2022 ANNUAL REPORT Philippine Cultural and Civic Center Foundation Inc.

The Philippine Cultural and Civic Center Foundation, Inc. (PCCCF) was incorporated as a 501 C-3 non-profit corporation in January 2000. This enabled us to raise funds to assist in our mission to give back to the underserved in the community. Last December 15, 2022, The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors awarded the PCCCF a Citation commending their dedicated efforts and contributions to the community especially the Milwaukee County residents.
FREE MEDICAL CLINIC
The PCCCF Free Medical Clinic is the natural result of the PCCCF’s commitment to providing “services …which would otherwise be too difficult or costly for some people to obtain.” The PCCCF Free Medical Clinic has provided medical care to 3,815 under- and uninsured people who have visited the Clinic 17,655 times since October of 2000. $ 4,103,654 worth of free medical care, medication, laboratory and imaging services, and supplies have been provided since the clinic opened in 2000. Medication, laboratory and imaging services were only tabulated starting in 2010, when the Eclipse EMR system was implemented. The Clinic serves low-income and disadvantaged people regardless of race, age, gender, religion, employment or immigration status. Services and medications are provided to all absolutely free. In 2022, 533 patient visits were made to the Clinic, at a cost of $ 137,958 for medical services (by doctors and nurses), medication, vaccines, flu shots, laboratory, x-rays and other treatments provided free to the patients. More patients have been seen in 2022, compared to the past years when we were unable to fully open due to the necessary precautions and CDC guidelines in operating our free clinic because of the pandemic. We were closed from March to June 2020 as we were not Covid ready and could not handle Covid patients. To serve our patients, we opened by doing a drive thru clinic from July to November 2020. And then with the use of sophisticated UV light and Ozone disinfecting and sanitizing equipment we opened the clinic by strictly enforcing CDC distance and mask restrictions in 2021. These disinfecting equipment are still being used. Most Clinic patients are from the Milwaukee and Waukesha area, but patients from other parts of Wisconsin have also been treated. Other Clinic visitors have come from as far away as Tanzania. People from a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds (Hmong, Mexican, East Indian and Nigerian, etc.) have been served at the Clinic. 40% of patients seen are from low-income Milwaukee zip codes. One in five patients lives outside of the city of Milwaukee proper. Lack of health insurance is considered to be a health risk behavior (like smoking) by the CDC. Those with no health insurance tend to postpone seeking medical help, and consequently tend to be sicker and require more expensive treatment by the time they do.
The closing of the St. Michael’s Hospital has also had a negative impact on access to care in many of Milwaukee’s poorer neighborhoods. Because the cost of health care and the number of uninsured in Wisconsin continues to rise as the economy worsens, the PCCCF Free Medical Clinic is a vital and potentially life-saving program to the people of greater Milwaukee. In addition to the humanitarian benefits, those with chronic illnesses who are treated at the Free Medical Clinic can avoid costly emergency room visits, and help keep health costs lower for everybody. Thus, the Clinic serves not only those uninsured in need of medical care, but everyone in the greater Milwaukee community.
We continue our requests for grants as the clinic is most in need of additional funds to pay for medications and their refills, non-routine lab materials and supplies for all different services rendered. As we continuously monitor patients with high cholesterol, hypertension, asthma and diabetes, we require periodic and more testings that result in additional usage of our diagnostic materials. Dynacare who gave the laboratory services to the FMC for free has been taken over by LabCorp, who has been charging discounted fees to full amounts depending on the laboratory test done. Our operational costs had gone up, it has become difficult and prohibitive to help our patients avail of free lab services.
The ongoing financial needs of the PCCCF Free Medical Clinic include building maintenance and operational expenses, the costs of medications, lab testing to include glucose and cholesterol tests, and blood and urine screenings. To cut down on cost, glucose and cholesterol tests and blood and urine screenings are done at the free clinic by a paid medical assistant, when volunteers are not available.
All of the ancillary products for a safe environment equated to additional costs andwent beyond the regular budget. Due to Covid, the clinic had to purchase four sophisticated and hi-tech equipment utilizing UV light and ozone system to ensure proper disinfection of the clinic waiting, registration, office, triage, examination, laboratory and dispensary rooms.
The normal schedule of the PCCCF Free Medical Clinic is to open 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of every month.

