$1 FROM EVERY TICKET SOLD IN OCTOBER WILL BENEFIT THE VOLUNTEER HEALTH CLINIC,
WHICH HAS SERVED THE UNINSURED IN RED BANK AND SURROUNDING AREAS SINCE 2000

(RED BANK – October 12, 2023) The Count Basie Center for the Arts and Bank of America (BofA) have announced the next area nonprofit to be recognized during THE GIVING YEAR, the yearlong initiative to recognize and reward organizations for their contributions to the regional community.

Red Bank’s Parker Family Health Center (http://www.parkerfamilyhealthcenter.org) will receive $1 from every Count Basie Center ticket sold in October, in addition to donations of complimentary event tickets for the organization’s vast network of volunteer doctors, nurses and caregivers.

The mission of the Parker Family Health Center is to operate a free health care clinic where Monmouth County residents without health insurance, or the means to pay for medical care, can be treated with dignity and compassion. The nonprofit, which has been active in the community for more than two decades, follows in the footsteps of the Parker Family legacy. Back in 1919, Dr. James Parker, Sr. cared for patients within their homes because local hospitals would not accept Black doctors on their staffs. Following in his father’s footsteps after retirement, Dr. James Parker, Jr. established a medical practice open to all. He took care of generations of Red Bank residents regardless of their background or ability to pay.

“Parker Family Health Center is so grateful to the Count Basie Center and Bank of America for selecting us as the October beneficiary for The Giving Year,” said Suzy Dyer, Executive Director, Parker Family Health Center. “This support helps Parker continue to provide care for the underserved in our community.”

The donation comes at an opportune time, according to Dyer, as demand and need for the Parker Center’s services continues to grow.

“Parker has seen a 30% increase in patients since this time last year,” Dyer explained. “We cannot do this work alone, and we look forward to our working together for the betterment of our community.”

“The Parker Health Family has a rich history that continues to shine through their community-centric mission,” said Alberto Garofalo, President, Bank of America New Jersey. “Like its founders, Parker’s current staff works tirelessly to provide crucial care to Monmouth County’s uninsured population. We proudly stand behind Parker’s mission and hope that ticket sales will help support their increasing numbers.”

“The Parker Family Health Center is one of Red Bank’s most vital resources,” said Jeremy Grunin, Chairperson, Count Basie Center for the Arts. “For the uninsured, healthcare services are extremely difficult to come by. But for the historically under resourced in our area, Parker has been a beacon of hope and wellness for more than 20 years. The Count Basie Center is proud of its continued support of this important organization.”

BofA and Basie Center employees and board members started reviewing applications following the announcement of THE GIVING YEAR initiative on Giving Tuesday last November. THE GIVING YEAR will focus on organizations serving causes related to arts and culture, health / wellness, food insecurity, diversity, equity and inclusion, or financial management or other services to underrepresented populations.

Organizations interested in consideration for THE GIVING YEAR may learn more and apply for consideration at www.thebasie.org/thegivingyear. Organizations need only apply once – qualifying applications will be considered on a rolling basis throughout 2023.

ABOUT THE GIVING YEAR INITIATIVE

THE GIVING YEAR will last throughout 2023, with the Count Basie Center for the Arts donating $1 from every ticket sold to one of twelve area nonprofits, with a different organization highlighted each month. Organizations will be eligible to receive up to $15,000 during their month, in addition to complimentary tickets for distribution to their volunteers and / or their beneficiaries.

Upon announcing THE GIVING YEAR last November, Basie Center and Bank of America officers presented the initiative as an opportunity to use the organizations’ platforms to highlight important work and causes throughout their service regions. Mental wellness nonprofit Shore House kicked off THE GIVING YEAR in January, followed by Asbury Park’s Inspire Life, The Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide in Freehold, The Sandy Hook Foundation, Red Bank’s No Limits Café, LGBTQIA+ resource organization QSpot, the Ritesh Shah Charitable Pharmacy, Hispanic outreach services at the Red Bank Public Library, and literacy advocates Project Write Now.

“The Count Basie Center is a unique nonprofit organization,” Basie Center Board Chairperson Jeremy Grunin explained. “In addition to our work in arts education, from classrooms in under-resourced communities to professional development opportunities for teachers, we have world-renowned performing artists on our stages almost every evening. We recognize the platform that affords us, and we feel it’s right to use that platform to highlight other organizations attending to vital causes in our region.”

“Bank of America and the Count Basie Center share many causes and concerns, especially the betterment of our communities,” said Bank of America’s Garofalo. “During ‘The Giving Year,’ we’ll use our long-standing partnership and platforms to highlight and reward the efforts of twelve area nonprofit organizations, whose commitments to our region help those who need it the most.”

“Part of our responsibility as a nonprofit organization is to look inwards and say, ‘What more can we do?’” said Adam Philipson, President and CEO, Count Basie Center for the Arts. “And because we have this status as a place where world-class musicians, actors and performers come to play, we also have this opportunity – and responsibility – to lend our visibility to others. Bank of America and the Basie Center want THE GIVING YEAR to become a pedestal for organizations that deserve to have their hard work and purposes known and recognized.”

November’s beneficiary organization will be announced shortly.