Franciscan Health Hammond: Bowling Fund-raiser a Striking Success

Franciscan-Health-Hammond-Bowling-Fund-raiser-a-Striking-Success-2018The fourth annual Catherine McAuley Clinic, “Rollin’ for a Reason” bowling fundraiser was a striking success. Some 211 bowlers of all skill levels, including Franciscan Health Sisters (from left) Aline Shultz, Marlene Shapley and Mary Joseph Watkins, took to the lanes at the Stardust Bowl III in Dyer Jan. 13 to knock down some pins, while also helping to knock down barriers to health care for the uninsured and underinsured who rely on the clinic for their medical needs. Organized by Art Branco, MD, a longtime clinic board member, and staffed by his family and other volunteers, the event raised $25,930 to support work being done at the clinic.

For more than 20 years, the clinic, 5514 Hohman Ave., Hammond, has provided health care services for the working poor and disenfranchised in the community. The clinic had more than 25,000 patient contacts in 2017, which includes appointments for medical visits, medication refills, laboratory testing, x-rays and financial assistance applications. A special thank you was given to Dr. Blanco and wife Marilyn, along with Jim and Jenny Krol, Susan Branco and the entire Branco family, for their time, support and volunteer leadership of the program. The clinic is under the auspices of Franciscan Health Hammond. For more information, call (219) 933-2018.