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Haight-Ashbury Free Clinic, Clayton Street
Despite the fact that it opened without any advertising or publicity, the Haight-Ashbury Free Clinic had lines around the corner from its first day. Conceived of in 1967 by Dr. David Smith, the clinic was created as a one-of-a-kind place where clients could come for quality, nonjudgemental and compassionate health care, regardless of anyone's ability to pay. As a free clinic, funding was always a problem in the early days and the clinic closed a few times. But many people came to the support the clinic including legendary rock promoter Bill Graham who staged a number of benefit concerts to keep the clinic going. Today the clinic is supported by private donations and government grants. The Haight-Ashbury Free Clinic Inc. serves more than 65,000 individuals every year and it was the model for 300 such clinics around the country.
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