Mesa, Arizona — October 11, 2022 — Red Mountain United Methodist Church (UMC) partnered with RIP Medical Debt to host a campaign, “Transforming Lives” earlier this fall. Through their efforts, the online campaign raised $10,617 to help reduce medical debt in Arizona.
“Our goal was to raise $10,000 to eliminate $1 million in medical debt in our state,” said Rev. Jen Lambert, Senior Pastor at Red Mountain UMC.
Lives Transformed
RIP Medical Debt reported the outcome of the campaign earlier in October. The non-profit was able to purchase $2,298,278.96 in Maricopa County, Arizona. This translates to 2,794 recipients, who have been notified that their medical debt was eliminated.
“We were stunned to learn that we had eliminated so much medical debt for so many,” said Rev. Dr. Rula Colvin, Minister of Congregational Care at Red Mountain UMC. “No other nation deals with the crisis of medical debt that we experience here in the United States.”
Red Mountain UMC’s campaign ran from August through September. Every dollar given went directly to purchase medical debt.
About RIP Medical Debt
A top-rated nonprofit organization (see Charity Navigator), RIP buys [medical] debts just like any other collection company would, who then sends out notices to individuals stating that their debt has been cleared. As of July 2022, RIP has purchased
$6.7 billion in unpaid debt and relieved 3.6 million people of debt. The group says retiring $100 in debt costs an average of $1. To learn more about RIP Medical Debt campaigns, go to www.ripmedicaldebt.org.
For more information, please contact Rev. Jen Lambert at jen.lambert@rmumc.com or visit www.rmumc.com to learn more.
