Phillips Honored With Congressional Proclamation

PEEKSKILL, NY — The last surviving founder of Hudson River Healthcare was honored this week with a Congressional proclamation.

Rep. Nita Lowey honored the Reverend Mrs. Jeannette J. Phillips of Peekskill, citing her “tireless dedication to providing affordable healthcare.”

In 1975, she and three other African American women known as the founding mothers worked with the community to start a health center to address the desperate shortage of accessible, affordable and quality healthcare services in their city.

Forty-five years later, that health center has grown into Hudson River Healthcare, the largest network of federally qualified community health centers in New York and third largest in the United States.

“As a founding mother of Hudson River Healthcare, Reverend Jeannette Phillips has dedicated her life to improving access to affordable health care for families across the Hudson Valley,” said Lowey. “She helped the health center grow into one of the largest health care networks in New York, serving thousands of people in need of help, regardless of background. Her incredible 50 years of experience — serving her neighbors and always advocating for others -- is inspiring to us all. Her legacy will live on through those she worked with and served at HRHCare.”

Today, HRHCare provides primary and preventive health services to over 245,000 patients per year at 43 locations across the Hudson Valley, Long Island and all five boroughs of New York City. Through these services, Hudson River Healthcare seeks to improve the health and wellness of all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, or ability to pay.

“The Reverend Mrs. Jeannette J. Phillips is directly responsible for giving generations of New Yorkers access to critical health services that they otherwise would not have. She paved the way for many community-based healthcare leaders and is a prime example of the power of fortitude, service and advocacy. We are so grateful to Congresswoman Lowey for recognizing Reverend Phillips and celebrating her legacy,” said Anne Kauffman-Nolon, CEO of Hudson River Healthcare.