Waccamaw Community Foundation and Partners to Abolish More Than $4 Million in Local Medical Debt

Press Release

Waccamaw Community Foundation and its partner organizations, Coastal Community Foundation, Frances P. Bunnelle Foundation, and the Jewish Endowment Foundation of South Carolina, announced a partnership to abolish more than $4 million in medical debt in the region. This is possible through a combined donation to RIP Medical Debt.

RIP Medical Debt is a national nonprofit that buys medical debt in bulk at a steep discount, for pennies on the dollar, eliminating debt for people living four times or below the federal poverty level or with debts that are 5% or more of their annual income. Funds will abolish debt for those eligible in Horry, Williamsburg, and Georgetown counties, which make up the Waccamaw Region, along with eight other coastal counties.

“Medical debt can be devastating for people and their quality of life,” said WCF Executive Director Mike Mancuso. “At WCF, we are dedicated to helping people get out from under this debt so that they may secure quality employment without being held down by bad credit scores.  The mental relief from this debt retirement is also significant for our fellow citizens and their families. We are proud to come together with our partner organizations and relieve this financial burden for members of our community.”

Thanks to a $9,668 in anonymous donations made through Waccamaw Community Foundation, $1,366,552.68 will be retired in Horry County and Williamsburg counties, helping 921 people, in this first round of relief. Medical debt of $ 135,858 for 142 people in Georgetown County is being retired by the Francis P. Bunnelle Foundation. As RIP Medical Debt acquires more debt in the Waccamaw Region each year, additional debt will be retired through donations from the community.

“We’re grateful to this coalition of organizations, including Waccamaw Community Foundation, for their commitment to lessening the financial and emotional burden of medical debt on their neighbors,” shares RIP Medical Debt CEO and President Allison Sesso. “These debts force people to make impossible decisions between food and medicine, between seeking necessary medical care or keeping a roof over their heads. This campaign will help thousands of people by providing a lifeline and reminding them that someone cares.”

Recipients of debt relief are source based, meaning medical debt erasure cannot be requested but is based on which qualifying debts the nonprofit can acquire. Recipients will be notified via mail if their debt has been abolished with a branded envelope.

“Thank you for your generous gift to help me with my medical bills. Due to 3 years of surgery, loss of bladder and kidney disease, I have been set back so much. I so appreciate your generous gift,” said a patient/RIP letter recipient from Horry County.

To learn more about ways to support Waccamaw Community Foundation’s local and regional philanthropic endeavors in the Waccamaw Region, visit www.waccamawcf.org.

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