March 13, 2007
                     
VAFC Announces New Executive Director

Glen Allen, VA– The Virginia Association of Free Clinics (VAFC) announced that L.M. “Lou” Markwith has been hired as its new Executive Director.

"We are excited to have Lou serve as the new Executive Director during this critical growth period of the VAFC," said Ward W. Stevens, President of the VAFC Board of Directors. "His breadth of experiences will be an asset to the organization and the 51 member Free Clinics."  Mr. Markwith replaces Mark Cruise who left to start his own consulting business in September 2006.  Mr. Markwith is the second Executive Director in the organization’s 14 year history.     

Mr. Markwith has extensive experience with non-profit organizations including the National Kidney Foundation of the Virginia’s, Inc., and the James-Yorktown Foundation. Mr. Markwith has over twenty-five year’s involvement with institutions of higher education including the University of Wisconsin Foundation, Longwood University, Gallaudet University, and the University of Richmond. Responsibilities in these positions included: fund raising, alumni relations, government relations, planning and publications.  Mr. Markwith earned his B.S. in Business Administration and Masters in Business Administration from the University of Richmond.

"I’m excited to be joining the team at the VAFC.  This Association is an important lifeline to the Free Clinics in Virginia who are on the frontlines every day providing access to necessary health care to those who need it the most: the working poor.  I look forward to contributing to the growth of the Free Clinic movement here in Virginia," said Markwith.

Founded in 1993, the VAFC is the oldest Free Clinic association in the U.S.  Based in Glen Allen, its mission is to support, strengthen, and advocate for Free Clinics in delivering quality health care services to Virginia’s low-income, uninsured and underinsured residents.  Virginia has 51 Free Clinics with 65 clinic sites serving more than 61,000 uninsured Virginians.  More information about the VAFC and Virginia’s Free Clinics is available at www.vafreeclinics.org.

Founded in 1993, the VAFC is the oldest Free Clinic association in the U.S. Its mission is to support, strengthen, and advocate for Free Clinics to deliver quality health care services to Virginia’s low-income, uninsured and underinsured residents. More information about the VAFC and Virginia’s Free Clinics is available at www.vafreeclinics.org.

Phone:
(540) 231-4374

Email:
wstevens@vcom.vt.edu