A very special charity event is coming to Fort Wayne this month. A Heart for Our Community will be held at the elegant Parkview Mirro Center on Monday, September 24, at 6:30 p.m. This exciting evening focuses on the mission of providing access to healthcare for families facing hardship, and is hosted by Christian Community Health Care and made possible by Parkview Health. Free admission is available for a limited number of seats.
Christian Community Health Care is thrilled to welcome two outstanding special guests for this event: Curtis Smith of Parkview Health, and international community health expert Dr. Gloria Ekpo of World Vision International.
Curtis Smith is a local legend, appearing on WPTA ABC 21 News for twenty-one years as their Chief Meteorologist. He is now in his third year of filling the important role of Director of Community Outreach for Parkview Health. Dinner guests at A Heart for Our Community will enjoy spending the evening with Curtis, who will be serving as MC for the program.
Dr. Gloria Ekpo is internationally recognized as a leader in global community health issues. During her 30+ years of public health experience, she has become an expert in health programming for low income regions and implementing HIV & AIDS interventions in several countries. Dr. Ekpo is excited to travel from Washington DC to be featured 
as the keynote speaker for this event. She will share from her life story and her assignments for World Vision International how “Impacting the World begins in Our Community.”
A Heart for Our Community will include a delicious gourmet dinner, live music, an entertaining silent and live auction, and a program that will provide a glimpse of the amazing work taking place this year at Christian Community Health Care. Doors will open at 5:30PM, with the program starting at 6:30PM and ending approximately 8:30PM. The Mirro Event & Conference Center is located at 10622 Parkview Plaza Drive, Fort Wayne, on the campus of Parkview Regional Medical Center. Free tickets are available online by visiting ChristianCommunityHealthCare.org, but seating is limited.
Your attendance will make a difference for the thousands of medically underserved families who visit Christian Community Health Care. Over 100 volunteer staff members offer free medical care each week to patients of all ages. The clinic is located just northeast of Fort Wayne in downtown Grabill, Indiana. Event sponsorship opportunities are still available, including donations for the silent auction. For more information, visit ChristianCommunityHealthCare.org or call 260-627-2242, ext. 7.
MEDIA ACCESS: Members of the media are welcome to attend this event. Interview access is available to Dr. Gloria Ekpo (World Vision, keynote speaker), Curtis Smith (Parkview Health, event MC), and Mark Schlatter (Christian Community Health Care – Executive Director) at these times.
• September 3-22: Pre-scheduled telephone interviews as their schedules allow
• September 3-22: Mark Schlatter is available for live interviews as his schedule allows
• September 24, 10:30am-11:30 a.m.: Dr. Ekpo, Curtis Smith, and Mark Schlatter are available during a tour of clinic facilities at Christian Community Health Care (13410 Main Street, Grabill, Indiana)
• September 24, 2:00pm-5:00 p.m.: Dr. Ekpo and Mark Schlatter are available for pre-scheduled interviews.
• September 24, 9:00-10:00 p.m.: Dr. Ekpo, Curtis Smith, and Mark Schlatter are available for live interviews at the Parkview Mirro Center (10622 Parkview Plaza Drive, Fort Wayne)
• September 25: Dr. Ekpo and Mark Schlatter are available on a limited basis for pre-scheduled interviews
CONTACT: Mark Schlatter (Mobile) 260-760-8627, (Email) markschlatter@ChristianCommunityHealthCare.org
