The Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce recognized the Lake Norman Community Health Clinic as the most outstanding Nonprofit that practices Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Annual Diversity Luncheon held at Northstone Country Club. On hand to accept the recognition was Clinic Executive Director April Cooke and Ileana Rivera, the Office Manager. Chamber Board Chair David Keith presented the award along with Diversity Chair Dan Houston.

Bill Russell, President & CEO of the Chamber, emceed the program.  Russell told the business and community leaders who attended, " Our Nonprofit Champions of Diversity Award Recipient being recognized today exists because, even in a prosperous community like ours, we have many friends and neighbors who have no health insurance and no access to the health care that most of us take for granted."

Lake Norman Community Health Clinic is one of more than 70 member clinics of the North Carolina Association of Free and Charitable Clinics that provide quality health care at no cost or low cost to  uninsured and underinsured North Carolinians across our state.

Last year, the clinic served 1,500 individuals with 8,100 appointments, providing primary care, gynecology, orthopedics, physical therapy, dental care, telehealth, and a community healthcare worker who addresses social determinants of health that block the path to good care and good health.

Lake Norman stands for diversity in every way, serving a patient population that is 65% Hispanic/Latino and 11% African American with a staff of eight that includes four Hispanic/Latina employees and one African American.

Last year, the clinic provided three million dollars of health care on a budget of $650,000, thanks to the generosity of individual donors and foundations and support from government at the local, state and federal levels. Fifty-six volunteers provided nearly 2,000 hours of volunteer service. And the future looks promising, as the clinic prepares for an expansion project that will include two new dental exam rooms.

Russell added, "I’m especially pleased today to welcome April Cook, who co-founded Lake Norman Community Health Clinic in 2001 and served as its executive director for the past two decades. I also want to congratulate April, who took on a larger role in August when she became CEO of the North Carolina Association of Free and Charitable Clinics. She will continue serving on the Lake Norman clinic board and supporting the clinic’s incoming executive director.  Ileana Rivera has been with the clinic since day one and has served as the office manager and referral specialists for their patients."