The LGBTQ Center of Southern Nevada Expands Its Health Care Services With Support From Sands

In 2021, The LGBTQ Center of Southern Nevada (The Center) began an ambitious effort to raise funds to expand its Arlene Cooper Community Health Center into a full-service medical clinic. Originally opened as a place for the LGBTQ+ community to seek HIV and STI testing and counseling, the Cooper Center is now positioned to fill a growing need for a full range of medical care and support in downtown Las Vegas.

Sands has supported the expansion of the Cooper Health Center with two rounds of funding in 2021 and 2022. The Sands Cares contributions enabled The Center to move forward with plans to provide full onsite health and wellness care for LGBTQ+ and low-income downtown Las Vegas residents at the Cooper Health Center, which delivers primary medical care as well as HIV and STI testing and mental health services. The Center plans to add a pharmacy to complement the clinic’s medical treatment services as it aims for becoming a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in 2023.

“The support and partnership we have received from Sands has allowed us to begin offering a broader range of medical care while we continue to work toward our full expansion goal,” said John Waldron, CEO of The Center. “Sands’ support has helped us provide our clients with the compassionate and comprehensive care they deserve and, in just one year, we’ve been able to greatly expand the offerings we provide.”

With Sands Cares and other community funding, The Center was able to increase patient services hours from four days per week to six, while deepening the range of medical care provided. Sands Cares has afforded The Center the opportunity to increase its impact in the areas of community education focused on sexual health and harm reduction, while also ensuring services are provided to low-income residents, and comprehensive services are offered to help clients with all aspects of their health and wellness.

To learn more about Sands’ support for The LGBTQ Center of Southern Nevada, please visit https://www.sands.com/news/press/sands-extends-its-partnership-with-the-lgbtq-center-of-southern-nevada/.