Our New Name is Turning Points
Turning Points Press Release: For Immediate Release
Community Coalition on Homelessness announces a new name and a new partnership
Media Contact: Suzanne Dameron, (941) 809-3247, suzanne@thinklime.biz
January 27, 2013
Community Coalition on Homelessness Has a New Name – Turning Points!
Turning Points is the new name for the Community Coalition on Homelessness
(Bradenton, FL) After months of self-examination and thoughtful deliberation with input from community leaders, county staff, funding organizations, residents and three focus groups, the Community Coalition on Homelessness has a new name – Turning Points.
“The name Turning Points reflects the fact that it takes multiple and integrated turning points to address the critical issues of poverty and homelessness,” said Adell Erozer, Executive Director of Turning Points. “It also refers to the multiple support services we provide under one roof at The Bill Galvano One Stop Center Building every day as well as the staff and volunteers who provide help during critical turning points in client’s lives.”
According to Erozer, the organization serves a population vastly different from when the organization began in 1995. Today the organization serves almost as many men, women and children on the verge of homelessness as those who are homeless. Five years ago, most of the clients (95%) were men who were homeless; today, women, many with children, comprise about half that number.
“As we evolved to meet the changing needs, we felt we had outgrown our name.”
In addition to the new name, Turning Points is about to embark on another major turning point in their own organizational development. Since opening the Bill Galvano One Stop Center in 2009, a partnership with LECOM has resulted in the provision of several million dollars in pro bono medical services.
In July of last year, Turning Points finalized a partnership with Manatee Memorial Hospital that enabled them to extend their health clinic hours through the afternoon. Manatee Memorial Hospital physician residents provide services as part of their three-year residency training program.
Now, Turning Points is finalizing plans to transform a large storage area in their One Stop Center building into a larger medical clinic with eight exam rooms. Construction is scheduled to begin in March and be completed by July for the new rotation of physician residents.
“Having the larger medical clinic will provide multiple benefits to the community as well as the population served,” said Joe Mercado, Turning Points Operations Manager.
The increased capacity will enable Turning Points to treat more people seeking assistance for primary care, which will ultimately reduce the number of people in emergency rooms and the amount of county funds required for indigent care.
Multiple naming opportunities are available for our new clinic. “To name the clinic requires a contribution of $250,000, while examination rooms can be named and sponsored for $50,000 per exam room. This represents a rare opportunity for someone to leave a legacy making a real difference in our community,” said Erozer.
Other Turning Points changes include the purchase last December of the property next door to facilitate parking for the new clinic.
Lime Communications was engaged last year to assist the organization with the branding and marketing. Certified business analyst Art Mahoney from the State College of Florida Small Business Development Center and Falyn Ernst, principal of Playground 941 joined Lime CEO Suzanne Dameron for the project.
“The Turning Point logo reflects the heartfelt, people-oriented nature of the mission, the staff and the organization. Turning Points services provide as much hope as help and we wanted to incorporate the cheerful feeling here,” said Dameron. The Community Foundation of Sarasota County provided funding support for marketing.
“Our organization is working hard to ensure there is support for everyone who needs help with the critical turning points in their lives,” said Erozer.
Turning Points is a 501 (c) (3)non-profit in Manatee County which provides help and hope to the families, individuals and children who are at risk of becoming homeless or who are homeless. By providing assistance in a unique model of comprehensive and integrated support services under one roof, Turning Points changes lives and strengthens the community. For more information, please visit the new website www.TPManatee.org, call (941) 747-1509, or stop by the Bill Galvano One Stop Center Building located at 701 17 th Avenue West, Bradenton FL 34205 for a tour.
Interested in an interview? Please contact Suzanne Dameron at (941) 809.3247 or email suzanne@thinklime.biz.
At a glance:
Services: Today, the organization helps meet the daily basic needs of people with low to no income as well as the homeless by providing access to comprehensive and integrated services including Basic Personal Services (mail, showers, laundry, clothing); Employment Assistance (job readiness, training, placement); Financial Assistance (rent, utilities, emergencies); Health Services (medical clinic, dental clinic, pharmaceutical counseling) and Veteran’s Assistance (counseling, referrals, advocacy) and more.
Partners: Partnering agencies collaborating with Turning Points to provide services at the Bill Galvano One Stop location include:Lake Erie College of Medicine; Manatee Glens; Suncoast Workforce Board; Goodwill Manasota; Florida Clinical Research; Manatee Children’s Services; Our Daily Bread; Manatee County Health Department; We Care; Department of Children and Families and the Manatee Memorial Hospital.
