Monday, February 02, 2004

MEMORANDUM

TO: North Carolina State Media

FROM: Mimi Cunningham

DATE: Feb. 2, 2004

RE: DePaolo and McIntyre Cut Ribbon – Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of UNCW’s Bolton Health and Wellness Center

11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, Bolton, N.C.

The University of North Carolina at Wilmington’s Chancellor Rosemary DePaolo cordially invites you to cover the grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony Bolton Health and Wellness Center. The grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 7 at 213 Ninth Street, Bolton, N.C.

Bolton, is located in Southeastern North Carolina, which has the highest rate in the nation of prostate cancer and the highest rate of high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes in the state among African Americans, and, until recently, Bolton’s population had minimal access to health care. Now, a multifaceted collaborative health project, spearheaded by UNCW’s School of Nursing, is at work to change that.

In November 2003, the center began to accept patients on a limited basis. Health care services offered at the center include primary care, blood pressure and glucose screening; depression screening; counseling; community problem solving; prescription assistance; health and empowerment education. This is a nurse-managed, service-learning site for multidisciplinary students that also serves as a scholarship site for UNCW faculty and students. Some of the disciplines served will be nursing, social work, sociology, education and gerontology.

“This is a perfect outreach project for UNCW in an area that is in need. The facilities that the Bolton Health and Wellness Center will provide will go a long way in an impoverished region of the state,” said Jeff D. Etheridge Jr., chairman of the UNCW Board of Trustees.

Special guests expected to attend the grand opening are Congressman Mike McIntyre; UNCW Board of Trustee Chairman Jeff D. Etheridge Jr. of Whiteville; Mayor Frank Wilson of Bolton; Ray Jacobs president of the Waccamaw-Siouan Tribal Association; Mayor Herbert Keaton of Sandyfield; LaShonn Freeman, chairperson, Board of Bolton Health and Wellness Center; Dr. Virginia W. Adams, dean of the UNCW School of Nursing; and members of the Bolton Board of Directors.

Bolton Health and Wellness Center is managed by Marie Campbell, FNPc, MSN, an experienced clinician and nurse practitioner in rural communities. Monetary and material donations to furnish the center are being accepted by the UNCW School of Nursing. Contact Stephanie David at 910/962-2659 or e-mail davids@uncw.edu.

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For more information, contact the Bolton Health and Wellness Center at 910/655-8300 and Perri Bomar at 910/962-3200 or e-mail bomarp@uncw.edu.

Tiffany Johnson, PR intern, assisted in this release.