1. WHO WE ARE
Community Wellness Center (CWC) is a grassroots effort started by a handful of health practitioners wanting to revolutionize healthcare by making professional, high-quality, alternative medical treatments available and affordable to everyone. Our facility is located in Fairfax, CA with a business plan to expand to multiple locations in the Bay Area. CWC currently has over 20 experienced, licensed and insured practitioners, six of whom form a Steering Committee that organize and direct clinic activities. Our mission is to create thriving organizations that support clients, practitioners and the local community. We are a not-for-profit organization: CWC (FEIN 27-4072895) (see www.communitywellnesscenter.org) that is sponsored by MarinLink (FEIN 20-0879422), also a 501(c)(3) organization (see www.marinlink.org).
After incubating the concept for almost two years at the ‘low-cost clinic’ of the Common Well in downtown Fairfax, we leased our own space at the Fair-Anselm plaza beginning in January 2011. Our practitioners are independent contractors who offer a wide-range of services, for example: acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathic medicine, feldenkrais, shiatsu, meta-physical energy work, neuro-muscular reprogramming, massage, cold laser therapy, emotional freedom technique, and counseling in the fields of emotional therapy, intuitive therapy, and physical therapy. We also hold classes in yoga, meditation, Qi Gong, and offer a monthly free Movie Night at which we show a film that explores new thought and methods in awareness, health, and consciousness.
To reach as many clients as possible, we are open to both drop-in clients and clients by appointment. Acupuncture and chiropractic sessions are available at $20 in a large room where four to six clients can be treated at the same time. Private rooms are available for 20 minutes sessions for $20 (valued up to $60), extending up to 60 minutes for $60. These same sessions would cost up to $60 for 20 minutes or $180 for 60 minutes in our private practices.
The format is that independent contractors agree to provide a small proportion of their professional time and services at a deep discount that makes their services available to the entire community. The practitioners agree to pay their rent, insurance and a minimal contribution towards printing costs. Practitioners earn their fees and are paid directly by the clients. At this time, we have enough practitioners to cover the facility overhead costs but have no additional funding.
The business plan of CWC includes being funded partially via grants, memberships and donations. Our vision includes a time when the clinic will have the resources from tax-deductible donations, grants and fundraising activities to support the practitioners so that they can offer even lower or pro bono rates to those who need it.
As we move forward, we anticipate expanding to have 25 to 35 practitioners by December, including a holistic M.D, Naturopathic Doctor, and Nurse Practitioner. This will allow us to develop long-term goals and policies, hire and or organize volunteer help for outreach programs to the community, and expansion to more locations.
SUMMARY: We are a progressive organization that promotes wellness, identity, tolerance, and diversity.
WELLNESS: All of our practitioners offer a safe platform and grounding presence along with a healing modality that can help improve the health and well-being of every client. Practitioners refer clients within the clinic to other practitioners, resulting in clients getting treated holistically through body/mind/spirit rather than one dimensionally simply through the body as in most clinics.
IDENTITY: Helping to bring clients to a state of well-being and wholeness often involves resolving issues caused by low self-esteem or self-image, shame, and guilt. We have practitioners offering heart-based communication skills, emotional release techniques, and emotional and intuitive counselors who can assist in identifying subconscious issues and blockages, as well as the tools to assist clients in their personal growth. Being in the field of alternative health also requires our practitioners to have a strong self-identity themselves as these modalities are not yet fully accepted by society, making our practitioners role models for self-identity.
TOLERANCE: We wish to make our services available to all who seek them, with some practitioners specializing in certain arenas. For example, please see the experience offered by David Kitts LAc, as seen on his website (http://www.davidkitts.com/Pages/Experience.html
The immune enhancement project: “1993 to 2001. My practice here in the Castro district of San Francisco further expanded my specialty work in pain, aids, and immune deficiency syndromes. I provided informal internships to students here for 5 years. Collaborated in developing "hands on energy release educators" a group that demonstrated the effectiveness of acupressure in reducing symptoms of disease and the use of medication by elder people confined to a convalescent hospital.”
