Senator Gordon Smith Joins Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center and Pfizer to Honor a Community...( National Health Center Week 2008 ...),Health

National Health Center Week 2008 Dedicated to Good Health through Health Care Heroes

Pfizer Patient Assistance Program Distributed More than $1.5 Million Worth of Free Medicines to Nearly 5,600 Patients of Oregon's Community Health Centers Last Year

HILLSBORO, Ore., Aug. 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. Senator Gordon Smith (OR) will present the "Health Care Heroes" Award at Oregon's key National Health Center Week event, to be held today at Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center's Hillsboro clinic. Senator Smith and Virginia Garcia will be joined by Pfizer Inc. at a ceremony to honor Maria Loredo, Chief Operations Officer of Virginia Garcia, for her dedication to improving community access to preventive care and disease management services.

For more than 30 years at Virginia Garcia, Ms. Loredo has been committed to the uninsured, underserved and low-income residents of Western Washington and Yamhill Counties. A former farm worker herself, Ms. Loredo has a unique understanding of the need to make health care accessible to those who need it most.

"Maria Loredo's unparalleled dedication to the Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center is essential to the organization," said Gil Munoz, CEO of Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center. "As the Hillsboro and surrounding area grows, and the health care needs of our community grow with it, I am proud that we have people like Maria who are so committed to our mission."

The ceremony, to be held at the Virginia Garcia Hillsboro clinic, is one of hundreds of events at community health centers across the country from August 10 through 16. National Health Center Week focuses America's attention on the vital but often underappreciated role that health care professionals, policymakers and volunteers play in their communities. Health centers have a significant impact on our national health care system, saving between $9.9 billion and $17.6 billion each year by helping patients avoid emergency r
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