Grant-making – Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

Capacity Building Series: Learning About Your Board & Growing Board Fundraising Engagement

DW Admin on June 21, 2024

Who’s on Your Board & Why?

When it comes to getting your board engaged in fundraising, it’s important to consider who is on your board and why they’ve joined. Understanding more about your board members, such as why they are inspired to serve on your board, could indicate how they can support your organization’s fundraising strategies. Learning what inspires people, especially board members, can lead to higher engagement and enthusiasm from your board and cultivate stronger partnerships between staff and board members.

Who is in the seat? How to prepare your board to make impactful and meaningful decisions.

First, let’s think about who is on your board. Boards are unique and have different dynamics—they vary in size, service term requirements, qualifications needed to serve on a board, communication styles, giving and receiving feedback, emotional intelligence, etc. Consider the diversity of your board when it comes to race, ethnicity, gender, age, geography, personal and professional backgrounds, etc. Does the diversity of your board reflect the community your organization serves? How can the diverse perspectives of board members be utilized to further your organizational mission? Could your board be more diverse? If so, how? These can all be helpful questions to reflect on. Diversity can bring a lot of benefit to the table through knowledge, different perspectives, lived and living experiences, connections, and more.

Every organization has different expectations of board members. For example, boards may have policies regarding minimum financial contributions (100% board giving, for example) or not have any policies at all about fundraising. Be up front about your expectations as your organization continues to recruit for new board members. When new board members join your organization’s board, prepare them for success. This could entail providing your board bylaws (if you have them), implementing a service agreement, and most importantly, providing trainings to board members about their roles and duties, fiduciary responsibilities, fundraising expectations, etc. When conducting the trainings, provide as much clarity and consistency as possible to get everyone on the same page. When it comes to fundraising, also keep in mind that board members who come from corporate backgrounds might need a general education about how nonprofits work and how they are different from for-profits.

It can also be helpful to think about committees on your board. What are the committees, if any? Does your board have a fundraising/development committee? Having committees can help drive focus, action, and progress toward your objectives.

Why do they care? Aligning with your organization’s board

Devote time and connect with individual board members to understand why they joined the board. Their passion for the organizational mission is what they have in common with you, your staff and other board members; lean into this shared connection. Board members are natural advocates of the organization and its mission, which organically leads them to engage in fundraising efforts. When board members are having conversations with people about something they care about (your organization), it can feel a lot less like work or a hassle, and more like speaking from the heart.

Creating the Foundation

Once you’ve connected with your board members and built strong relationships, it’s time to lay the foundation for your board’s engagement in fundraising.

Here are some steps you can follow to build that foundation:

Make sure that all members are clear on the board’s fundraising
responsibilities.
Develop a fundraising plan for your organization with input from both board and staff.
Dispel early on any myths or concerns your board members may have about fundraising.
Be clear that asking for money is not the only fundraising task that board members can be involved in.
Make the fundraising ask easy by thoroughly preparing your board members and providing them with relevant information they can communicate to prospective donors.
Provide your board members with fundraising training/assistance.
Set up a board development committee with orientation & training about board members’ duties, fiduciary responsibilities, fundraising, etc.
Provide each board member with a concrete opportunity to contribute to the organization’s fundraising efforts.

Check out the board vs. staff responsibility checklist in this resource below from Community Change! It could help your organization gain more role clarity between board and staff members. Sources: http://www.campusactivism.org/server-new/uploads/boarvst.pdf and Community Change

You might also want to consider what your policies for board members are when it comes to board member donations/contributions. There are at least two common issues with this type of policy because it can:

Exclude people with fewer financial resources, who might not be able to meet that minimum, from serving on the board.
1. Limit the amount given by board members who are affluent and may interpret that minimum as the maximum. A board member who may have been prepared to give $10,000 might see a $1,000 minimum and only make the minimum required donation. Source: https://thecharitycfo.com/3-tips-for-successful-board-development/

Remember: your board members are fundraisers, advocates, supporters, and advisors that champion your mission. Given that there is a natural partnership that boards and nonprofit staff can maximize, fundraising is simply an extension of that partnership. Getting your board engaged in fundraising might not always be easy, but it can be as simple as starting there.

