Concert
to benefit LA’s oldest Free Clinic
By Monica Levette Clark
On-line Forty-Niner
“Give
into the Groove,” a benefit fundraiser for
the Los Angeles Free Clinic will be held
at the Temple Bar in Santa Monica on Oct.
27.
The Free Clinic is a non-profit agency providing
free health and dental care and legal and
social services to the homeless, uninsured
and working poor of the Los Angeles area.
Sponsored by Sebastian International, and
a host of other’s, the showcase will feature
local musicians, fashion designers and artists,
including opportunities for the public
to win prizes.
Hot Sauce Records, a Los Angeles based record
label founded by ellee ven, will host this
event for the first time, to raise money
and awareness for the many services that
the free clinic provides.
“We wanted to come up with an event that
would target people between the ages of
18 and 35, that might not know about the
clinic,” ven said.
Comedian Margot Black will emcee the event,
with performances by ven and Prodeje of
the rap group South Central Cartels, the
experimental music collective, Generous
Juice, and spinning Djs Christophe, Minx
and Raul Martinez.
Ven, who participates in other charities
such as Aids Project Los Angeles, said that
her parents have been involved with the
clinic for over 20 years and she knows other
people who frequently use the facility.
Established in 1967 to cater to the medical
needs of the homeless and bohemian artists
of the free love movement of the ’60s,
the clinic is said to be the oldest running
free clinic in the country.
“Needs are so unique in Los Angeles County,”
said Chuck Ellis, communication and outreach
manager at the clinic. “We are going to
see 100,000 patients this year at each of
our sites.”
This year, in a joint venture with the county,
the clinic opened its new Hollywood and
Wilshire site located at 5205 Melrose Ave.,
which offers pediatric care, Ellis said.
The other two sites are located at 8045
Beverly Blvd., and 6043 Hollywood Blvd.
“Unfortunately, for some people the cycle
of poverty is not easily broken and there
are so many different reasons for that,”
Ellis said. “But these people still
deserve quality health care just like everyone
else.”
Partnered with Cedar Sinai, the clinic said
its motto is that “health care is a right,
not a privilege” and it offers the highest
quality of service that can compete with
other leading health care providers.
“People who use these clinics are those
you see every day in coffee shops, bookstores,
college campuses and boutiques; not just
illegal immigrants,” Ellis said.
The benefit showcase will be held at 1026
Wilshire Blvd., from 5 to 9 p.m. Presale
tickets are $25 and $30 at the door.
For more information contact, Adhana Townsell
at (323) 852-1102.
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