DeKALB | An orange bus with “The Beaver” on board graced Kishwaukee Community Hospital, 1 Kish Hospital Drive, Wednesday afternoon.

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) bus made a stop at the hospital with well-known actor Jerry Mathers, more commonly known for his role as the Beaver on “Leave it to Beaver.”

The PPA is an organization that helps uninsured Americans pay for their medications. The PPA has helped five million people in the United States in the last three years.

“I’m giving back to my fans and even if they’re not a fan, I’m helping them as well. I can’t see a downside to this,” Mathers said. “These people who we’ve helped have utilized the program and received the benefits.”

“These programs are designed to be a safety net for people who have nowhere else to go,” said Ken Johnson, senior vice president of Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. “We’re here in Illinois because Illinois is one of our great success stories.”

Johnson said tens of thousands of people would qualify for this program if they knew about it.
The PPA sponsors a bus that tours hospitals and clinics all around the country to spread awareness about the program. The bus went to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and the program was able to help over 85,000 victims, said Johnson.

Most people get involved with the program by calling the toll free number. Callers are asked 10 easy questions and if they qualify, they are able to get their medications delivered free to their home in a week to 10 days upon ordering.

Johnson said as long as you qualify, you can get receive prescriptions indefinitely.
“It doesn’t cost anything to try,” he said.

“Leave It To Beaver” is one of the longest running shows in American history, and has been on the air for 51 years. The show plays in 80 different languages in more than 120 countries. Jerry Mathers has also just finished performing on Broadway, where he performed in the musical “Hairspray.”

“I feel this is a way of giving back to the most needy people in the country,” Mathers said. “If it’s here and no one knows about it, it doesn’t do any good. It brings my heart great joy if I can help get the word out.”

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