Jerry Henry and Ben Eisbart to Chair Neighborhood Health $20M Capital Campaign

The former Ward Elementary School on Warsaw Street, shut down since 2017, has been spared from the wrecking ball and will be transformed into a multi-faceted health clinic by Neighborhood Health as the organization embarks on a $20 million capital campaign.

Local business leader, Jerry Henry, along with retired SDI Executive, Ben Eisbart will co-chair the capital campaign. “Everyone deserves quality and affordable healthcare,” noted Henry. “Low income, underinsured, uninsured, and all those in between should have access to the services provided by Neighborhood Health that includes medical, dental, optometry, behavioral health and chiropractic care.”

Eisbart added, “This project not only meets the healthcare needs of our community; but will also be an economic boost for southeast Fort Wayne. We know that improved healthcare outcomes correlate directly with a community’s ability to thrive. This project when completed will be a ‘win-win-win’ for residents in southeast Fort Wayne, and for the city as a whole.”

To date the project has received a $2.5M grant from the Capital Improvement Board of Allen County Fort Wayne; a positive recommendation from the Legacy Committee for $2M which will then go before the city council for final vote and $1M from individual and corporate donors.

“We are off to a good start”, said Henry. “But we still have a long way to go.”

Neighborhood Health has been offering quality healthcare in high-need areas in Fort Wayne for over 50 years. With care and intentionality, they have expanded to include five primary health services (medical, dental, vision, behavioral health, and chiropractic care) and have been the home of nutritional services for pregnant mothers and young children (WIC). They have experience of penetrating areas in Fort Wayne that are in dire need of healthcare support. In their two current locations, they serve patients from the most underserved zip codes in the county that include 46806, 46816, 46802, and 46803; areas that struggle with extreme hypertension, diabetes, high infant mortality, and language barriers in healthcare service. Their target population includes low-income, uninsured, and underinsured individuals, including those covered by Medicaid and Medicare.

For more information, visit mynhfw.org.

phone 260-458-2641

PO Box 11949, Fort Wayne, IN 46862

fax 260-458-3093

mynhfw.org

Contact: Sarah Neace

sneace@nhci.org

260.702.304