Michelle Paul, Founder & CEO | One Check Away, Inc.
Mar 10, 2026
In a period of growth that experts say typically takes nonprofits three to five years to achieve, the Sarasota-based woman veteran-led organization launched a certified mobile clinic, secured federal 340B status, signed a Department of Health MOU, opened a new office, and formalized a landmark Red Cross partnership — all within six months.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SARASOTA, FL — One Check Away, Inc. (OCAI) is announcing six organizational milestones achieved in the past six months — capping a five-year evolution from a scholarship-focused nonprofit into a fully credentialed, mobile health-operating, federally recognized organization serving Sarasota County. Founded in 2020, OCAI expanded its mission in 2025 to address health, housing, and education. What followed was a sprint: a certified mobile clinic on the streets of Sarasota, a federal 340B designation, a Department of Health MOU, a new office, and a formal American Red Cross partnership — all since June 2025.
OCAI operates across three pillars: Check Coast, a fully operational mobile health and sexual wellness clinic; Check Haven, a housing stabilization program in development; and Check Ahead, focused on education and workforce development. The organization holds federal 340B Covered Entity status and serves Sarasota County’s most vulnerable residents — regardless of income, insurance, or language.
“We didn’t set out to build something fast. We set out to build something right. The fact that we were able to do both — in less than six months, with a lean team and deep community roots — is a testament to every partner, donor, and neighbor who believed in this mission before the world could see it.” — Michelle Paul, Founder & CEO, One Check Away, Inc.
Six Milestones in Six Months
June 2025 | Signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Sarasota County Department of Health, establishing OCAI as a CDC PHS 318 subrecipient and formalizing the organization’s role in Sarasota’s public health infrastructure. |
July 2025 | Opened new administrative headquarters at The Bold Building, Sarasota, FL — establishing a permanent organizational home. |
Summer 2025 | Achieved official 340B Covered Entity designation through HRSA — a federally-recognized status enabling discounted drug pricing and sustainable reinvestment across all three organizational pillars. |
Sept. 2025 | Purchased OCAI’s first mobile clinic — a Mercedes Sprinter — from Westwind Motors, who also donated $10,000 toward the vehicle purchase. A local auto detailer donated full labor costs ensuring the unit was client-ready from day one. |
Oct. 2025 | Officially launched Check Coast mobile clinic operations (Testing Site #12-960 | CLIA Waiver ID: 10D2325511) with inaugural deployment at the Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Public Library — bringing free HIV/STI testing, vital sign screenings, and naloxone distribution directly into the community. |
March 2026 | Formalized partnership with the American Red Cross Community Adaptation Program (CAP) under the Healthy Skies: A Community Resilience Series framework — integrating OCAI’s mobile health infrastructure into Sarasota’s regional disaster response network. |
Since launching Check Coast in October 2025, OCAI has made more than 1,200 face-to-face community contacts across Sarasota County — with zero compliance incidents.
"The infrastructure this team built — clinical systems, federal designations, community trust, institutional partnerships — is the kind of foundation that typically takes years to assemble. They did it in six months.” — Darrick T. Paul, MBA, MHA, Chief Administrative Officer
About One Check Away, Inc.
One Check Away, Inc. (OCAI) is a woman veteran-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2020. Originally established to provide scholarships to students across the country through its Check Ahead program, OCAI expanded its mission in 2025 to serve Sarasota County across three integrated pillars: Check Coast (mobile health and sexual wellness clinic), Check Haven (housing stabilization — coming soon), and Check Ahead (education and workforce development). As a federally designated 340B Covered Entity, OCAI delivers clinical services that are accessible, judgment-free, and community-informed — meeting people where they are, one community, one check, one life at a time.
www.1checkaway.org | wecare@1checkaway.org
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