Contributed GALA RECOGNITION — Several of the honorees at Sunday's Ohio Valley Health Center gala gathered prior to the event at the St. Florian Event center.

WINTERSVILLE — The region’s uninsured and underinsured residents have had a place to turn for health care for the past 20 years.

Sunday night, the efforts that made that possible — and helped it continue to grow — were recognized as the Ohio Valley Health Center held its 20th annual fundraising gala at the St. Florian Event Center.

Built around the theme “A Roaring 20 Years of Hope, Health and Healing,” the evening offered a chance to reflect on what has been accomplished during the health center’s first 20 years, look ahead to the future and thank Ann Quillen for her work in making the center a success.

Quillen has announced she will step down from the executive director’s post later this year. She has served in that role twice, succeeding the original director, Diann Schmitt, and leading the organization from 2008 to 2015 before returning in the summer of 2020.

“Tonight is about gratitude and purpose,” said Andrew Henry. “Every day at the Ohio Valley Health Center, we are guided by a simple but powerful belief — that every person deserves care, healing and dignity. For many of our patients, health care is only a part of a larger story, one shaped by real challenges and barriers. Our mission is to meet those needs with compassion, offering hope, health and healing through connection and community.”

Henry is the Jefferson County health commissioner and a member of the health center’s board. He served as master of ceremonies for the evening.

“Tonight, we celebrate a very special milestone — 20 years of that mission in action,” Henry said. “For two decades, the Ohio Valley Health Center has been a place of hope, health and healing in our community. That’s 20 years of lives touched, barriers broken and a legacy of care that continues stronger with each passing year.”

Since the clinic opened in March 2006, it has recorded more than 32,000 patient visits from more than 5,000 individuals and provided care valued at more than $14 million. Last year, it served 502 patients, recorded 3,474 visits and filled 4,470 prescriptions — totaling $1,755,957 in free care.

“The gala is so important to our mission at the health center,” said Mark Judy, vice president of the board of directors, who along with his family — his wife, Gina, and daughters Kimberly Sherretts and Stephanie Presutti — served as event chairs. “Our budget at the health center was about $425,000 last year. This gala will generate about one-third of our operating budget, so it’s extremely important to us.”

Among those recognized during the evening were 23 individuals, businesses and organizations that have supported the center since its founding, when it was located at 701 N. Fourth St. and known as the Jefferson County Fourth Street Health Center. Each honoree received a certificate and a $20 bill bearing the date 2006, encased in plastic.

Those receiving awards included: Apollo Pro Cleaning, Tony Mougianis; Dr. Thomas and Suzanne Brown; the Center of Music and Art, Jody and Carolyn Glaub; D’Anniballe and Co., Tom D’Anniballe; Franciscan University of Steubenville, Dr. Amy Eisnaugle; Grae-Con Construction, Bob and Shirley Gribben; Henry Schein, Susan Rayl; Herald-Star; Woman’s Club of Steubenville; Dr. Charn Nandra; Tom Timmons; Trinity Health System, Laurie Labishak and Dwayne Richardson; Value Leader Pharmacy, Curt Virtue; Wintersville Methodist Church, the Rev. Clint Quillen; WTOV-TV, Jeff Oechslein; Blanche Babela; Borden Office Equipment; Dumbaugh, Oklok and Criss; Empire Community Church; Betty Ferron; Patricia Fletcher; James McBane; and Huberta Schiappa Siciliano.

The clinic’s origins trace back to 2004, when the Rev. Bruck Hitchcock, then executive director of Urban Mission Ministries, and a group of community leaders met to address concerns from residents struggling to afford prescription medications.

After receiving seed money in the form of $25,000 donations from the Glaubs and the Center of Music and Art and from McBane of McBane Insurance and Financial Services, organizers were able to move forward with plans for the center.

Diamond-level sponsors for the evening included Wilma Ching and family, Mark and Gina Judy, Trinity Health System and the Woman’s Club of Steubenville. Platinum-level sponsors included East Springfield Global Methodist Church of the Cross, Smithfield Evangelical Friends Church, the Center for Music and Art, TreVida Healthcare and Wintersville Methodist Church. Gold-level sponsors included Albaugh and Wherry Charitable Foundation, Appalachian Capital Management Ltd., the Duquesne University School of Nursing, First Choice America Community Federal Credit Union, Grae-Con Construction Inc. and the Pugliese Charitable Foundation.

Ann Quillen said she is confident the health center’s work will continue for decades to come.

“I am so grateful for your encouragement, your friendship and your generosity and support,” she said.