This past Thursday, CrossOver held a community open house to celebrate our Henrico Clinic’s fifteenth anniversary. Guests began gathering at 8 a.m., and at 8:15, we held a brief program featuring several speakers from CrossOver’s past and present.
“I had gotten a big, fat ‘F’ in retirement,” explained Dr. Seitz, current board chair, who first got involved at CrossOver right around the time this clinic opened fifteen years ago. He has been a committed volunteer ever since. It’s the mission that compels him, he said: “Every person deserves a healthcare home that is welcoming, integrated, and innovative.”
John Vithoulkas, Henrico county manager, shared how Buddy Childress, one of CrossOver’s founders, was the first to tell him about CrossOver. All these years later, the county’s most recent budget recommendations include fifty thousand dollars for CrossOver. “In a billion dollar budget,” Vithoulkas said, “this is probably the best thing that is in there.” He added, “What you have here is heart, and you can’t fake that.”
Julie Bilodeau, CrossOver CEO, shared some of CrossOver’s history with the open house guests. She thanked CrossOver co-founder Dr. Cullen Rivers, who has volunteered with CrossOver ever since opening the first clinic in 1983 and was in attendance for the open house. “We’re really blessed to have such committed volunteers,” Bilodeau said. “What an expression of God’s love.”
Bruce Kupper of MEDARVA, which funds CrossOver’s vision program, and Andy Stephenson of Sentara, which has given funding for expenses related to becoming a Medicaid provider, also spoke. “We appreciate all the work CrossOver does,” Kupper said. “We’re honored to be a part of it.” Stephenson echoed his sentiments. “It takes everyone to take care of our friends and neighbors here in the Commonwealth,” he said.
Following the program, CrossOver staff led small-group tours of the clinic.
Thanks to everyone who came to celebrate this milestone with us. We’re so grateful to all the funding partners, donors, volunteers, and neighbors who make compassionate healthcare a reality in Henrico County as well as the city of Richmond.
If you missed us on Thursday, we’d still love to extend the celebration to you. To schedule a tour of CrossOver or learn more about getting involved, please email us . We’d love to connect.
Thanks to Gilpin Brown for taking photos of the event.