Brightpoint honors former first lady of New York State
Brightpoint Health is renovating its successful clinic in Jamaica to better serve the community, and as part of the transformation it is being renamed the Matilda Raffa Cuomo Health Center. The new will honor New York’s former first lady’s long history of charitable and humanitarian efforts.
“My mother has dedicated her life to helping the less fortunate and uplifting New Yorkers in need,” said Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. “The new Matilda Raffa Cuomo Health Center will provide much-needed services to the Queens community and support our efforts to make a stronger, healthier New York for all.”
The renovated Matilda Raffa Cuomo Health Center will offer integrated behavioral health and primary care services to better address the disproportionate rates of mental health and substance use problems and high rates of avoidable hospitalization in the area.
The shortage of primary care providers in Jamaica contributes to residents’ poor health outcomes, high rates of preventable hospital admissions due to chronic illnesses and behavioral health conditions, and limited access to care.
Brightpoint Health currently serves over 60,000 patients and clients with primary health care and behavioral health and support services. With almost 800 employees and locations throughout the five boroughs, Brightpoint is a leader in the provision of integrated health care in New York City.
“Matilda Raffa Cuomo and the entire Cuomo family have done so much to help the people of New York State, including their founding of this organization,” said Paul D. Vitale, CEO of Brightpoint Health. “We are so thankful to the entire Cuomo family, and proud and honored to name this clinic the Matilda Raffa Cuomo Health Center.”
Matilda Raffa Cuomo has led state, national and international initiatives that heightened visibility to such causes as children’s rights, volunteerism, and mentoring. As first lady of New York State from 1983 to 1995, she co-chaired the Governor’s Commission on Child Care and chaired the NY Citizens’ Task Force on the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect.
Mrs. Cuomo also led New York’s role in the UN’s World Summit for Children and the USA’s ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. She established in 1984 the nation’s first school-based one-to-one mentoring program, connecting over 10,000 students to trained mentors, and helping them to succeed in school, graduate, advance in the workplace and become productive citizens. Under Mrs. Cuomo’s leadership, the program has continued as Mentoring-USA and its reach expanded internationally.
