First donations from philanthropic fund made during Black History Month 
benefit two Miami organizations, kicking off company’s 2021 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion pledge
 
 
 
 
Photo caption: Annie Green, a resident of Town Center Apartments in Opa Locka, Fla.,
is happy to receive help from ChenMed and the city’s Community Development Corporation to pay her utility bill.  
 
February 26, 2021 – ChenMed, a leading provider of primary care for underserved seniors, is pledging $100,000 in 2021 to address issues affecting communities of color. The philanthropic commitment is part of the company’s continued efforts focused on cultural diversity, equity and inclusion. Catalyst Miami and the Opa-Locka Community Development Corporation (OLCDC) are the first two organizations to receive donations from the pledged funds. Each organization is benefiting from a $10,000 gift that will help residents pay utility bills. 
 
“We’re thrilled to kick off our pledge with two organizations located in our own backyard of our Miami corporate headquarters,” said Stephanie Chen, chief legal and culture officer at ChenMed. “Both organizations solve issues adversely affecting under-resourced communities, aligning with ChenMed’s mission to serve the neediest populations. We look forward to partnering with similar socially-aware organizations in the other cities we serve.”
 
With more than 75 primary care medical practices in underserved neighborhoods located in 10 states, ChenMed is a leading provider of primary care for Medicare-eligible seniors. 
 
Catalyst Miami is using the ChenMed Cares funds to help individuals and families pay their utility bills. The goal is to reach 40 families, providing $250 each for utility bills, enough to cover two-to-three months. 
 
"Throughout the pandemic, we have been working to support families that are struggling to pay their bills," said Gretchen Beesing, chief executive officer of Catalyst Miami. "And we have advocated for utility companies to stop disconnections on households that are behind on their payments. This contribution from ChenMed will directly benefit families and is just the kind of solidarity our communities need to rebound from this crisis." 
 
The Opa-Locka Community Development Corporation (OLCDC) is using the $10,000 donation to help senior citizens who live in Town Center Apartments, an affordable housing community, pay their utility bills. 
 
“The pandemic has been hard on many families, particularly the ones in low-income communities who were living in poverty or working low-income jobs. They didn’t have the luxury of stashing away emergency savings which is why we’ve been working to provide them with a temporary bridge through emergency assistance," said Nikisha Williams, chief operating officer, OLCDC. “With ChenMed’s support, we will be able to pay past due utility bills for elderly residents in Opa-locka, many of whom were already struggling to make ends meet before the pandemic." 
 
 
 
 
About Catalyst Miami 
Founded in 1996, Catalyst Miami’s mission is to identify and collectively solve issues adversely affecting low-wealth communities throughout Miami-Dade County. We help ensure that families’ basic needs are met, provide coaching and tools to establish long-term wellness, and create effective coalitions of change-makers. Our vision is a just and equitable society in which all communities thrive. To learn more, please visit www.catalystmiami.org.  
 
About Opa-Locka Community Development Corporation
The Opa-locka Community Development Corporation (OLCDC) was established in November 1980 as a nonprofit community development corporation to address the distressed unemployment conditions, particularly in the Opa-locka and North Miami-Dade County, Fla., communities. Its primary mission is to transform under-resourced communities into vibrant, desirable and engaged neighborhoods by improving access to health, education, employment, art, safety and affordable housing. For more information about OLCDC, please visit www.olcdc.org.
 
About ChenMed
ChenMed, headquartered in Miami Gardens, Fla., is a privately owned medical, management and technology company that delivers the high-touch and personalized primary care Medicare-eligible seniors need to enjoy better health. This high-touch primary care is shown to reduce coronavirus deaths by 40 percent, according to a study published in American Journal of Preventive Cardiology. Named one of Fortune 2020 “Change the World” companies, ChenMed brings concierge-style medicine and better health outcomes to the neediest populations. In addition to Chen Senior Medical Center, ChenMed brands include Chen Senior Medical Center, Dedicated Senior Medical Center and JenCare Senior Medical Center.
 


First donations from philanthropic fund made during Black History Month 
benefit two Miami organizations, kicking off company’s 2021 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion pledge
 
 
 
 
Photo caption: Annie Green, a resident of Town Center Apartments in Opa Locka, Fla.,
is happy to receive help from ChenMed and the city’s Community Development Corporation to pay her utility bill.  
 
February 26, 2021 – ChenMed, a leading provider of primary care for underserved seniors, is pledging $100,000 in 2021 to address issues affecting communities of color. The philanthropic commitment is part of the company’s continued efforts focused on cultural diversity, equity and inclusion. Catalyst Miami and the Opa-Locka Community Development Corporation (OLCDC) are the first two organizations to receive donations from the pledged funds. Each organization is benefiting from a $10,000 gift that will help residents pay utility bills. 
 
“We’re thrilled to kick off our pledge with two organizations located in our own backyard of our Miami corporate headquarters,” said Stephanie Chen, chief legal and culture officer at ChenMed. “Both organizations solve issues adversely affecting under-resourced communities, aligning with ChenMed’s mission to serve the neediest populations. We look forward to partnering with similar socially-aware organizations in the other cities we serve.”
 
With more than 75 primary care medical practices in underserved neighborhoods located in 10 states, ChenMed is a leading provider of primary care for Medicare-eligible seniors. 
 
Catalyst Miami is using the ChenMed Cares funds to help individuals and families pay their utility bills. The goal is to reach 40 families, providing $250 each for utility bills, enough to cover two-to-three months. 
 
