Keep Them Well
Join Us for the Public Launch of the Ruth & JO Stone Wellness Center Campaign
July 2, 2025 – Clearwater, FL: Today we move into the public phase of our “Keep Them Well” capital campaign, a bold $7 million effort to build the state-of-the-art Ruth & J O Stone Wellness Center at Clearwater Free Clinic. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of our early supporters, we’ve already secured $4.9 million in commitments during the quiet phase. Now, with $2 million left to raise—and an exciting $500,000 matching program ready to double your impact—there’s never been a better time to invest in the health of uninsured families across Mid and Upper Pinellas County.
Addressing a Critical Community Need
Did you know that nearly 18% of Pinellas County residents live without health insurance? That’s nearly 200,000 individuals and families who struggle to access preventive care, chronic-disease management, and wellness programs that can keep them out of the emergency room and thriving in their daily lives. At Clearwater Free Clinic, our mission has always been to fill that gap through volunteerism, community partnerships, and compassionate care. With our current 12,000 sq ft facility, we served over 12,785 patient visits last year—but the demand continues to grow. Over the last 47 years we’ve successfully served this community by helping uninsured patients get well, allowing them to maintain or re-enter the workforce and keeping them out of hospital emergency rooms and urgent care centers for episodic care.
What the Ruth & JO Stone Wellness Center Will Offer
Attendees at the Demo/Hard Hat Party.
The Ruth & J O Stone Wellness Center—a bright, accessible 8,500 sq ft facility at 1212 Court Street—will transform how we support our patients’ wellbeing. The goal of the new Center will be to further our mission of Building Healthy Communities by Keeping Them Well - creating lasting and generational change in the health of those we serve.
Highlights include:
Teaching Kitchen & Nutrition Lab: Hands-on cooking classes to empower patients with healthy, budget-friendly meal skills.
Yoga & Mind-Body Studio: Guided classes and stress-management workshops to improve mental health and reduce chronic-disease risk.
Group Therapy & Support Rooms: Confidential, professionally led sessions for diabetes management, smoking cessation, and more.
Food Clinic in Partnership with BayCare: A rotating pantry of fresh, nutritious staples to combat food insecurity.
Expanded Registration & Development Offices: Streamlined patient intake and donor engagement—freeing up room in our main clinic for more exam rooms and specialist services. More to come on these plans - stay tuned.
Construction is slated to break ground in June 2025, with an anticipated 8-month buildout. We can’t wait to open these doors to our community.
Leadership & Community Voices
“Building the Ruth & JO Stone Wellness Center is more than brick and mortar—it’s about giving our neighbors the tools to live their healthiest lives,” says Anthony Degina, CFC CEO. “With this expansion, we’ll not only treat illness, we’ll help prevent it.”
We’re also grateful to the Ruth & JO Stone Foundation, whose transformational gift set our campaign in motion, and to BayCare for powering our Food Clinic.
Financial Progress & How You Can Help
Quiet Phase: $4.9 million committed by lead donors and foundations
Public Phase Goal: $2.1 million remaining
Matching Gift: Every dollar you give up to $500,000 will be doubled
Your gift—whether $25 or $250,000—moves us closer to building a healthy community. Gifts can be designated for specific program areas or applied to the overall campaign. You can also explore naming opportunities within the Ruth & J O Stone Wellness Center, sponsorships for inaugural classes, or in-kind donations of equipment and materials.
Get Involved Today
Donate Online: Visit www.keepthemwell.org to make a secure gift.
Become a Matching Donor: Partner with our $500,000 matching challenge to maximize impact.
Volunteer or In-Kind: Email chart@clearwaterfreeclinic.org to offer your time, expertise, or materials.
Together, we’ll ensure that no one in Pinellas County goes without the tools they need to stay healthy. Thank you for being part of this transformative journey—let’s keep them well!
#KeepThemWell | #ClearwaterFreeClinic | #WellnessForAll