Message From the CEO
The success of our 50th birthday celebrations continues to lift us up and drive CHI forward. We held our first Donor Recognition Event, where we inducted more than 80 donors into CHI’s Giving Societies with cumulative giving between $1,000 to over $300,000. Thank you to our inductees for believing in CHI. If you missed our event, you can watch it by visiting chisouthfl.org/givingsocieties. 

The event was made extra special with the announcement of a $50,000 gift from Direct Relief. Direct Relief is a humanitarian aid organization active in all 50 states and in 80 countries, dedicated to improving the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies. Direct Relief has been instrumental in helping CHI acquire our Medical Mobile Van and PPE for our medical teams during the COVID-19 pandemic. And now, their $50,000 grant will help CHI continue providing quality care to the South Florida community. We are very grateful to the Direct Relief team for their support.
Ocean Reef Community Foundation Partners with CHI to Vaccinate Vulnerable Communities
Ocean Reef Community Foundation is an organization rooted in philanthropy and invested in meaningful charities throughout South Florida. Every year, the Foundation provides support via an annual grants program to distribute funds to nonprofit organizations serving the community. This year, the team at Ocean Reef Community Foundation went even further and partnered with Community Health of South Florida, Inc. (CHI) to address and facilitate COVID vaccination for the protection of our residents.
Join the Celebration
The Power of Your Donations
How Community Health Centers Change Lives
From L to R: Brodes H. Hartley, Jr. , Dr. Yeily Hernandez-Mato and Dr. Elizabeth Philippe
CHI’s 50th birthday year is all about full circle moments. Fifty years ago, an immigrant farmworker and activist Doris Ison had a vision to provide affordable, quality care to all. With the support of donors and the community, Community Health of South Florida, Inc. has been able to achieve this vision, expanding its services and changing people’s lives along the way.

This was especially true during CHI’s virtual White Coat Ceremony on June 23. One incoming resident, Dr. Yeily Hernandez-Mato, had been in a terrible car accident as a homeless 18-year-old. When she was released from the hospital four months later, Hernandez and her mother had nowhere to go. With no money or insurance for care, they went to CHI, where the doctors took care of them, allowing Hernandez to make a full recovery. From that day on, Hernandez vowed to walk in her doctors’ footsteps, a dream that was fulfilled when she finally donned on her white coat. She now has the opportunity to pay it forward to the new generation of CHI patients.
 
Hernandez’s story is a testament to the power of donations. Every donation to Community Health of South Florida not only helps the organization deliver health care to South Florida but, more importantly, it empowers the community to achieve their dreams and goals.
 
To listen to Hernandez’s full story on NBC 6,
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