The holiday season is more than just a time for celebrations -- it's a chance to make a real difference. This Giving Tuesday, let's focus on the power of local generosity and how it can transform lives in our community.
At Noozhawk, we believe that every act of kindness counts. Our Giving Guide is your gateway to discovering local organizations doing incredible work and in need of support. Whether it's a small donation or volunteering your time, your contribution can spark positive change as we wrap up the year.
Explore our Good for Santa Barbara Nonprofit Section today and help brighten the season for those who need it most!
In this interview Noozhawk spoke with Abe Lincoln, Executive Director at Savie Health, to learn more about the nonprofit's mission to offer no-charge health care to the uninsured population of Santa Barbara County and beyond.
Question: What is the name of your nonprofit, and what is its mission?
Answer: Savie Health, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization located in Lompoc, California with service to the North Santa Barbara County area and perimeter. The mission of Savie Health is to provide medical services, preventive care, and health education to adults within North Santa Barbara County and surrounding areas regardless of the ability to pay and regardless of citizenship status.
Q: How long has your organization been serving the community, and who founded it?
A: Founded in 2022, Savie Health has served over 3,000 uninsured patients within Santa
Barbara County. Savie Health's founder is Dr. Ahmad Nooristani, Chief Hospitalist at Lompoc Valley MedicalCenter (LVMC).
Q: What motivated the creation of your nonprofit?
A: Dr. Nooristani previously founded the SLO NOOR Foundation, a free medical clinic in San Luis Obispo in 2011 after seeing the need for preventive care among the uninsured patients he saw in the hospital within the SLO community.
Many patients had not seen a physician in years and consequently suffered strokes heart attacks, and were diagnosed with cancer at younger ages, conditions that were potentially preventable had the patients received medical care.
When Dr. Nooristani began his tenure at the hospital in Lompoc, he observed similar needs, and consequently, Savie Health was founded. Dr. Nooristani and a team of volunteers worked to raise the necessary funds to start Savie Health, which opened its doors in June of 2022.
While other health clinics charge on a sliding fee scale for services, Savie is completely free. For many patients at our clinic, a $5 co-pay could mean the difference between feeding their family for the evening or not.
Q: How is your nonprofit primarily funded, and what are its biggest needs right now?
A: Our primary funding is through charitable grants, although we are working diligently to engage more individual donors and business sponsors. Our greatest need is additional funding for lab tests, medication, and Volunteer medical providers.
Q: How do you allocate your funding to support your mission?
A: Our nonprofit medical office aims to provide primary healthcare services to individuals with no or limited access to healthcare including undocumented persons, housing insecure, and underrepresented members of the community.
Our office offers medical services, preventative care, and education. Most importantly, we provide services regardless of the ability to pay and regardless of citizenship status.
Q: What types of events or programs do you run to engage your community and raise funds?
A: In addition to our Annual "Heroes in Healthcare" fundraising event, we participate in many outreach events throughout Santa Barbara County often partnering with other organizations focused on helping the same populations, such as Proyecto Campesino, Santa Barbara County Promotores Network, and the California Farmworker Foundation among others.
Q: How is your team structured? Have there been any major changes in your operations since you started?
A: All medical services are provided by volunteer physicians, part-time paid employee nurse practitioners, and volunteer health providers. Our nonprofit organization is managed by our Executive Director.
Our team is comprised of various part-time employees and volunteers. Our knowledgeable and compassionate team is our greatest asset. Our organization is governed by a Board of Directors that represents the demographics of greater North Santa Barbara County. Over half of the board members were born and raised in Lompoc, California.
Q: How can people get involved with your nonprofit or volunteer?
A: We are continuously seeking volunteer medical providers to join our team. If you're not a medical professional, you can still support our mission by spreading the word and encouraging your own doctors to volunteer with us. We exist because there is a critical need in our community, and we rely on the collective efforts of everyone to help us address this challenging issue.
Q: What sets your nonprofit apart from similar organizations?
A: What sets Savie Health apart from similar organizations is our deep commitment to serving all individuals, regardless of their ability to pay or citizenship status. We provide essential medical care, preventive services, and health education to underserved populations, including undocumented persons, those experiencing housing insecurity, and other vulnerable groups who often face barriers to care.
Unlike many organizations, we operate with a robust volunteer-driven model, where physicians, nurse practitioners, and other health providers generously donate their time. This allows us to keep our services accessible or affordable while maintaining a high level of care. Additionally, our leadership and Board of Directors are deeply rooted in the local community, with many board members born and raised in Lompoc. This gives us a unique, community-centered perspective on healthcare needs.
We pride ourselves on being a nonprofit that truly reflects the demographic and cultural diversity of North Santa Barbara County. We ensure that our services are accessible and culturally competent for everyone in need.
Q: Can you share a fun fact or little-known detail about your nonprofit that would surprise people?
A: A fun fact about Savie Health is that over half of our Board of Directors were born and raised in Lompoc, California. This local connection gives us a unique insight into the community's healthcare needs and helps us create solutions that truly resonate with the people we serve.
Many of our board members are passionate about giving back to the very community that raised them, which drives our deep commitment to providing accessible care for everyone, regardless of their background.
Q: Could you share a story or two about individuals whose lives have been positively impacted by your organization?
A: At Savie Health, we've had the privilege of witnessing many stories where our services have made a meaningful impact in people's lives.
