Children’s Volunteer Health Network has a Home of its Own!
March 1, 2010 – Santa Rosa Beach, Florida – For five years the Children’s Volunteer Health Network has operated from borrowed office spaces that were charitably donated. “During CVHN’s first two years, the organization was managed from the founder’s home office. Eventually we needed a space that would accommodate several employees and volunteers, and that is when Byron stepped in,” said Alice Stapleton, Executive Director. Byron Chism, founder of Bad Byron’s Specialty Food Products, offered office space at no cost to the organization for the past three years. Yet, with the community’s increasing need for CVHN’s services, the organization quickly outgrew its donated space.   So, throughout 2009, the Board of Directors committed themselves to finding a home that CVHN could call its own. “We are thrilled with our new space! We wouldn’t be here though if it wasn’t for our committed donors and Board of Directors,” Stapleton went on to say. The building, located at 82 Lynn Drive in Santa Rosa Beach is part of the Santa Rosa Square office complex. Just off of East Highway 98, the space was purchased by the organization in October.  The space is pleasant and functional, able to accommodate four offices, a storage room, a small kitchen, and a conference room for Board and other meetings. CVHN also purchased the unit next door, which is currently occupied by Shelter House, Inc., the domestic violence center that serves Walton and Okaloosa counties.  The founder of CVHN, Tricia Northcutt also commented on the organization’s recent acquisition: “We are only just beginning to combat the health care crisis for the many uninsured and underinsured kids in Okaloosa and Walton counties. The need is growing like kudzu. This building is a testament of faith and love in action, and we are grateful to our supporters.” CVHN was pleased to have both The Walton Area Chamber of Commerce and The Destin Area Chamber of Commerce present as they held their official ribbon cutting and open house. CVHN is currently undergoing a strategic planning process that will help it to formalize a plan for the next several years, in which the new buildings will be purposed for the ongoing service to kids and families in the area. “The support we receive from the community is overwhelming, and its generosity never ceases to amaze me,” Stapleton said as she sat down in her office and looked out her window. “It is a relief to know that CVHN has a place to grow and thrive, right along with the kids we serve. Now, that’s a great feeling.”
About CVHN – Children’s Volunteer Health Network, Inc., a faith based, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, seeks to enhance the lives of uninsured and underinsured children in Walton and Okaloosa Counties by facilitating access to medical, dental and mental health care. The organization was founded in 2005 and will celebrate its 5th birthday on April 22nd. Since 2005 the agency has scheduled more than 2000 free appointments for children in need of health services through its network of more than 90 professional healthcare providers. The work of CVHN’s Mobile Dental Clinic is accomplished in part through grants from The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida. The Just for Grins Mobile Dental Clinic has cleaned the teeth of more than 1000 children since September of 2008.
For more information about CVHN, please visit www.cvhnkids.org or call 850-622-3200.
