STARS LOOK OUT FOR CLINIC HEALTH
By Tamara Conniff. Photographs Stephen Tirona
Awaiting tonight's fun-raiser for the Hollywod-Sunset Free Clinic in Silver
Lake. From the left: Dana Hollister, owner of the Paramour where the concert
will take place, Robert Downey Jr., who helped put the bill together, and
Teresa Padau, the clinic's executive director.
Two volunteers string the lights on a 6-foot Christmas tree in the waiting
room of the Hollywood Sunset Free Clinic in Sliver Lake, Calif. A woman sits
in a blue chair with her 3-month-old daughter resting on her shoulder. The
little girl sneezes. In a corner, a 4-year-old boy with chubby cheeks is
assembling a puzzle. Next to him is his father recently unemployed and without
health insurance for his family. A poster advertises the second annual Silver
Lining Silver Lake fund-raiser--a star-studded benefit concert for the clinic
that kicks off tonight at the Paramour. Below the list of performs--Sting,
Elton John, Jaguares and Aimee Man, among others--is a slogan: "Health care is
a right, not a privilege."
Robert Downey Jr. has spend the past few months on the phone recruiting
musicians, artists and restaurateurs to participate and donate to the event.
Downey was able to enlist his friends Sting and John to headline the headline
the show. Based on the success of last year's benefit, which raised about
$500,000, the event has been extended from one night to two--tonight and
Friday at the Paramour. Mexican rock group Jaguares, Red Hot Chili Peppers and
Jurassic 5, also are slated to perform, and Downey, Christina Ricci, Johnny
Knoxville and Ione Skye will host. In preparation for the event, the Paramour
estate above Silver Lake, once the home of 1920s silent-movie star Antonio
Moreno, is buzzing with activity. Dana Hollister, executive producer and owner
of the Paramour, Downey, Silver Lining founding member Sam Slovick and the
clinic's executive director; Teresa Padua, sit around the dining room table
hashing out details. "We're all old friends," Hollister says. "With all of us
together, we can really do something."
Downey looks around the table. He is reluctant to take any credit for the
benefit, preferring to push his friends into the spotlight. "I guess I'm not a
'limousine liberal'," Downey says. "I don' just want to give a nice speech and
go home as scheduled... Being involved is really important to me."
A survey by the California Endowment found that nonprofit organizations have
seen a 38.2% decrease in funding since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The
concern is that while Americans have poured out about $1.3 billion to national
organizations for Sept. 11 relief, crucial funding is waning for local
organizations, which also are immersed in the aftermath of the attacks, the
survey said. Padua says the clinic has been inundated with patients
experiencing post-traumatic stress from Sept. 11 as well as hyperanxiety
because of the anthrax scare. The need for free health care is only compounded
by the poor economy and rising unemployment rate. Additionally, Padua says she
received a letter from the state saying that a 10%-15% cut in funding is
likely for next year. The clinic, founded in 1968, must rely largely on
private donations to ensure its existence.
During the course of organizing the event, Downey spent time at the clinic,
and he was impressed with the dedication of the staff and volunteers. "For
them, it's more than a job; it's a calling," Downey says, "and I certainly
know what that's like."
William Vicary, the clinic's medical director and chairman of the board,
became involved with the clinic more than 30 years ago. Padua gives Vicary a
warm hello."He keeps coming back because he likes the fact that we tell him
what to do," she says. Vicary smiles. "I come back because you guys are the
most caring and professional people I've ever worked with," he says.
The Hollywood Sunset Free Clinic is the only free facility to offer
psychiatric and family counselling. Many of the clinic's psychiatric patients
suffer from anxiety or depression. The clinic has treated about 90,000
patients this year, with woman constituting the largest percentage, Padua
says. The most common ailments are diabetes and heart disease, both of which
require expensive medication. The clinic's medical adviser, Juan Flores says
some pills cost $6 each. Jaguares leader Saul Hernandes spent an afternoon at
the clinic, and he was impressed with the tattoo-removal machine. The clinic
was the first in Southern California to offer a tattoo-removal program for
gang members.
While Downey, Hollister, Padua and Slovick chat in the dining room, Fred Eric,
the owner and chef of Vida and Fred 62, is in the kitchen. He has organized
some of Los Angeles' top chefs to cook at the Paramour. Tonight, Eric will
share the kitchen with Octavio Becerra of Patina, Suzanne Goin of Lucques and
Nancy Silverton and Mark Peel of Campanile. Hollister says she's especially
exited about the silent auction. Jeff Koons, Ed Rusha, Ed Moses, Bruce Weber,
Dave La-Chapelle, Herb Ritts, Spike Jonze and Greg Gorman have all donated
works to be auctioned. Additionally, Robert Graham has donated a statue. The
musical performances will continue to benefit the Hollywood Sunset Free Clinic
long after the event. Warner Bros. Online and Gigantic have teamed to bring
archives of the performances to the Web at www.wb.com. The links will push
visitors back to the event site, www.silverliningsilverlake.com, where
donations can be made.
Padua nurses her flower and vegetable garden behind the clinic. Two staffers
are making Christmas decorations in the back room. The clinic is abuzz with
talk of the benefit. "I still can't believe our luck," Padua says. "I have to
pinch myself."