La Salle Alumni Create First Not-for-Profit Pharmacy in Over-the-Rhine
In 2007, several La Salle alumni answered a request to fill
a need for a pharmacy in one of Cincinnati’s
poorest neighborhoods. It was brought to the attention of Chad Worz and Norb
Kinross Jr., pharmacists and members of La Salle’s class of 1991, that patients
of the Crossroad Health Center
in Over-the-Rhine needed to travel to other neighborhoods to have their
prescriptions filled. Transportation is a difficulty and financial burden to
these clients.
With their years of pharmaceutical experience and community-building
skills, Worz and Kinross knew they could offer a solution to the problem. They
founded Pharmacy Over-the-Rhine, the first full-service, not-for-profit
pharmacy in the U.S.
Housed on the first floor of the Crossroad
Health Center,
Pharmacy OTR along with a physicians group, a dentist and a mammography center provide
healthcare for the poorest and most underserved in Cincinnati. Over 25,000 prescriptions are
written each year for the 5,000 families who visit the community center.
Initially, Worz and Kinross won grants from the City of Cincinnati, the University
Of Cincinnati College Of 
Pharmacy,
and the financial support of Carl Lindner. Established as a 5013c
not-for-profit in 2007, Pharmacy OTR provides a full line of medications which
have a very small mark-up. This small profit goes back into the community
center to pay for operating expenses like utilities. The five-year plan of
Pharmacy OTR is to be self-sufficient by 2012. To accomplish this goal, $50,000
to $75,000 must be raised in the next two years. A special event, Faces and
Voices of the City, is being held Thursday, October 29, 2009, at the Receptions
Loveland. (See details below or visit www.PharmacyOTR.com.)
In his hometown in France, St. John Baptist de La
Salle spent his life offering education to young men who would have been
deprived the opportunity because of their economic background. This Lasallian
tradition is upheld in the works of Worz and Kinross and their network of other
Lancer alumni who have made medicine attainable to those in Cincinnati’s most impoverished neighborhood.
One day a week, either Chad or Norb donate their
professional services as they dispense prescriptions at Pharmacy OTR. This
mission to share their talents, time and experience with those less fortunate
were taught at home and ingrained at La Salle.
Chad
reminisced about accompanying Mr. Bill Cady to the Over-the-Rhine on service
trips during high school to work on the La Salle House.
Just as de La Salle’s mission grew into the largest
community of educators, the Christian Brothers, Pharmacy OTR is now the
prototype for other much needed not-for-profit pharmacies around the country. In
2008, the Community First Pharmacy in Hamilton
and, this year, the Home of the Innocents in Louisville have modeled their pharmacies
after Pharmacy OTR.
The Faces and Voices of the City Event
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Receptions Loveland,
10681 Loveland-Madeira Road
Tickets are $125/person or Table of 8 for $900
Tickets for a VIP Reception Table of 8 are $1200
Jeff Piecoro, broadcaster on FSN, will emcee an evening with
well-known Cincinnatians as they discuss their hometown. Join Marty Brennaman,
Dave Lapham, Mayor Mark Mallory, Cammy Dierking, Tricia Macke, Anthony Buford,
John Thornton, Artrell Hawkins, and other prominent voices and faces of Cincinnati as they talk
about their great city.
Carl Lindner, Dick Wieland and Sally Stewart, and other founding
supporters, will be honored for recognizing the importance and need for
Pharmacy Over-the-Rhine.
VIP Cocktails at 6:00 p.m. followed by dinner at 7:00 and a
silent auction throughout the evening.
For reservations or more details, call Pharmacy OTR at
513-579-0900 or visit the website at www.PharmacyOTR.com.
All proceeds benefit Pharmacy Over-the-Rhine, the first full
service, not-for-profit pharmacy in the United States.
This event is supported by fellow Lancer alumni with their
generous donations of services, like Dave Schulten ’94 of Receptions, Aaron
Tucker ’94, marketing and event planning and partner in APEX Limousines, and
many more.