At a media availability conducted at the Schenectady Free Health Clinic this afternoon, Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco (R,C,I-Schenectady-Saratoga) joined the clinic's Executive Director, Bill Spolyar, along with some of the clinic's volunteer doctors and nurses, in announcing they had received a $10,000 anonymous donation to help keep the facility running.

"I'm pleased to announce that - thanks to the generosity, compassion and selflessness of an anonymous donor - the Schenectady Free Health Clinic received a contribution of $10,000 to help it stay open and continue its critical mission of serving thousands of uninsured Schenectady families who otherwise wouldn't have access to quality, free medical care," Tedisco stated.

"The Bible tells us that we are our brother's keeper - that we have a duty and an obligation to care for the sick, needy and less fortunate among us. Today, someone stepped up to the plate and showed the true meaning of those words through an act of tremendous kindness," Tedisco said.

"Sometimes, when tragedy strikes good things can happen. People step in - and step up - to make a positive difference. That's what has occurred in the case of a generous, anonymous donor giving our clinic $10,000 to help continue our mission," said Bill Spolyar, Executive Director of the Schenectady Free Health Clinic.

"Ever since it was announced that Governor Spitzer eliminated the $100,000 in funding Leader Tedisco secured for our clinic, we've received numerous donations totaling in the thousands, all from private funds, not taxpayer dollars. I think these donations, along with today's $10,000 contribution, show just how important this clinic and the volunteer doctors, nurses, technicians and support staff who are its heart and soul - are to our Schenectady community," Spolyar said.

"Mere words cannot express the vital role the Schenectady Free Health Clinic - its heroic, hard-working doctors, nurses and medical staff who volunteer their time, effort and energy - plays in meeting the health care needs of our community. This is a model program - every city across our state should have one, as it's helped reduce costs and provide quality medical care for the uninsured," Tedisco stated.

Since August of 2003, the Schenectady Free Health Clinic has provided medical care for nearly 2,500 uninsured patients annually. Last year, the clinic had nearly 7,500 patient visits and provided $1.9 million in free health care. The clinic is staffed by 25 doctors, 24 nurses, two pharmacists, one medical technologist and 15 clerical assistants, all of whom volunteer.