$30k Match Celebrates Christian Community and Charity
UDM Dental Students and pre-dental studentsThe Malta Dental and Medical Clinic (Malta Clinic), with the help of hundreds of volunteers and supporters, has had more than 16,000 visits by uninsured homeless, elderly, and veteran patients in its 18-year history. Now, a family’s generous creation of a new endowment fund will help secure the Malta Clinic’s ministry for the future.
The family of the late John Tierney was inspired to make the gift because of the long friendship between John and Lou Mahoney, founder of the Malta Clinic. The two friends met in college at the University of Detroit through their future wives, who were high school friends and sorority sisters. Over the years, they bonded through their love of family, faith, travel, and cards. Be it bridge or euchre, they loved being partners. And the two men admired each other’s work ethic and commitment to the community.
“Malta Clinic was a true passion of Lou’s and the Tierney family is making this gift in recognition of his commitment. Our family will match every $1 raised up to $30,000 for the Malta Clinic endowment fund,” explains Christine Tierney, daughter of the late John Tierney.
John Tierney and Lou Mahoney passed to everlasting life, but their memory and legacy live on with the gift of this endowment fund. A permanent endowment is a fund designated to provide stable, ongoing financial support to a parish, school or organization – forever. The principal is legally protected and grows through prudent investing.
In 2021, the Malta Clinic provided more than 1,900 visits for uninsured patients. These visits include teeth examinations, x-rays, hygiene, fillings, tooth extractions, medical care for chronic diseases, diabetes, blood pressure, asthma and, in recent months, eye examinations. All care is provided by volunteers: physicians, dentists, dental hygienists, nurses, physician assistants, and students from Wayne State’s Medical and Pharmacy Schools and the University of Detroit Mercy Dental and Dental Hygiene School
In 2019, in recognition of the Malta Clinic’s work in the community, the Catholic Foundation of Michigan awarded the clinic an impact grant through CFM’s annual granting process. In 2021, working with the Catholic Foundation, the Malta Clinic opened a donor-designated fund to support its present and future work, and provide much-needed care and community to Detroit.
The Tierney and Mahoney families, Malta Clinic, and the Catholic Foundation are proud to partner and encourage others in the community to join. “This endowment fund is a celebration of Christian community and charity,” shares Angela Moloney, President and CEO of the Catholic Foundation.
Malta Clinic Dental Director Nancy Harmon observes that the Malta Clinic reaches those who perhaps most need reassurance of God’s love and mercy because of the barriers they have faced. “We don’t only provide health care, as important as that is. Our goal is to treat each patient as Christ, to accord all patients their dignity as children of God.”
Please join the Catholic Foundation in supporting this vital mission by giving to the endowment fund. Through your generous gift, you are helping to create a legacy of healing – physical, emotional, and spiritual – for those in need.
Update as of 11-15-2022: Thanks to the generosity of the community and the Tierney family, the original $30K match increased to a $50K match and was met! $100,000 was raised in support of the Malta Medical Clinic.