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In conjunction with the Catalina Island medical Center's medical and social services staff, the Rotary Club of Avalon has continued to recognize a great need in our community that we hope the grant committee will consider funding. The Catalina island Medical Center is a "critical access" hospital and has a small outpatient clinic that cannot provide surgical services or specialty services such as chemotherapy/radiation for cancer treatment, kidney dialysis, or care by specialists. A large number of community members cannot receive some of the recommended treatment by their physicians due to financial hardship and inability to afford the cost of boat fare to the mainland. If this District Grant is approved, we could provide the round trip boat fare for qualified community members for their medical appointments on the mainland. The applicant is screened by the Catalina Island Medical Center Business office and the Social Services Department and confirms the applicant has a medical appointment or procedure scheduled. The Medical Transportation committee, comprised of members of the Rotary Club of Avalon, will purchase gift cards for the boat fare and distribute the gift card packets after being contacted by the Social Services Depatment at Catalina Island Medical Center. Our Rotarians offer free transportation to and from the Avalon boat terminal as a community service. The Catalina Express gift card will display the Rotary brand and be accompanied by a letter describing Rotary's focus on Disease Prevention and Treatment.
The Budget would include gift cards for round trip boat fare. Envelopes, stationery, and Rotary seals have been donated by an Avalon Rotary member. Island transportation is provided by electric golf cart (if requested).
Project Start Date: After grant approval, the Medical Staff at Catalina Island Medical Center and Clinic will have the information communicated in the Medical Staff meeting so they can make referrals for their patients for specialty care. A press release explaining the grant and application process will be sent to both local newspapers, the Avalon Bay News and the Catalina Islander.
Project Completion Date: When all the purchased Catalina Express Gift Cards have been dispersed.
Transportation: Catalina Express is the only passenger boat that travels between Avalon and Long Beach (in addition to San Pedro and Dana Point). In addition, they have several boats arriving and departing daily. The other carrier, the Newport Flyer travels only once a day between Avalon and Newport, which would cause an overnight stay for Avalon residents traveling for medical treatment or doctor's appointments. Avalon residents qualify for a discounted (subsidized) commuter book on the Catalina Express . The subsidized book contains 10 one way tickets at the cost of $192.50 (a discounted price of $38.50 per round trip). Gift cards purchased for single round trip fares are $74.50.
Gift cards will be purchased in increments as the need arises. There will be a mixture of gift cards with a value of $192.50 for subsidized commuter books and a value of $74.50 for single round trip round trip fare. Recipients requiring more frequent trips for multiple appointments (chemotherapy, radiation, dialysis) would be given the higher value gift cards.
Mainland Transportation: At present, the grant recipient has arranged transportation from the Catalina Express Terminal on the mainland. Most recipients have family members meeting them on the mainland or they utilize public transportation. Mainland transportation would be difficult for this grant to include since recipients travel to various places and distances. The Catalina Island Women's Forum has worked with our grant recipients providing resources for mainland travel.
Budget: A budget of $4000 would provide approximately 11 subsidized commuter book cards at $192.50 and 25 round trips at $74.50. The type of cards purchased would be dictated by patient need.
It would be difficult to predict how many grant recipients would be utilizing the commuter books versus the round trip gift cards. The Catalina Island Medical Center notified the Rotary grant committee chair in charge of pruchasing the tickwets when the need arises. The number/frequency of the treatments and appointments are confirmed by the Medical Center staff to protect patient privacy.
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