Funded Partner Spotlight: Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement (VIDA).

DW Admin on January 3, 2024

Since 1995, Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. has provided over $1.4 billion to improve the well-being of the least served through its clinics, programs, and strategic partnerships. Methodist Healthcare Ministries is proud to partner with organizations that share similar missions and organizational objectives of increasing access to care for uninsured and economically disadvantaged individuals and families across South Texas.

The Rio Grande Valley’s diverse and binational population is at a crossroads. With over 2.67 million residents in the area, the region surpasses both San Antonio and Austin in population. Despite being one of the largest urban areas in Texas there is a lack of a centralized municipal government which means that resources allocated to the area are often divided among dozens of cities across the region. During the COVID-19 Pandemic this decentralization was even more evident as the unemployment rate in the region increased to 17.3%, far exceeding the statewide rate of 13%, according to the Texas Tribune. However, since 2020 the unemployment rate in the area has dropped to 5.2% in Hidalgo County (the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission area) and 4.9% in Cameron County (Brownsville-Harlingen) as of October 2023, according to USA Today.

Part of the effort that is driving this success is the work of the Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement (VIDA). The organization promotes workforce development programs and provides skilled unemployed or underemployed individuals with connections to employers looking for various types of skilled labor.

Established in 1995 by Valley Interfaith and industry leaders, VIDA addresses the disconnect between Rio Grande Valley residents and employer demand for skilled labor by providing comprehensive workforce training that better equips program participants to pursue a more gainful means of employment.

For the first time, Methodist Healthcare Ministries (MHM) is partnering with VIDA to address health equity and the social determinants of health (SDOH). One of these priority areas includes education and workforce development, which overlap with VIDA’s mission and vision.

As an MHM partner receiving 2023 grant dollars, VIDA recently received a capacity building grant of $60,000 to hire a Development Director. The Development Director will strengthen and cultivate new partnerships as well as identify new sources of funding to support the organization and its programs.

“VIDA was developed as a workforce development intermediary where to help industries fill those jobs that were in high demand evolving with technological advances and at the same time give residents of our region more opportunity to upskill and achieve economic mobility,” said Felida Villarreal, President and CEO of VIDA.

Today, VIDA builds institutional relationships in the Rio Grande Valley that links employers to unemployed and/or underemployed residents and uses these relationships to create necessary support services for their students such as career guidance, intensive case management and financial assistance.

“VIDA offers a variety of wraparound student support services that vary from student to student because it’s very customized to the individual’s needs,” Villareal said. “We can provide anything from tuition, tools, transportation or childcare assistance as well as financial assistance for anything they may need in their career journey to ensure program persistence and completion.”

Prior to joining the program participants typically earned $8 an hour but graduates earn an average annual salary of $47,756. VIDA is opening doors to better employment opportunities that include higher salaries, access to employer sponsored healthcare insurance and established career paths with room for growth.

“That drastic change and being able to achieve that economic prosperity, has a tremendous impact on their lives and that of their families,” Villarreal said. “There’s just no limit to the potential and professional growth from that point on. We’ve even seen some of our graduates become successful business owners.”

According to the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies, the Rio Grande Valley is currently experiencing a shortage of 6,000 nurses across the region which puts further strain on existing medical staff and their ability to serve patients. In response to this, VIDA recently made national headlines as one of 25 organizations across the nation to be awarded the $3 million Nursing Expansion Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. This will be key in providing services for students pursuing careers in the medical field and alleviating the shortage of nurses in the area.

“We’re truly grateful for the opportunity to be selected as a MHM grant recipient,” said Villarreal “We’ve already expanded our fundraising division and are seeking additional opportunities to grow our programs, serve more students and provide additional services to our community.”