One such story is that of Maria, a mother of three who had been struggling with chronic health issues but was unable to access regular medical care due to her immigration status. She came to us after a friend recommended Savie Health.
With the support of our volunteer physicians and nurse practitioners, Maria was able to get the medical attention she needed, receive regular check-ups, and manage her chronic conditions.
Over time, her health improved, and she was able to be more present for her children and pursue work opportunities she had previously missed out on. Maria is now a strong advocate for our organization and often shares her story with others in her community.
Another powerful story is of James, a homeless veteran who had been living on the streets for several years and had difficulty accessing healthcare due to his unstable housing situation. When he first came to Savie Health, he was in dire need of treatment for a severe infection.
Our team quickly provided him with the care he needed and helped him access other services like mental health counseling and housing support. James is now on a path to recovery, has secured stable housing, and continues to receive the healthcare services he needs through our clinic. His journey has inspired others in similar situations to seek help, knowing they'll be treated with dignity and respect.
These are just a few examples of how Savie Health's comprehensive, compassionate care has changed lives in our community. Every day, we see firsthand how our work helps individuals regain their health, stability, and hope for the future.
Q: How do you share your nonprofit's impact and updates with the public?
A: At Savie Health, we believe in keeping our community informed about the impact of our work and the progress we're making. Here are some ways we share updates and outcomes with the public:
Newsletter: We send out regular newsletters to our supporters, partners, and volunteers. These newsletters highlight patient stories, updates on services, upcoming events, and specific ways the community can get involved or help.
Social Media: We actively engage with our community on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. We share real-time updates, patient success stories, volunteer opportunities, and events through these channels. It's a great way to connect with our supporters and reach new audiences.
Website: Our website features detailed information about our programs, upcoming events, and the impact we are making in North Santa Barbara County. It includes a blog where we share news, updates, and feature stories of the individuals and families who have been positively affected by our services.
Community Events: We host and participate in local events to share information about our work, provide health education, and connect with the people we serve. These events also help us build stronger relationships with local businesses, community leaders, and individuals who support our mission.
Word of Mouth: Our patients and volunteers are often our best advocates. Many of the people we've helped spread the word to others in their communities, helping us reach more needy individuals and grow our network of supporters.
Using these methods, we inform our supporters and the broader community about our efforts to provide care and support to those who need it most.
Q: What makes your organization trustworthy for donors, and are there other ways people can support your cause beyond donations?
A: Savie Health has built a strong reputation for trustworthiness through transparency, accountability, and a deep commitment to our mission. Here are a few key factors that make us a reliable organization for donors:
Transparency: We regularly share our financials, outcomes, and impact with our supporters. Our annual report provides a clear overview of how funds are allocated and the tangible results of donations, ensuring that every dollar is put to good use.
Community-Centered Approach: Our leadership team and Board of Directors are composed of local community members who are directly invested in the well-being of North Santa Barbara County. Many of our board members have lived and worked in the area for years, giving us a deep understanding of the needs we aim to address. This local presence ensures our donors that we are genuinely working for the benefit of our community.
Volunteer-Driven Model: Most of our services are made possible by volunteer medical professionals. This means significant donations go directly toward supporting the patients we serve rather than administrative costs.
Impact Reporting: We provide regular updates to donors about the impact of their contributions, including success stories from patients whose lives have been transformed by our care. This helps our donors see the difference they are making.
Q: Can you highlight one immediate goal and one long-term vision your nonprofit aims to achieve in the next year?
A: Immediate Goal:
One of our critical immediate goals for the next year is to expand access to healthcare for individuals experiencing homelessness in our community. We aim to increase our outreach and services targeted at this vulnerable group by partnering with local shelters, food banks, and other support organizations. This will involve providing more on-site medical care, preventive health services, and education to ensure these individuals receive the care they desperately need.
Long-Term Vision:
Looking ahead, our long-term vision is to establish a full-service mobile health clinic to reach even more underserved areas of North Santa Barbara County. This mobile unit would allow us to bring medical care directly to communities facing transportation barriers, ensuring that individuals in remote or rural areas and those without stable housing have consistent access to primary care, mental health services, and preventive care. This initiative would greatly enhance our capacity to serve the community and ensure that no one is left behind regarding healthcare.
Q: Is there anything important or unique about your nonprofit that we haven't covered yet?
A: One unique aspect of Savie Health that we haven't covered yet is our deep commitment to culturally competent care. Given our diverse population in North Santa Barbara County, we prioritize understanding and respecting our patients' cultural backgrounds, values, and needs. This includes offering bilingual services, having staff members familiar with the community's unique challenges, and tailoring our healthcare approach to be sensitive to various cultural contexts.
Another important aspect is our collaborative approach with other local organizations. We partner with food banks, shelters, legal aid groups, and other nonprofits to ensure our patients receive healthcare and access the broader support services they need, such as housing assistance, legal resources, and mental health care. This support network helps us address individuals' holistic needs rather than just their medical concerns, providing a more comprehensive and effective solution to their challenges.
Our cultural competence and strong community partnerships make Savie Health a unique and valuable resource for the people we serve.
Click here to support Savie Health's mission to provide medical services, preventive care, and health education to adults within North Santa Barbara County and surrounding areas regardless of the ability to pay and regardless of citizenship status.
Check out Noozhawk's Guide to Giving for a full list of nonprofits to donate to this giving season.
If you would like to include your nonprofit in our Good for Santa Barbara section and Giving Guide click HERE.