Dear Colleagues, Friends, and Supporters,

  Our Father, Dr. Henry Lucas, Jr. passed unexpectedly on June 2nd of this year.  For his entire life, Henry Lucas was an educator, health advocate and community supporter; so much so that the Institute for the Advancement of Multicultural & Minority Medicine (IAMMM) recently re-named their Health Policy Center after him (Henry Lucas Health Policy Center -- HLHPC) as a lasting tribute to his work. Our Dad served as a member of the Board of IAMMM for several years and we are very proud and most appreciative of this honor bestowed upon him. In honor of our Dad’s commitment to addressing inequities in health care, we have joined IAMMM’s team to support the Center and keep Dad’s work alive.

  We know you share our loss and support Dad’s passion to reduce health disparities.  We are reaching out to you now because we need your help to continue his legacy.  We need your financial support of the Henry Lucas Health Policy Center in Washington, DC.  We invite you to join the Charter Group of supporters of the HLHPC.  Your contribution will support staff, programs, information sharing; seminars and workshops to reduce the disparities in health and health care.  The enclosed brochure details the scope of the HLHPC.  Your donation will help us to implement the scope and bring about the change that Dad worked for and believed was possible.

  We will announce all financial supporters each quarter in the Center’s newsletter.  Please be included in the first announcement of the HLHPC Charter Group.

If there are any questions about the HLHPC, please give Kim a call at (415) 412-9767 or Madeline Lawson at (202) 667-6155.

Sincerely,

Karen Lucas Brown        Kyle Lucas               Kim Lucas Benton, DDS

The Henry Lucas Health Policy Center was established to provide leadership in the development and implementation of Federal, state
and local policies that will reduce health disparities. The Center is named for IAMMM’s Treasurer, and Finance Chair, the late Henry Lucas, DDS. Dr. Lucas firmly believed that the only way to bring about real change in health disparities was to change policy. He paved the way for the Center by turning an idea into a strategic plan of action. Specifically, the HLHPC
will:

• Educate and empower our collaborating partners from industry, associations, institutions, and organizations to positively influence Federal, state and local commitments to address and prevent health disparities through realistic policies and responsible health behavior
  

• Educate and empower practicing health professionals and students in the health professions to speak out in their communities on behalf of changes in policy and behavior that will mitigate health disparities

• Convene quarterly expert panels and policy briefings for congressional officials and staff in collaboration with IAMMM’s partners
  

• Collaborate with state caucuses to convene educational seminars for state and local elected officials

• Issue “white papers” on health disparities and disseminate them widely to appropriate policy makers at all levels.
  

• Monitor and promote current and proposed policies and legislation that provide access and resources to individuals affected by health disparities

• Direct action on the past, present, and future policies that explain the causes and predict the solutions and strategies for the persistent health disparities in the minority community