Evergreen Health Joined Local Health Centers to Kickoff National Health Center Week

To kick off National Health Center Week 2026 (August 2–8), Evergreen joined leaders from Western New York Community Health Centers and local, state, and federal elected officials on July 29 to highlight the critical role health centers play in expanding access to affordable, high-quality healthcare throughout the region.

Representatives from Evergreen, Jericho Road Community Health Center, Neighborhood Health Center, Trillium Health, Universal Primary Care, and The Chautauqua Center
gathered at Jericho Road for a regional breakfast briefing focused on the impact of health centers, emerging healthcare challenges, and policy priorities affecting patients and providers across Western New York.

As Melissa Gulino, vice president of primary and specialty care for Evergreen, noted in her presentation at the breakfast, “Founded by a handful of volunteers in 1983 to address the HIV and AIDS crisis, Evergreen has always been committed to ensuring access to affordable, quality healthcare in an environment that is inclusive, compassionate, respectful and judgment-free. National Health Center Week is a great opportunity to celebrate our commitment to the community and share the impact of our mission. Serving more than 27,000 patients annually across Western New York, including more than 18,000 patients receiving federally qualified health center services, we’re proud to continue expanding access to care and supporting healthier communities alongside our partners this week and year-round.”