And Emily Bender, our Nutritionist, has many talents she uses to support the community. Taken from her website (http://www.nutritionforthewholefamily.com/About_Us.html):
“Emily writes on a variety of nutrition and health topics. She has been a monthly columnist for the website Gay.com, as well as for Marin and Sonoma county based newspaper We the People. She writes articles about nutrition and health for various publications on a freelance basis, and has been an expert source for nutrition articles at RealJock.com. She also worked with a well-known publisher as an expert reader for a book on low-carb diets, and she has spoken on the radio about the complexities of these popular diets.”
DIVERSITY: Our long-range plans are to establish a number of Community Wellness Centers located throughout the Bay Area modeled after our organization in Fairfax. Each center would be staffed by local practitioners supporting the local community.
IMMEDIATE NEEDS
Sink: $1,000 We are requesting a grant of $1,000 to cover the cost of a plumbing project required by the state. Having licensed acupuncturists means we are required to have a sink located within our rented space. We currently have a sink available within less than 30 feet (estimated). However, the sink legally must be located within the facility. We are desperately trying to gather funds to pay for this project.
Cartverising ($1,750). We have signed a contract that applies for six months during which ‘ads’ for CWC will appear on the front and in the child’s seat of grocery carts at the Safeway store in the Redhill shopping center of San Anselmo. Our goal is to reach people in the community who might never hear of us otherwise and may not yet be familiar with the health benefits of affordable, holistic healthcare. The cost of this outreach program is $1,750.
2. GETTING IN TOUCH WITH US
The best way to contact us is through one of these members of the Steering Committee, in this order:
David Kitts L.Ac. (415) 269-0885, david@davidkitts.com
Emily Bender CHN, (415) 259-4471, emily@nutritionforthewholefamily.com
Joanne Arnett CMP/CHT/BS.ba (415) 250-4974, jbarnett4@mindspring.com
GRANT PAYMENT
If we are fortunate to win this grant, please make the check payable to: Community Wellness Center.
Then, it is to be mailed to:
Community Wellness Center
c/o Marin Link
5800 Northgate Mall, Suite 250
San Rafael, CA 94903
Our contact person at Marin Link is:
Mary O’Mara, MBA, Executive Director 415-472-0211, mary@marinlink.org
4. ANNUAL BUDGET FOR THE GRANT
Community Wellness Center (CWC) is a grassroots effort started by a handful of health practitioners wanting to revolutionize healthcare by making professional, high-quality, alternative medical treatments available and affordable to everyone. Our facility is located in Fairfax, CA with a business plan to expand to multiple locations in the Bay Area. CWC currently has over 20 experienced, licensed and insured practitioners, six of whom form a Steering Committee that organize and direct clinic activities. Our mission is to create thriving organizations that support clients, practitioners and the local community. We are a not-for-profit organization: CWC (FEIN 27-4072895) (see www.communitywellnesscenter.org) that is sponsored by MarinLink (FEIN 20-0879422), also a 501(c)(3) organization (see www.marinlink.org).
After incubating the concept for almost two years at the ‘low-cost clinic’ of the Common Well in downtown Fairfax, we leased our own space at the Fair-Anselm plaza beginning in January 2011. Our practitioners are independent contractors who offer a wide-range of services, for example: acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathic medicine, feldenkrais, shiatsu, meta-physical energy work, neuro-muscular reprogramming, massage, cold laser therapy, emotional freedom technique, and counseling in the fields of emotional therapy, intuitive therapy, and physical therapy. We also hold classes in yoga, meditation, Qi Gong, and offer a monthly free Movie Night at which we show a film that explores new thought and methods in awareness, health, and consciousness.
To reach as many clients as possible, we are open to both drop-in clients and clients by appointment. Acupuncture and chiropractic sessions are available at $20 in a large room where four to six clients can be treated at the same time. Private rooms are available for 20 minutes sessions for $20 (valued up to $60), extending up to 60 minutes for $60. These same sessions would cost up to $60 for 20 minutes or $180 for 60 minutes in our private practices.
The format is that independent contractors agree to provide a small proportion of their professional time and services at a deep discount that makes their services available to the entire community. The practitioners agree to pay their rent, insurance and a minimal contribution towards printing costs. Practitioners earn their fees and are paid directly by the clients. At this time, we have enough practitioners to cover the facility overhead costs but have no additional funding.
