Ross Gallabrese READY TO HELP — The Ohio Valley Health Center last year provided $1,755,957 in free health care to area residents. Its biggest fundraising event of the event, its annual gala, is scheduled to be held April 26 at the St. Florian Event Center in Wintersville.

STEUBENVILLE — Reaching a milestone anniversary can offer the chance to step back and reflect on the work that went into making it possible.

That’s why the Ohio Valley Health Center wanted to find a special way to mark its 20 years of providing quality health care to the region’s underinsured and uninsured residents.

“Each year, we take time to recognize the people who help make our mission possible,” said Ann Quillen, the center’s executive director. “This year, however, our board wanted to do something a little different.”

Quillen was discussing this year’s edition of the center’s annual gala, which is scheduled to be held April 26 at the St. Florian Event Center in Wintersville. There’s a special theme for the special event: “A Roaring 20 Years of Hope, Health and Healing.”

“In January, we decided to celebrate not only those who serve, but those who have stood beside the center for decades. We are recognizing individuals and organizations who have given their time, resources and partnership for 20 years or more — whether as dedicated donors, committed volunteers or trusted business partners.”

That hard work has paid big dividends — last year, the center was able to provide $1,755,957 in free care to area residents.

“Once you see the difference, the impact on the community and on these patients specifically, I can’t imagine anybody walking away from that. I can’t imagine there is anybody who wouldn’t want to be a part of that, once you witness it. It’s something it’s a privilege to be a part of,” said Curt Virtue of Value Leader Pharmacy.

Virtue said he and his business partner, J.J. Bernabei of Tri-State Pharmacy, have been involved with the center for the past 20 years.

“When we got involved in the beginning, the medication room wasn’t a room — it was just a small closet,” Virtue said. “So, it has grown from a very small closet to what you see here.”

Pharmacy services have expanded to the point where the center filled 4,470 prescriptions last year, with a total value of $531,953.

Dr. Charn Nandra, the center’s medical director, added that he has seen a lot of growth at the center since it first opened its doors.

“When we started, we were doing medicine with basically a stethoscope and a blood pressure cuff,” Nandra said. “We have come a long way — now we have an EKG machine and an echocardiogram machine. I can do minor surgeries — we have a nice room where we can do minor surgical procedures, and, of course, offer free medicine.”

Nandra has been a part of the center since it opened along Fourth Street. When the roof collapsed at the original location, services were moved to Trinity Medical Center East, where they remained until the current location at 423 South St. was purchased and renovated.

“I think we have come a long way — we really have made a difference in the cardiovascular area as well as others. It’s a testament to everybody who has been involved. It’s a very emotional feeling for me, personally,” Nandra added.

Nandra’s daughter, Dr. Kamaldeep Nandra, is among the volunteer providers at the center.

Those volunteer providers make all that care possible. Included among those who have stepped up to help is Dr. Tom Brown, who has a long history of helping at the center.

“I go back to the days Dr. Nandra identified back on Fourth Street,” said Brown, a retired dentist, whose involvement with the center has included chairing the event with his wife, Suzanne, another longtime center volunteer. “I have done oral screening examinations. I would see patients on referral. I would see patients Ann and the providers here would identify as being in urgent need — we’d see them in the office, where I could deliver more comprehensive care.”

Quillen pointed out that Brown was able to detect oral cancer in a patient who was able to receive help.

“Among the biggest moments of my career is the appreciation for the facility that our patients would give us,” Brown added. “Plus, you would see some wonderful people.”

Being able to provide services out of a first-class facility included the work of many volunteers who helped raise money and the efforts of people like Robert Gribben of Grae-Con Construction. There were a lot of people who helped, Quillen said, but Grae-Con led the way.

“It’s amazing what this organization does,” said Gribben, who, along with his wife, Shirley, has a long history of supporting the center. “Everybody wanted to be involved with it — I even had guys volunteer to work on Saturdays to help us finish it.”

Volunteers help to make the center — and the gala — special.

“It’s a great organization and has been very helpful,” said Dave D’Anniballe of D’Anniballe and Co. “When they first got started, they called our firm and said they needed help with accounting and taxes. We helped a lot then, and we still do. We’ve helped out numerous times with this building and other projects.”

Among the longtime volunteers is Betty Ferron, who has helped gather items for the live auction held during the gala. She said her involvement began 20 years ago, when an old boss told her she was going to go to the center’s ribbon cutting and then volunteer. Once she saw the work being done there, she wanted to become more heavily involved.

“It’s just a great feeling to be able to help people who are in need. I have always said that,” Ferron said.

Another reason the center has been able to provide care has been the involvement of area churches.

“We’re one of the churches that has supported the health center for many years,” said the Rev. Clint Quillen, pastor of Wintersville Methodist Church. He’s Ann’s husband and has helped write several of the grants that the center needs to be able to fulfill its mission.

“I can’t speak for all of the churches, but I know our church has a servant’s heart and wants to make a positive difference in the community. This is one very practical way to do that, where you know you are making an impact, and I guess that’s true for all of the other churches that support the center.”

Those efforts come together to ensure help is available.

“We saw the need and we felt compelled to get involved,” said Tony Mougianis of Apollo Pro Cleaning and Restoration, chairman of the center’s board of directors and longtime volunteer who, with his wife, Tara, chaired the gala before. “This is an example of winning with people, and when people come together, great things happen. We used to say we were the best-kept secret in Jefferson County, and we’re working on that to make us a household name.”

Chairs for this year’s gala are the Judy family of Richmond — Mark, his wife Gina and daughters Kimberly Sherretts and Stephanie Presutti — longtime supporters of the center. The cocktail hour begins at 5 p.m. April 26. Tickets are $65 each and guests are encouraged to dress in 1920s-era attire. For information or to order tickets, visit ovhealthcenter.org.

All money raised will help the center continue serving area residents, work that is made possible through local volunteers committed to its mission.

“We have a wonderful building of servant leaders,” Mougianis said. “It has really changed my life. We all get involved in different boards, and some people look at it as a line on their resume. The people who are here at the center want to be here — they want to help, they want to see people get better. It’s a wonderful privilege.”