Muskegon Family Care
Receives Major Grant
In a surprise announcement by Koinonia Foundation President Andrew Williams at the Health Center Week Dinner at Muskegon Country Club on August 10, 2007, the Koinonia Foundation presented a $100,000 check to Muskegon Family Care. “We are honored and gratified that the work begun by my father (Dale Williams, M.D.) when he started the Koinonia Medical Clinic in 1973 has carried forward and has exceeded far beyond any expectations we could have had. The Koinonia Foundation helps to fund projects around the world, and we have worked with community health centers around the country. There just is no other health center like Muskegon Family Care; the care that is provided to patients and the breadth of services that are available are unequaled,” stated Andrew Williams upon giving the check to Muskegon Family Care.
Dale Williams, M.D., a visionary thinker with a background as a medical missionary, desired to treat Medicaid recipients and the poor of the community when he opened the Koinonia Medical Clinic at 2345 S. Getty St in Muskegon Heights. The clinic offered 24 hour service, with staff utilizing an apartment in the clinic basement, and Dr. Williams was ahead of his time in his approach of incorporating behavioral health, addressing social needs of his patients and using mid-level providers. After he sold the clinic to Mercy Hospital in 1993, it continued to remain open and became part of Muskegon Family Care (a federally-designated community health center) in 1998. Dr. Williams received a plaque at the dinner for his contribution to healthcare in the community which laid the foundation upon which Muskegon Family Care has been able to grow. (In the last calendar year, Muskegon Family Care served 19,317 different patients through its medical services, dental care, Maternal Infant Health Program and behavioral services.)
Part of the evening was devoted to honoring those staff and volunteers who helped make the original Koinonia Medical Clinic possible. Three of these individuals, Bill Ulrich PAC, Becky Flickema and Andrina Mund are still employed at the clinic (Muskegon Family Care, Getty Clinic). Also honored for their contributions were: Lois Byers NP, Anthony Bianchi (posthumously), Benjamin Ypma, Herbert Jarka and Sidney Miller RPh. Lake Harbor United Methodist Church and John Wesley AME Zion Church were noted for their contributions to the Koinonia Medical Clinic. Plaques honoring these individuals and churches will be placed at the Muskegon Family Care Getty Street Clinic.
With the funds provided by the Koinonia Foundation, Muskegon Family Care plans to purchase property adjacent to its Getty Street Clinic at 2221 Getty Street. “We envision building a community center that would provide training and education for the staff and community, and would allow us to expand our patient education classes to help individuals learn how to better manage their chronic diseases. The center would also offer space to community groups that need a meeting place,” notes Muskegon Family Care Executive Director Donna Littlejohn. “The gift from the Koinonia Foundation is such a blessing to us – we are extremely grateful to have this opportunity to expand our services.” Most recently the property was a used car sales lot (Drive Time Sales) which closed down several months ago.
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