HR0081 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0081 LRB098 10636 MST 40916 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, In 1985, the Will-Grundy Medical Society recognized the need to create an organized system to provide health care to those without insurance or the ability to obtain even the most basic healthcare; and

WHEREAS, The Medical Society and a group of Will County and Grundy County community leaders conceived the idea of a "free clinic"; and

WHEREAS, The Will-Grundy Medical Clinic was officially organized and chartered in 1987 and opened its doors in March of 1988 to provide health and dental care to uninsured and underserved residents in the two-county area; and

WHEREAS, During the last 25 years, hundreds of volunteer physicians, dentists, nurses, hygienists, and other medical professionals have joined with thousands of other volunteers to provide their services to clinic patients; and

WHEREAS, Morris Hospital and Healthcare Centers, Presence St. Joseph Medical Center, Silver Cross Hospital, and more recently Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital have been outstanding partners in support of the clinic's work providing millions of dollars of contributed services to the treatment of patients; and

WHEREAS, The clinic has enjoyed the financial support of the United Way of Will County, the United Way of Grundy County, Joliet Township Government, the Holly Club of Joliet, hundreds of local businesses, numerous social and civic organizations, and thousands of individual contributors; and

WHEREAS, Over the last 25 years, the Clinic has treated thousands of patients, providing healing and hope with treatment and services that have an estimated value of $92.2 million; in the last 25 years there have been 5 directors and 2 interim directors; the 2 interim directors were Elaine Griffin and Fran Burkey; the directors have been Sr. Lucille Adelmann, Marianne Gallagher, Jean Roach, Sandra Cowgill, and the current director J.D. Ross; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize the volunteers and staff of the Will-Grundy Medical Clinic and congratulate them on 25 years of outstanding service to residents within the city of Joliet and surrounding two-county area; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Will-Grundy Medical Clinic as an expression of our esteem and respect.