"Throughout the pandemic, we have been working to support families that are struggling to pay their bills," said Gretchen Beesing, chief executive officer of Catalyst Miami. "And we have advocated for utility companies to stop disconnections on households that are behind on their payments. This contribution from ChenMed will directly benefit families and is just the kind of solidarity our communities need to rebound from this crisis." 
 
The Opa-Locka Community Development Corporation (OLCDC) is using the $10,000 donation to help senior citizens who live in Town Center Apartments, an affordable housing community, pay their utility bills. 
 
“The pandemic has been hard on many families, particularly the ones in low-income communities who were living in poverty or working low-income jobs. They didn’t have the luxury of stashing away emergency savings which is why we’ve been working to provide them with a temporary bridge through emergency assistance," said Nikisha Williams, chief operating officer, OLCDC. “With ChenMed’s support, we will be able to pay past due utility bills for elderly residents in Opa-locka, many of whom were already struggling to make ends meet before the pandemic." 
 
 
 
 
About Catalyst Miami 
Founded in 1996, Catalyst Miami’s mission is to identify and collectively solve issues adversely affecting low-wealth communities throughout Miami-Dade County. We help ensure that families’ basic needs are met, provide coaching and tools to establish long-term wellness, and create effective coalitions of change-makers. Our vision is a just and equitable society in which all communities thrive. To learn more, please visit www.catalystmiami.org.  
 
About Opa-Locka Community Development Corporation
The Opa-locka Community Development Corporation (OLCDC) was established in November 1980 as a nonprofit community development corporation to address the distressed unemployment conditions, particularly in the Opa-locka and North Miami-Dade County, Fla., communities. Its primary mission is to transform under-resourced communities into vibrant, desirable and engaged neighborhoods by improving access to health, education, employment, art, safety and affordable housing. For more information about OLCDC, please visit www.olcdc.org.
 
About ChenMed
ChenMed, headquartered in Miami Gardens, Fla., is a privately owned medical, management and technology company that delivers the high-touch and personalized primary care Medicare-eligible seniors need to enjoy better health. This high-touch primary care is shown to reduce coronavirus deaths by 40 percent, according to a study published in American Journal of Preventive Cardiology. Named one of Fortune 2020 “Change the World” companies, ChenMed brings concierge-style medicine and better health outcomes to the neediest populations. In addition to Chen Senior Medical Center, ChenMed brands include Chen Senior Medical Center, Dedicated Senior Medical Center and JenCare Senior Medical Center.
 


Erik Beyer, MD

Dr. Erik Beyer, cardiothoracic surgeon is on staff at Florida Medical Center. He has been practicing cardiac surgery for more than 20 years. Dr. Beyer’s expertise includes the Hybrid Cooperative MAZE open-heart cardiac surgery procedure to eliminate AFib as well as the use of MAPS Ablation Pen to treat harmful cardiac tissue causing heart arrhythmias. Dr. Beyer attended medical school at the University of Tennessee. He completed his residency in general surgery at the University of Texas and his residency in cardiothoracic surgery at Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Dr. Beyer later completed his fellowship, specializing in cardiac transplant and assist device, at Deutsches Herzzentrum Berlin in Germany and Texas Heart Institute.
 
 


My new and educated cannabis use has changed so many aspects of my life: one of those aspects was finding my joy through community.

Talking to my tribe today on more than one occasion within that day, I found myself having conversations around the word JOY. It was serendipitous that this 3-letter word was on the minds of those around me, because I was truly feeling it and actively manifesting it every day. Feeling joy can be tantamount to our self care and also self identity especially for the community I identify with (queer, black, kinky and polyamorous) To be a minority, within a minority, within a minority (yeah imagine how I feel…ha!) the small victories that affirm and validate who you are can be the single most exuberant experience of your life. But alas that doesn’t happen every day, so how do we cultivate, multiply and share our JOY?
 
In my sisterhood of the cannabis community, I see and am inspired everyday to not give up on myself. No matter how difficult no matter how rough we always find a way through, heck that is stoner culture too, isn’t it?! I have seen through some incredible black women, queer women, latinx women and also kinky women. How resilient we are and how and where that joy resides. The whole history of cannabis is about resilience and joy. The freedom that it grants you the open mindedness and the ease of connection and the thought of hey I know everything is going to be alright. Isn’t that what joy is?
 
As with everything it starts with US! How can we embrace our natural gifts, talents and skills if we are always looking down at others and their talents that are different than ours? When will I realize that my black girl magic is equal and in proportion to my sister’s joy? They are not only one and the same but they are contingent on each other. I always loved the phrase “Your vibe attracts your tribe” this is truth and I experience it every day! When I make space to rejoice and foster my tribe’s joy my joy in turn is doubled. Now THAT is the real MAGIC of my sisters in cannabis and all girls.
 


Mount Sinai Medical Center welcomes Gino R. Santorio as president and chief executive officer.

“With 40 years of health care experience and 20 years as CEO, Steve Sonenreich has led this organization with a mission-driven focus on delivering the highest quality of patient care to our region,” said Mount Sinai Board of Trustees Chairman Mark H. Hildebrandt. “As Steve steps into a new emeritus role, I know Gino will demonstrate an equal passion and enthusiasm for the medical center. He brings with him 15 years of executive health care experience – much of that right here in South Florida –and a dedication to continuing that deep commitment to serving our community.”
 
Prior to joining Mount Sinai, Santorio served as president and chief executive officer of Broward Health. Previous experience includes a senior executive level stint with increasing roles of responsibility at Jackson Health System and for-profit executive health care experience at two hospitals in the greater Tampa Bay market.