward to the opening of the new "Multi Services Center," which will not only allow the Clinic to combine its two facilities into one, providing greater efficiency in service delivery, but will also allow the expansion into services, such as optometry, while providing offices to seven additional Simi Valley charities.