Elks Lodge to Roast Wayne Crawford; Proceeds Will Go to Health Care Services at Samuel Dixon Family Health Centers, Inc.

Santa Clarita, Calif., December 11, 2007 – “Concrete cowboy” Wayne Crawford, head of Santa Clarita Concrete and a resident of the Santa Clarita Valley for 38 years, will be the 2008 Roastee at the Santa Clarita Elks Lodge in Canyon Country on Saturday, January 26, 2008. All proceeds from the event will go to Samuel Dixon Family Health Centers, Inc. (SDFHC) to provide health care services to the residents of the Santa Clarita Valley.

Crawford is involved with several local nonprofit organizations, including the Boys and Girls Club and Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital's Health Foundation. He has served on the board of Carousel Ranch since 2002 and he recently won the honor of 2007 “Community Service Newsmaker of the Year,” awarded by the Santa Clarita Valley Press Club.
Last year's roast raised $49,000 for SDFHC, which went directly toward providing patient care.

“Samuel Dixon is definitely a worthwhile local charity,” Crawford said. “Their cause is very important because they provide health care services to a segment in the community that, in the past, did not have a source for such services.”

Mike Fisher, Elks Roast Committee chair, echoed this sentiment. “This event has been a great  opportunity to watch Samuel Dixon grow over the years. A lot of hard work, time and dedication go into the services they provide to our community.”

“With this event, we are raising money for a great purpose: Samuel Dixon,” said Santa Clarita Mayor Pro-Tem Bob Kellar, who was also the first person to be roasted at this event. “You can't help but appreciate this fundraiser, that helps the portion of the community who benefits from Samuel Dixon's work.”

SDFHC operates three health centers in the Santa Clarita Valley—Canyon Country Health Center, Val Verde Health Center and Newhall Health Center—as well as outreach sites at College of the Canyons and California Institute of the Arts. We offer a full range of health care services—physicals, immunizations and vaccines, screenings and diagnostic tests, well baby care, and family planning—to those who may not seek health care elsewhere. Patients pay based on their income. This past year, we provided service for 8,000 patient visits.

The Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, Santa Clarita, Lodge No. 2379, is located at 17766 Sierra Highway in Canyon Country. The Elks Foundation gives millions of dollars to disabled children in California; supports hospitalized veterans with clothing and other necessities; and hosts a variety of holiday parties throughout the year, as well as donating food baskets to local needy families.

(Mike Fisher, event chairman; Cheryl Laymon, executive director, SDFHC; "Concrete Cowboy" Wayne Crawford, roastee; Santa Clarita Mayor Bob Kellar, master of ceremonies; and Ed Bolden, president, Board of Directors, SDFHC.)

SDFHC was established in 1980 and named for long-time Val Verde resident and minister, the late Reverend Samuel Dixon. A not-for-profit community health center, SDFHC serves the greater Santa Clarita Valley, and is governed by a twenty-member board of directors, all of whom are Santa Clarita residents. The mission of SDFHC is to enhance wellness by providing quality primary health care services and health education to unserved and underserved residents, with a special emphasis on serving the uninsured. Easily accessible services are available for the entire family in both English and Spanish. Medi-Cal, Blue Cross and Healthy Families are all accepted, and a sliding fee scale is offered, keeping health care affordable for all. Services are available at the Val Verde Health Center (661-257-4008), the Canyon Country Health Center (661-424-1220) and the Newhall Health Center (661-291-1777).

SDFHC receives United Way funding and is supported by countless individuals as well as corporate sponsors who help make affordable health care possible. Tax-deductible contributions are welcome.