News Release

DAVIS STREET COMMUNITY CENTER RECEIVES $50,000 GRANT
FROM THE BAXTER INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION

Grant Will Support the Hiring of a Volunteer Coordinator

SAN LEANDRO, Calif., March 4, 2003 -- The Baxter International Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Baxter International Inc., has awarded a $50,000 grant to the Davis Street Community Center (DSCC), to support the expansion of free medical and dental services for uninsured and underinsured individuals. The grant will support the hiring of a volunteer coordinator.

As the only multi-service center in San Leandro, Davis Street Community Center provides free care to approximately 100 uninsured and underserved individuals per month. DSCC is staffed exclusively by volunteer health-care professionals, including 25 physicians, nine nurses, five social workers and four pharmacists. Nearly eighty percent of the volunteers have been with the clinic for over seven years, and contribute more than 8,000 hours every year. The newly created position of volunteer coordinator will help to increase and maintain the pool of volunteer physicians in an effort to expand clinic operations by forty percent.

"This clinic program has so much to offer and so much potential," said Rose Padilla Johnson, executive director, Davis Street Community Center, "By virtue of increasing the volunteer pool, The Baxter International Foundation grant will serve as a catalyst for expanding access to care and bringing help to those with the greatest need."

The clinic currently provides services three nights per week. The volunteer coordinator will actively recruit potential physician volunteers, in order to increase the number of doctors available each night from two to eight. Additional physicians will also enable the clinic to begin offering specialty clinics for families needing ophthalmology, dermatology and orthopedic services. Eventually, the clinic hopes to have enough volunteers to provide services one additional night per week and on Saturdays.

The volunteer coordinator will also work to expand clinic operations to include a dental component. Dentists will be recruited in order to provide emergency and preventative dental care at the clinic once per month.

"For years, the Davis Street Community Center's committed volunteers have been providing medical care to those who need it most," said Patricia Morgan, executive director, The Baxter International Foundation, "We are proud to support the clinic in its efforts to meet the growing health care needs of its community members."

The Davis Street Community Center is a private non-profit, multi-service agency that provides an array of services including the free clinic, physical therapy services, free child-care centers, a food program, as well as an employment training program. Davis Street Community Center annually serves over 10,000 low-income families living throughout the Eden area and surrounding communities. For more information or to volunteer call 510-347-4620.

As the philanthropic arm of Baxter International Inc., The Baxter International Foundation helps to increase access to health care in the United States and other countries. In 2002, foundation grants totaling $3.6 million improved access to care for children, the uninsured and the elderly, helped prevent child abuse and neglect, promoted health education, expanded education opportunities for health-care providers, and helped victims of global disasters.

Baxter International Inc. is a global medical products and services company that, through its subsidiaries, provides critical therapies for people with life-threatening conditions. Baxter employs more than 2,300 people at its facilities in Duarte, Fremont, Glendale, Hayward, Irvine, Los Angeles, Ontario, Thousand Oaks, Van Nuys and Westlake Village.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Media Contacts: Raquel Powers, Baxter, 847-948-4557 Rose Padilla Johnson, DSCC, 510-347-4620