VIP Community Services, a health and social services non-profit based in the Bronx, celebrated its 50th Anniversary with an annual Gala on October 9th at Marina del Rey. The event highlighted the organization’s ongoing commitment to serving marginalized communities and featured tours of its Mobile Medication Unit (MMU).
In the 2022-2023 fiscal year alone, VIP supported over 3,700 individuals through housing and shelter services, engaged more than 1,000 individuals in its peer-led overdose prevention program, and served 7,608 patients across NYC, regardless of their ability to pay.
“Our event theme, ‘Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future,’ reflected VIP’s significant impact on individuals, families, and communities over the last half-century,” said Debbian Fletcher-Blake, President and CEO of VIP Community Services. “We remain dedicated to supporting marginalized individuals and communities for the next 50 years.”
Attendees had the opportunity to tour VIP’s MMU, an expansion of the organization’s Opioid Treatment Program designed to increase geographic reach and reduce barriers to accessing treatment for Opioid Use Disorder in NYC.
The gala also honored the memory of the organization’s founder, Rev. Robert Banome of St. Joseph’s and St. Anthony’s Church, as well as its second CEO, Sandra Ruíz Butter, and other individuals who have impacted VIP throughout its history.
VIP’s accomplishments in 2022-2023 include:
- Administered essential COVID-19 and school-required vaccines to 440 individuals within their Sanctuary facilities.
- Ensured 100% of children in their Sanctuary facilities were enrolled in school.
- Provided mental health treatment and counseling to 32 children through 546 encounters in their school-based mental health clinic within CS44 and KIPP Freedom Middle School.
- Admitted over 100 new patients in their Wellness Center, delivering over 5,500 patient encounters.
- Recognized in the Innovation category at the NYC Imagine Awards for VIP’s emergency room-based initiative in collaboration with Healthfirst, BronxCare Hospital, and St. Barnabas Hospital.
- Received the Hero Award from the NYS Assembly at the SOMOS conference for their impactful work in NYC communities.
- Facilitated vocational training, including food handling, job readiness, resume building, maintenance, security training, and OSHA 30 certification for 448 participants, 300 of whom were VIP patients, 76 community members, and 39 staff members.
For more information, please click here or visit www.vipservices.org
ABOUT VIP COMMUNITY SERVICES: As a non-profit partner to the Bronx community, VIP Community Services offers integrated medical, mental health, substance use disorder, housing, and wrap-around services to improve the health and well-being of the Bronx and greater New York City communities.