Learn more about VIDA and their programs through their website: https://www.vidacareers.org/

Methodist Healthcare Ministries Awards more than $21 million to advance digital equity across South Texas

DW Admin on December 12, 2023

San Antonio, TX (December 12, 2023) – Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. (MHM) is investing more than $21 million over three years to twenty organizations in an effort to advance digital equity and strengthen communities across Texas. The funding will help increase the capacity of community-based organizations and community anchor institutions throughout the region to provide critical digital resources.

While MHM has invested in digital equity before, this investment represents a significant step forward for the organization as it continues a strategic shift towards advancing health equity. MHM is working to ensure all people in its service region have access to reliable, affordable broadband service and the skills and opportunities to use this technology safely and effectively to support their economic, health and social needs.

“At Methodist Healthcare Ministries, we are broadening the definition of health care through invaluable partnerships with vital community-focused agencies across Texas,” said Jaime Wesolowski, President & CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries. “We believe that by investing in advancing digital equity, we are not just helping communities to bridge the digital divide, but are also empowering them to access opportunities, connect with vital resources, and take charge of their well-being. Our commitment to funding digital equity, evidenced by this investment across Texas, is a testament to our belief that everyone deserves the tools and skills to thrive in the digital age.”

Organizations receiving funds meet one of three key funding opportunities identified by MHM as being critical to improving digital equity. The three opportunities include: Device Access, Digital Skills, and Public Benefit Adoption. Device Access includes activities as varied as refurbishing devices to developing community spaces that can be used as computer centers/hubs. The Digital Skills funding opportunity looks at hiring and overseeing a Digital Connector Cohort and incorporating them into existing community spaces and programs. Digital Connectors are community technology ambassadors who apply a lens of health and well-being to bringing needed digital services to communities. Finally, Public Benefit Adoption will promote subsidy outreach from ACP (Affordable Connectivity Program), SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and Medicaid, just to name a few.

Below is a list of the organizations being funded:

Brownsville Housing Opportunity Corporation	Building Promise USA
City of Mercedes	City of Pharr *
Community Council of South Central Texas *	Community Tech Network
Compudopt	Empower House San Antonio
Family Service*	Family Violence Prevention Services Inc. *
Girls Inc. of San Antonio *	Goodwill Central Texas
Human-I-T	Institute for Local Self-Reliance
MHP Salud *	Mission Road Development Center
People’s Community Clinic *	Restore Education *
Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center*	South Texas Rural Health Services*

*Indicates current MHM funded partner

The organizations receiving funding are found mostly within four regions being targeted by MHM for this effort, including the Lower Rio Grande Valley, the Mid-Border Region, San Antonio, and Austin. These areas have been identified as having significant digital equity needs and are crucial for MHM’s efforts to bridge the digital divide. In addition to the targeted regions, MHM also prioritized eight covered populations identified by the United States Congress as being the most vulnerable to the digital divide, including: aging individuals (age 60+), incarcerated individuals, veterans, persons with disabilities, rural populations, individuals with a language barrier, low-income households and racial and ethnic minorities. These groups often face significant challenges in accessing digital resources. By focusing on these populations and the targeted regions, MHM aims to ensure that its efforts have the greatest impact in narrowing the digital divide and promoting digital inclusion.

Community Tech Network (CTN), a proven digital equity leader, provides an example of how this investment by MHM will enable its funded partners to improve digital equity for communities across Texas. CTN will provide its digitalLIFT capacity building training toolkit to 30 agencies in Travis, Bexar, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop, and Caldwell counties as well as MHM grantees. It will also deploy five (5) Digital Navigators to these regions to support in these efforts. Additionally, with MHM’s support, CTN will complete development of a LIFT Wellness module, empowering effective digital stewardship in health-related services.

“This impactful partnership will increase the capacity of community-based organizations (CBOs) and community anchor institutions in Texas to provide critical digital resources, training services, curriculum and support,” said Skye N. Downing, Programs and Partnership Director at Community Tech Network. “Our work together will advance individual and community-wide digital equity in Texas, highlighting the roles that digital equity and access play in health care outcomes, as a super determinant of health.”

