Friends And Supporters Gather To Dedicate Kevin’s Community Center

By Jan Howard

It was a day when one family’s tragedy became hope for others. It was a celebration of a little boy’s life through caring for the lives of others.

An estimated 150 friends, supporters, and elected officials attended an open house and dedication ceremony August 9 to witness the fruition of a family’s dream. On that day Kevin’s Community Center, a free primary care clinic for Newtown’s neediest residents, became a reality.

Prayers, a ribbon cutting, speeches, and proclamations from the governor, General Assembly, and the attorney general and letters of spiritual and congratulatory wishes highlighted the opening of the clinic, named in memory of the son of its founder, Dr Z. Michael Taweh of Newtown.

“Kevin’s legacy will live on,” Dr Taweh said, through the work of the clinic.

“A team of people of different backgrounds gave of themselves to make this endeavor a unique one,” Dr Taweh said.

The clinic, which has been many months in the planning stages, opened its doors to its first patients on Wednesday. It is located in Newtown Health District offices in Canaan House on the Fairfield Hills campus.

The clinic, which provides free primary care services for Newtown’s uninsured and low-income residents aged 16 and older, will be open every Wednesday from 1 to 5, staffed by Dr Taweh and other professional volunteers. Dr Taweh plans to see up to 20 patients at the clinic every week.

To contact Kevin’s Community Center, Inc, call 426-0496.

“I have received help from many of my colleagues,” Dr Taweh said. As of this week, he noted, the clinic has 45 affiliated specialists, from orthopedists to neurologists, who have volunteered their services to treat referred patients at no cost. Nurses and other residents have volunteered their time and talents to the clinic.

Dr Taweh said the doctors “contacted me and offered to do this out of the goodness of their hearts.”

The clinic will also provide patients with medications free of charge, and when there is a need for drugs it does not have, the Newtown Drug Center has offered to provide drugs at its cost. Patients will also have access to free laboratory tests and some radiology services at Danbury Hospital, which also donated furnishings and equipment for the clinic.

Dr Taweh eventually intends to expand the clinic into its own location, with a nondenominational chapel and a library. Visits to homebound patients may be offered in the future.

The clinic’s advisory board members are Dr Taweh, Dr Thomas Draper, George Taweh, Jennifer Lane, Michael P. Ronan, Thomas Davis, the Rev Peter J. Towsley, Donna McCarthy, Leo McIlrath, Chris Wiemels, Mary Tietjen, RoseMarie Cavanaugh, Sally O’Neil, Jack Hickey-Williams, Susan Stockman, Ann Piccini, and Carol Amaral.

Dr Taweh and his wife Jocelyne lost their 3-year-old son Kevin last August in an accident in their home. During the months that have followed Dr Taweh and his family and supporters have worked tirelessly to tap human and community resources to bring the dream of a free clinic to reality. On August 9 they experienced the realization of that dream.

 Newtown residents can help with the clinic in many ways, through volunteering their time and talents or through financial donations. Dr Taweh said recently that 99 percent of contributions would go for direct patient care. Administrative and nursing volunteers are needed as well as a Spanish interpreter.

Donations can be sent to Kevin’s Community Center, PO Box 0037, Newtown, CT 06470.

Clubs and organizations and businesses that would like to schedule a presentation by a member of the board should call 740-8221. Information about Kevin’s Community Center can also be obtained through its web page, kevinscommunitycenter.org.