|
Greetings!
As we head into the season of giving, I wanted to stress the importance of EVERY contribution that has been made to our nonprofit organization since 1955. It seems that every day I am reading articles of ambulance services closing due to a lack of funding. In fact, according to the Pennsylvania Fire and Emergency Services Institute, 22 percent of EMS agencies in the state have closed their doors between 2013 to 2017. That puts more pressure on the surrounding agencies to pick up the calls, which in turn leads to increased operating costs.
One of the biggest issues EMS agencies are faced with today, is that reimbursement from insurance companies has not kept up with inflation. We will continue to work with our legislators until a change happens on this front.
Also, did you know that there are no per capita taxes to cover emergency medical services in the areas where we provide 9-1-1 service? We are thankful that most of the municipalities we operate in do provide a small amount of assistance but combined it is less than 1 percent of our operating budget. These are just some of the reasons why we rely on corporate and private donations each year. To be clear, Cetronia continues to remain fiscally sound large in part due to all of the contributions that have been made over the years. Again, we thank you for your generosity.
Now is the time to check your mail! If you live in our emergency coverage area, you should have received a copy of our 2023 Annual Appeal. We have so many great stories to tell each year, but this year was dedicated to Baby Lincoln and his family's time of need. In order to save more lives, I ask you to help us reach our $90,000 fundraising goal which will be put toward new equipment. Your gift, no matter the size, will help us continue to grow and provide the services this community expects and deserves.
Lastly, I wanted to personally thank all those that sponsored and/or played in our Health On Wheels Cetronia Open Golf Tournament on Friday, September 29 at Olde Homestead Golf Club. We were extremely lucky with the weather holding out for us the entire day. With all the wonderful support we received, we were able to raise nearly $24,000 which will help keep our wheels rolling!
Stay well,
Robert F. Mateff Sr.
Chief Executive Officer
September 2023 Stats:
1,315 Emergency Calls
482 Non-emergency Calls
1,737 Paratransit Calls
(Title sponsor, LVHN's Erin Ludwig, with Cetronia's Chief Financial Officer Amy Ninos pictured below)
| 
