NBC News president Steve Capus participated yesterday in the opening ceremony of a new facility for the Bedford Stuyvesant Family Health Center in Brooklyn, NY.
NBC and General Electric contributed more than $500,000 to the new facility. In addition, the news division provided IT support and volunteers to help with the move over the weekend.
“As a news division, we are dedicated to sharing compelling stories,” Capus wrote in an memo to NBC staffers. “As individuals, we are all committed to lending a hand whenever we can. This was an opportunity to do both and to help make a difference.”
Read Capus’ full note after the jump.
Subject: Note from Steve Capus
Yesterday morning, the NBC News Division took part in an exciting occasion right in our own backyard.
For 30 years, the Bedford Stuyvesant Family Health Center (BSFHC) has provided healthcare to nearly 15,000 patients in the community regardless of income and health insurance coverage. After several years of waiting, BSFHC finally opened the doors to its brand new facility in Brooklyn.
NBC News was honored to be part of the grand opening celebration alongside Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, New York State Commissioner of Health Dr. Nirav Shah, Brooklyn City Councilman Albert Vann and many other supporters.
More than two years ago, as part of its Developing Health program, GE enlisted NBCU employee volunteers to support BSFHC. From the very start, NBC News became invested in the clinic, eager to help in every way possible. As a news division, we are dedicated to sharing compelling stories. As individuals, we are all committed to lending a hand whenever we can. This was an opportunity to do both and to help make a difference.
Over the weekend, nearly 100 NBC News volunteers moved boxes and furniture from the old building to the brand new facility. In addition, our news division provided BSFHC with a full team of IT support to move and install all of the equipment needed to get the center up and running as soon as possible.
With a larger more updated facility, BSFHC will have the capacity to serve the primary healthcare needs of more than 20,000 Brooklyn residents. Not only will the new facility represent a renewed commitment to quality, accessible healthcare, but the hopes are that it will also serve as an impetus for economic growth and social development within the entire Bedford Stuyvesant area.
The opening of this new health clinic is proof that hard work and determination can truly lead to remarkable change – especially in your own community. I am extremely proud of the support NBC News has given BSFHC over the years, and I thank all of you who helped out in any way that you could.
Steve