The business plan of CWC includes being funded partially via grants, memberships and donations. Our vision includes a time when the clinic will have the resources from tax-deductible donations, grants and fundraising activities to support the practitioners so that they can offer even lower or pro bono rates to those who need it.
As we move forward, we anticipate expanding to have 25 to 35 practitioners by December, including a holistic M.D, Naturopathic Doctor, and Nurse Practitioner. This will allow us to develop long-term goals and policies, hire and or organize volunteer help for outreach programs to the community, and expansion to more locations.
SUMMARY: We are a progressive organization that promotes wellness, identity, tolerance, and diversity.
WELLNESS: All of our practitioners offer a safe platform and grounding presence along with a healing modality that can help improve the health and well-being of every client. Practitioners refer clients within the clinic to other practitioners, resulting in clients getting treated holistically through body/mind/spirit rather than one dimensionally simply through the body as in most clinics.
IDENTITY: Helping to bring clients to a state of well-being and wholeness often involves resolving issues caused by low self-esteem or self-image, shame, and guilt. We have practitioners offering heart-based communication skills, emotional release techniques, and emotional and intuitive counselors who can assist in identifying subconscious issues and blockages, as well as the tools to assist clients in their personal growth. Being in the field of alternative health also requires our practitioners to have a strong self-identity themselves as these modalities are not yet fully accepted by society, making our practitioners role models for self-identity.
TOLERANCE: We wish to make our services available to all who seek them, with some practitioners specializing in certain arenas. For example, please see the experience offered by David Kitts LAc, as seen on his website (http://www.davidkitts.com/Pages/Experience.html
The immune enhancement project: “1993 to 2001. My practice here in the Castro district of San Francisco further expanded my specialty work in pain, aids, and immune deficiency syndromes. I provided informal internships to students here for 5 years. Collaborated in developing "hands on energy release educators" a group that demonstrated the effectiveness of acupressure in reducing symptoms of disease and the use of medication by elder people confined to a convalescent hospital.”
And Emily Bender, our Nutritionist, has many talents she uses to support the community. Taken from her website (http://www.nutritionforthewholefamily.com/About_Us.html):
“Emily writes on a variety of nutrition and health topics. She has been a monthly columnist for the website Gay.com, as well as for Marin and Sonoma county based newspaper We the People. She writes articles about nutrition and health for various publications on a freelance basis, and has been an expert source for nutrition articles at RealJock.com. She also worked with a well-known publisher as an expert reader for a book on low-carb diets, and she has spoken on the radio about the complexities of these popular diets.”
DIVERSITY: Our long-range plans are to establish a number of Community Wellness Centers located throughout the Bay Area modeled after our organization in Fairfax. Each center would be staffed by local practitioners supporting the local community.
IMMEDIATE NEEDS
Sink: $1,000 We are requesting a grant of $1,000 to cover the cost of a plumbing project required by the state. Having licensed acupuncturists means we are required to have a sink located within our rented space. We currently have a sink available within less than 30 feet (estimated). However, the sink legally must be located within the facility. We are desperately trying to gather funds to pay for this project.
Cartverising ($1,750). We have signed a contract that applies for six months during which ‘ads’ for CWC will appear on the front and in the child’s seat of grocery carts at the Safeway store in the Redhill shopping center of San Anselmo. Our goal is to reach people in the community who might never hear of us otherwise and may not yet be familiar with the health benefits of affordable, holistic healthcare. The cost of this outreach program is $1,750.
2. GETTING IN TOUCH WITH US
The best way to contact us is through one of these members of the Steering Committee, in this order:
David Kitts L.Ac. (415) 269-0885, david@davidkitts.com
Emily Bender CHN, (415) 259-4471, emily@nutritionforthewholefamily.com
Joanne Arnett CMP/CHT/BS.ba (415) 250-4974, jbarnett4@mindspring.com
GRANT PAYMENT
If we are fortunate to win this grant, please make the check payable to: Community Wellness Center.
Then, it is to be mailed to:
Community Wellness Center
c/o Marin Link
5800 Northgate Mall, Suite 250
San Rafael, CA 94903
Our contact person at Marin Link is:
Mary O’Mara, MBA, Executive Director 415-472-0211, mary@marinlink.org
4. ANNUAL BUDGET FOR THE GRANT
