The San Benito Health Foundation began providing health care services to traditionally under-served residents of San Benito County in May 1975 at the former Hazel Hawkins Hospital building on Monterey Street in Hollister. Now, as it celebrates its 40-year anniversary, the foundation has its main facility at 351 Felice Drive on the city's west side, a satellite clinic in San Juan Bautista's Windmill Market shopping center, and a mobile health center — all of which provide medical, dental and behavioral health, and women, infant and children health services.

At the May 19 San Benito County Board of Supervisors' meeting, Board Chairwoman Margie Barrios presented the foundation with a proclamation honoring it for its 40 years of service to teh community. Barrios, whose father was one of the foundation's founders in 1975, said the organization "has done wonderful things for 40 years, providing low-cost medial and dental services for those who need it."

The proclamation from the board noted how community activist Alejo Hernandez and others spearheaded the creation of the foundation by recognizing the need for a larger facility where more services could be offered to the uninsured in San Benito County. Additional health care services became available when the foundation opened the doors of its Felice Drive facility in 1993 and it now provides services to 8,000 patients each year.

Margaret Nunez, the foundation's manager of the WIC program, accepted the proclamation and noted that in addition to a celebration last Friday, the foundation will have a community event on May 20 from 2-6 p.m. to celebrate the anniversary.

For more information on the San Benito Health Foundation, click here.