The Clayton Memorial Medical Fund Could Use a Hand
Posted on December 9, 2013 Posted by John Scalzi 8 Comments
My friend Jim Fiscus was on the board with me at SFWA, and he’s on the board of the Clayton Memorial Medical Fund, another worthy endeavor involving writers as well. It could use some help and, as today we’re in the mood for charitable endeavors here at Whatever, I thought I would run it past y’all. It’s especially of note to those in the Pacific Northwest, but of course anyone can contribute (I did, or, actually, will, as soon as I’m done typing this. What can I say, it’s a good day to donate).
This is from Jim:
The Clayton Memorial Medical Fund helps professional science fiction, fantasy, horror, and mystery writers living in the Pacific Northwest deal with the financial burden of medical emergencies. Even with insurance, co-pays can quickly add up to thousands of dollars, and over the past few years, we have faced a heavy draws on our money. The Fund is now down to a few thousand dollars.
The Clayton Fund was founded seventeen years ago by Oregon Science Fiction Conventions, Inc. (OSFCI) in response to the illness of Portland writer Jo Clayton. Our initial money came from a national campaign by writers and fans of science fiction and fantasy to help Jo and other writers. The Fund has since assisted many writers in the region deal with medical and dental emergencies.
As part of OSFCI, the Fund is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Donations to the fund are tax deductible and often qualify for matching donations from employers.
Donations can be made using PayPal through the Fund’s Web site (http://www.osfci.org/clayton) or mailed to:
Clayton Memorial Medical Fund
c/o OSFCI
P.O. Box 5703
Portland, Oregon 97228
Please be sure to include full contact information so we can mail you a letter acknowledging your donation.
I don’t know if Octavia Butler or Nicola Griffith benefited from the fund, but they are (or, in the case of Ms Butler, were) PNW genre writers with serious medical issues. I’ve donated, although, as of today, I am laid off (again).
Good people, doing good things.
As a writer who once received medical aid from the Clayton Fund, thank you.
A worthy cause, but as a Brit (national health service funded by taxes) living in Japan (national health insurance) I find it grotesque that this charity is even needed. I hope the US will find its way to a government health system for all sometime soon.
Actually, I signed up for insurance under the ACA just today. I qualify for subsidies, and am getting my insurance for less than half what I have been paying for the last several years. I am hoping that this will help writers and other self-employed persons. Just saying, but my co-pay is $5 higher, my pharma is lower and my deductible is the same. I suggest calling rather than using the web page.
I’d like to re-post a shortened version on Facebook. Hope that’s okay.
why is it only for authors in the northwest? does SFWA have a medical charity?
Guessingo:
SFWA does indeed have an Emergency Medical Fund. It is only for SFWA members. This fund is unrelated, and chooses to focus on writers local to it.