HEALTH FAIR

The 10th Philippine Center Health Fair that was organized by the Philippine Nurses Association of WI was held last August 27, 2022 from 10AM to 3PM. The event was in partnership with the Milwaukee County Parks, Forest CountyPotawatomi Foundation and the Greenfield Health, Police and Fire Departments, Milwaukee Art Museum , Betty Brinn Children’s Museum, Northwestern Mutual Life, New Threads of Hope and local organizations. Services offered were: Free health screening for Allergy, Asthma, Body Mass Index, Breast and Pelvic Exam, Cholesterol, Dental, Diabetes, Hypertension, Physical Therapy Consultation and Health & Safety Education. Covid vaccineswere provided in coordination with Hayat Pharmacy. Participants learned about healthy lifestyle, smoking cessation, breast cancer awareness and the need for regular medical and dental care. Games, Milwaukee Art Museum summer fun passes and family entertainment were available. The first 200 participants were given free Health Fair T-Shirts. About 500 Clothes for children and adults, 500 books and 250 backpacks with school supplies were distributed. Reading eyeglasses were given for free after eye check-ups. Handouts and educational materials were given by participating organizations. A new addition to the event was the Community Shredding Booth. This year’s Health Fair will be on Saturday, August 26, 2023 from 10AM to 3PM.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Our continuing outreach programs included distribution of new clothing to the homeless in partnership with St. John’s Cathedral during their Feed The Hungry program, distribution of clothes and books to the students of La Escuela Fratney at their Lunch program, and distribution of clothes to the homeless veterans thru the American Legion Post 416. We also started the Warm Care Day, distributing beanies, socks and gloves to the homeless. We also engaged in zoom discussions and volunteer work with the Filipino American Student Organization (FASO) students at the University of Wisconsin in Madison regarding cultural, language, history, traditions, practices and various topics of common interests.
CHILDREN'S LITERACY & WORKSHOPS
The Philippine Center Children’s Workshop & Literacy Program focus on developing reading, physical, mental and creative skills. The children had a chance to meet the authors and illustrators during some book reading events. Books are continuously given for free to the children through the Book Kiosks/Little Libraries located at the playground and parking areas at Zablocki Park. Kohl’s Care Wild Theater, the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Betty Brinn Children’s Museum and the American Veterans Legion Post 416 continue to be active partners in our goal to benefit the children and adults. Last July 31, 2022, BackPack Day, we gave away 300 backpacks with school supplies during this Back to School event. Clothes and books were also distributed during the back to school and health fair events as part of our community outreach. Kohl’s Cares Wild Life Theater performed for the kids during the Backpack day; the Betty Brinn Children’s Museum Wonder Wagon presented various activities that the children enjoyed and learned from. Covid vaccines were given to children in coordination with Hayat Pharmacy during the event.

UKULELE CLASSES

Ukulele classes were also offered to the children and seniors at the Philippine Center at Zablocki. Students from the two groups formed and became members of the Philippine Center Strummers. The Philippine Center Strummers performed at senior residence/assisted living facilities and at various events in 2022.

GRANTS AND DONATIONS

We are only able to continue our outreach programs with the help of the following:
Forest County Potawatomi Foundation
Free Medical Clinic, Health Fair and Children’s Literacy Program
Allan Camaisa, Philantrophist
Philippine Center and Free Medical Clinic Operations & Maintenance, Children’s Literacy Program, Community Outreach Programs
The Catholic Community Foundation
Free Medical Clinic
Philippine Medical Association of WI
Free Medical Clinic
Jewish Women Endowment Fund
Free Medical Clinic
Northwestern Mutual Foundation
Children’s Literacy Program, Backpacks, Warm Care Day gloves, socks and beanies
New Threads of Hope
Community Outreach, Clothes and Books
Cousin Subs, Make it Better Foundation
Children’s Literacy, Backpack Day
First United Methodist Church
Free Medical Clinic
Kohl’s Benevity Community Impact Fund
Free Medical Clinic
Milwaukee Friends Meeting
Free Medical Clinic