Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Clears $2.8 Million in Medical Debt For More Than 1,300 San

Antonio, Texas

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. – Pi Theta Lambda Chapter (“Alamo Alphas”) has cleared more than $2.8 million in medical debt for 1,330 families in Bexar County in San Antonio, Texas. Pi Theta Lambda Chapter – the San Antonio-based chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. recently commemorated 30 years of Brotherhood, volunteerism, and altruism in the Alamo City, and sought to leave an indelible imprint on the community via this philanthropic initiative.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, many citizens of Bexar County struggled with paying their medical expenses. The Brothers of Pi Theta Lambda Chapter empathized with this challenge; understanding that many of their neighbors lost employment, experienced underemployment, or have had to make difficult decisions as to securing necessities versus avoiding medical bankruptcy. To demonstrate their commitment to the greater San Antonio area, Pi Theta Lambda Chapter partnered with RIP Medical Debt, a New York-based charity, to erase medical debt for some of its neighbors.

“As a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and a healthcare administrator for over 35 years, I am intimately familiar with the ravages of medical debt,” says Brother Odis R. Blueitt, vice president of the chapter. “This was an important initiative because medical debt adversely impacts millions of Americans causing bankruptcy, delayed or omitted care, homelessness, bad credit scores, and a host of other second and third order effects.”

“Despite most of Alpha Phi Alpha’s community-facing activities being suspended due to the global health crisis, Pi Theta Lambda Chapter successfully adapted by seeking alternative means of fulfilling Alpha’s Mission to ‘…provide service and advocacy for our communities,’” says Brother Dr. Willie M. Heard III, PhD, director of educational activities for the chapter. “This led to our Chapter establishing a partnership with RIP Medical Debt to help some of these families in Bexar County to retire their medical debt.”

RIP Medical Debt can purchase large, bundled medical debt portfolios on the secondary debt marketplace (and directly from hospitals) for a fraction of their face value. On average, approximately $100.00 of medical debt can be forgiven for each dollar ($1.00) donated. In early December 2020, Pi Theta Lambda Chapter launched a RIP Medical Debt campaign to raise a minimum of $10,000 to eliminate at least $1 million worth of medical debt in Bexar County. Supporters of the Alpha’s campaign were able to make tax-deductible donations online or mail their donations directly to RIP Medical Debt.

“I donated because I understand how crippling medical debt can be on an individual. It affects credit worthiness and keeps people from seeking medical attention. All too often, it affects those who don’t receive public assistance, who are working hard to keep their families afloat while trying to stay healthy,” says Brother Marcus Green, the chapter’s financial secretary. “Healthy, thriving families in Bexar County are part of Pi Theta Lambda Chapter’s service to all mankind.”

The RIP Medical Debt campaign to benefit Bexar County families ended on March 31, 2021. Through the generosity of Pi Theta Lambda Chapter members, other Alpha Phi Alpha Brothers, and people of goodwill, $12,509.71 was raised. RIP Medical Debt was then able to leverage the funds collected from the Alpha’s campaign to purchase Bexar County area medical debt; thereby, forgiving a total of $2,860,114.57. RIP Medical Debt was adept at helping the Alpha’s campaign to surprisingly eliminate approximately $228.63 of medical debt for every $1.00 donated, which is over twice the expected average.

Recipients of this medical debt abolishment are random, based on those debts available for the charity to purchase. RIP buys debts belonging to those in the most financial need (two times or below the federal poverty level/insolvent). Recipients were notified via a branded RIP letter in the mail if their debt or debts had been abolished. Those letters arrived late June 2021.

“In San Antonio alone, it is estimated that medical debt is over $300 million,” said Michael G. Torres, Jr., the chapter’s president. “This is why we decided to team up with RIP Medical Debt for providing relief to those who need it in the San Antonio community. As president of Pi Theta Lambda Chapter, I want to thank RIP Medical Debt in assisting us in our vision and the community for their support and their donations. I am proud of the brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha in exceeding our goal.”

Given the success and reach of the campaign, the chapter will launch another campaign in early December 2021.

Brother Willie M Heard III, PhD, a 2002 Pi Theta Lambda Chapter initiate, serves as Director of Educational Activities for Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. – Pi Theta Lambda Chapter. Brother (Dr.) Heard III is presently employed with the Health Care Business Group at 3M.

BY BROTHER ERIC CHRISTOPHER WEBB, DDIV., CPLC [NU ’89]