Community Health Initiative Bare-Bones Acupuncture, Big-Time Recoveries

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, July, 2001 by Elise Hancock

Therefore helping Penn North, and helping Penn North help I Can't We Can, is up to private money. In the past, Penn North has had funding from the Abell Foundation, the Manekin Corporation, philanthropist Nan Yarnall, The Open Society Foundation (the Baltimore arm of philanthropy by financier George Soros), and hundreds of individual donors. It costs about $120,000 each year to keep Penn North running. Ellison hopes for more space either where the Center is, or in a nearby shopping center closer to the houses.

The houses of I Can't We Can need mostly practical help -- doctors who do occasional pro bono work. Food. Clothing. Vitamins. Building supplies. Toys at Christmas. Whatever. Plus what Duggan calls "homeopathic funding," sums of money just big enough to meet an urgent need. "It's about the dignity of doing it yourself."

Penn North Neighborhood Center

2410 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 200 Baltimore, Maryland 21217 USA

410-728-2080.

How You can Support Penn North

* Make a tax-deductible financial contribution to Tai Sophia Institute to benefit the Penn North Neighborhood Center. Any size contribution helps, and $20 will entitle you to a subscription to Meridians magazine (Send a check to Tai Sophia Institute, American City Building, Suite 100, 10227 Wincopin Circles, Columbia, Maryland 21044, and designate your contribution for Penn North.)

* Request a contribution from at least one other party -- a family member, friend, or business associate. Because Tai Sophia Institute is a 501(c)(3) organization, their contributions are tax-deductible. (If you need brochures to share with family or friends, please call 410-997-4888 or toll free 1-800-735-2968 ext. 643.)

* Join an ongoing giving program by enrolling yourself and others in the long-distance telephone service offered by Balance Communications at 8.9 cents a minute night or day. Under the plan, seven percent of the charges for long distance telephone calls will be rebated to Tai Sophia Institute for Penn North's support. A thousand members will cover half of Penn North's budget. (For information, call 410-884-9984.)