Approximately 50 people, including individuals who have contributed to our health center expansion, and members of our staff, gathered at Mazzoni Center Family and Community Medicine (MCFCM) at 809 Locust Street on Thursday, June 14 for an informal reception.

The event was planned to ackonwledge those donors whose support helped make the recent renovation and expansion of our health center possible. Mazzoni Center Executive Director Nurit Shein thanked them all for their contributions, which have greatly impacted the organization’s ability to provide services to a growing number of patients.

Director of Development and Marketing Perry Monastero added, "We are incredibly grateful for the outstanding generosity of our donors."

Earlier this year, construction teams completed the addition of six new exam rooms at MCFCM, along with a larger conference space, an additional counseling room, as well as additional staff spaces to accommodate the growing number of providers and other staff.  Many of the new exam rooms have been named for friends, family, and loved ones of our donors.  Thanks to the expansion our providers can see hundreds more patients each month.  

As Board President Kelly Harris noted, “The Mazzoni Center policy of providing services to all patients without consideration for their ability to pay will continue.”

During the celebration Mazzoni Center also dedicated a new memorial in memory of the late Peter Mazzoni, M.D.  (1959-1990). In addition to being a compassionate and well-regarded physician, Peter Mazzoni was an early AIDS activist who died at age 31 from complications related to the disease.  His work as a board member and medical director at the organization known as Philadelphia Community Health Alternatives/AIDS Task Force of Philadelphia inspired many, and ultimately prompted the leadership of the agency to re-name it "Mazzoni Center" in his honor in 2003.  

Michael Rock, Barbara Gindhart, and Jimmy Calnan - members of the group Dignity Philadelphia, of which Mazzoni had been an active member - joined in the gathering and unveiled the boulder located outside the health center.  A brass plaque affixed to the boulder reads:  “In memory of Peter Mazzoni, MD, for his inspirational legacy.” 

“It is fitting to have friends and spiritual leaders from Peter’s life here to help us honor his inspiration,” Monastero said.