Volunteers In Medicine, Chattanooga, is holding its annual VIM Band-Aid Benefit, at Abba's House, 5208 Hixson Pike, at 6:30 p.m. to raise funds for this year’s budget. Entertainment at this year’s benefit will be provided by the nationally-known Voices of Lee who perform world-wide and recently won second place in NBC’s televised “Sing-Off” program.

Volunteers In Medicine of Chattanooga is dedicated to serving low-income, uninsured individuals of Hamilton County, through compassionate volunteers and skilled professional healthcare, promoting the good health and well-being of each individual.

Officials said, "VIM is one of the most efficient professional charitable organizations in America. The VIM Chattanooga statistics concerning the medical services are amazing. The cost of one patient visit is $75. The value of medical services delivered for one patient visit is equal to $408 at clinic rate or $1,600 at emergency room rates. The rate of return for each dollar donated is $5.43 at clinic rates or $21.70 at emergency room rates.

"Expenditures for 2012 for VIM Chattanooga amounted to $446,465 and with that amount of money, doctors and volunteers provided nearly $10,000,000 in medical services (at emergency room rates) for friends and neighbors in the Hamilton County area. That is a direct savings to our hospitals and taxpayers.

"VIM-Chattanooga has received significant honors and awards including: Nominated by the Chattanooga Hamilton County Medical Society, VIM Chattanooga received the Community Service award from the Tennessee Medical Association in Nashville in April, 2009. In February, 2011, Dr. Robert Bowers, VIM Chattanooga volunteer Medical Director, received the Jack B. McConnell, MD award for Volunteerism from the American Medical Association in Washington, D.C. VIM Chattanooga received the 2011 WTCI Be More Impactful Community Service award for nonprofits and the 2012 WTCI Be More Collaborative Partnership award for nonprofits. In October, 2012, Dr. Bowers received the George Washington Honor Medal from Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge for his service in our community to the uninsured.

"Currently one in five adults (over 43,000) under the age of 65 in Hamilton County is uninsured. Once the federal Affordable Care Act is enacted in January, 2014, there will still be over 20,000 uninsured adults under the age of 65 in our community, requiring the medical services of the clinic. There remains a need to operate and fund the VIM facilities and coordinating staff."

Reservations for the event may be made by contacting Nancy Franks (NFRANKS@VIM-CHATT.ORG) for an individual donation of $50, $500 for a table of eight, or a $1,000 Gold Sponsorship.

For more information go to www.vim-chatt.org