SAVANNAH, GA, February 4, 2010

The Landings Company presented a $3,400 check to Community Health Mission on February 4th as a result of a fund-raising effort held during November and December of 2009 at The Landings on Skidaway Island. The presentation was made at the Community Health Mission office by Mr. Chuck Koepke, Chairman of The Landings Company Board of Directors. The donation was accepted by Dr. Amos Timna, Nurse Practitioner Crystal Height, and Dr. Miriam Rittmeyer, Executive Director of the Community Health Mission,.

On November 21, 2009, The Landings Company, the real-estate arm of The Landings on Skidaway Island, opened its 2009 Holiday Designer Showhouse to benefit the Mission. The 4,800 square foot Design House was located within The Landings, Savannah’s premier residential community. Six talented local designers transformed the empty home into an extraordinary beauty, complete with paint, furniture, accessories, and holiday decorations. During its five open weekends, hundreds of people visited the Showhouse, enjoyed the interior design, and generously contributed to the Community Health Mission. “It was a huge project and the decorators did a fabulous job”, said Rosemary Longueira, Director of Public Relations at The Landings Company. “It was exciting to see the generosity of the visitors and to be able to contribute to an organization that is setting the standard for helping the uninsured in Savannah”.

The funds will pay for medical care for a full medical exam, wellness programs such as nutrition classes, diagnostic screening tests such as Pap smears and mammograms, and access to medication. “It is a great New Year’s gift for our patients,” said Dr. Miriam Rittmeyer.

Community Health Mission (formerly Community HealthCare Center/Savannah Health Mission) gives medical help to the uninsured. The mission of the CHM is to provide access to primary health care in a dignified and compassionate way. How people are treated during a visit to the clinic is as important as the medical treatment they receive. It is composed of a Board of Directors, a Medical Advisory Board, an Ethics Committee, a paid staff and volunteers. Run by 19 paid staff and 65 community volunteers (physicians, nurses, health promoters), Community Heath Mission provided 19,867 FREE patients visits in 2009 to the uninsured in Savannah.

CHM serves a diverse population of patients who are unable to afford health insurance and don’t qualify for Medicare or Medicaid. The majority of patients are women working in small businesses or in jobs that don’t pay benefits. The health care offered by CHM is valuable to the community as well as patients. “It’s important because you can diagnose at an early stage cervical or breast cancers, as well avoid complications from uncontrolled diabetes,” Dr. Rittmeyer said. Early diagnosis means a better chance of success and avoiding emergency room visits. When the community doesn’t invest in primary health care and diagnostic tests, it pays in more expensive treatment later. “It’s more costly to the hospital and the patient,” she said.