Since inception, Methodist Healthcare Ministries has provided more than $1.5 billion in health care services through its clinical programs, and partnerships, and is the largest private funding sources for community health care to low-income families and the uninsured in South Texas.

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About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries broadens the definition of healthcare by providing low-cost clinical care for the uninsured and by supporting community-led efforts that improve living conditions that cause people to be sick in the first place. We use our earnings as co-owners of Methodist Healthcare to ensure that people who are economically disadvantaged and uninsured can live their healthiest lives. We do this by advocating for, investing in and providing access to quality clinical care and addressing factors that affect health—including economic mobility, supportive relationships, food security, broadband access, and safe neighborhoods. Ultimately, we fulfill our mission of “Serving Humanity to Honor God” by advancing health equity so that more resilient individuals & families living in the 74 counties we serve can thrive.

Funded Partner Spotlight: Community Council of South-Central Texas, Inc.

DW Admin on October 5, 2023

Since 1995, Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. has provided over $1 billion to improve the well-being of the least served through its clinics, programs, and strategic partnerships. Methodist Healthcare Ministries is proud to partner with organizations that share similar missions and organizational objectives of increasing access to care for uninsured and economically disadvantaged individuals and families across South Texas.

In the months following November 1963, just after President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, President Lyndon B. Johnson carried on Kennedy’s plans to alleviate the burdens of Americans living in poverty. Later the next year, Congress passed the Economic Opportunity Act, which established and funded Community Action Agencies and Programs. By 1968, there were over 1,600 agencies across America serving the country at a local level.

One of these Community Action Agencies, the Community Council of Comal County was established in 1965. In 1981, the change in funding from the federal government to state Block Grant funding led the organization to be renamed the Community Council of South-Central Texas (CCSCT).

Almost 60 years later, CCSCT has expanded to serve 31 counties across South, Central and West Texas with the objective of promoting and delivering much needed services to low-income families in their service area. Case by case, CCSCT uses their network of over 1,000 partner nonprofits and programming to help families on their journey to becoming fully self-sufficient.

In 2023, Methodist Healthcare Ministries (MHM) provided $100,000 in grant funding to CCSCT to fund their housing support programs across their service area. The grant also supported the renovation of a new public outreach facility in Karnes County, where unhoused individuals can come for connections to resources, as well as use printing and computer services.

“It (the grant funding) has been instrumental in providing assistance to low-income families when funding is low or when we are unable to serve that population,” Carol Delgado, program officer at CCSCT, commented. “MHM funding has allowed us to provide assistance that we normally wouldn’t be able to provide.”

The grant provided by MHM will also, in part, go towards the building of a new outreach facility in Karnes County with the hopes of providing basic resources such as a computer lab, breaking down transportation barriers, as well as directing clients to much-needed programs offered by CCSCT.

“A homeless person or unhoused person is not going to be able to travel to our Seguin office or our Jourdanton office so they can go through the front door [at our Karnes office],” Kenneth Loy, Program Manager and Veteran’s Resource Coordinator, commented. “It allows people down there to have a local place to help address an unhoused issue.”

One of the programs CCSCT provides is home and rental assistance in the form of the Tenant-Based Rental Assistance program (TBRA) which offers security and utility deposits as well as rental subsidies for up to 24 months while the household engages in a self-sufficiency program. Securing safe and secure shelter as well as food and water is key to facilitating access to healthcare and other needs for unhoused populations.

CCSCT also provides support for eligible former members of the military through their Veteran’s Financial Assistance program. The program is supported by a grant from the Texas Veteran’s Commission Fund for Veteran’s Assistance and provides short-term services such as one-time utility payments and one-time rent or mortgage payments.

The ERA2 program is an initiative set forth by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to assist eligible families with financial assistance and housing stability. It’s through this program that CCSCT has been able to receive funding to help transition families and individuals out of homelessness and into permanent living spaces. CCSCT has seen a 40% success rate with transitioning eligible households from temporary and semi-permanent living areas and into permanent housing.

“The two basic needs that people look for are food and shelter,” Loy said. “And so, when you address food and shelter, you allow a person the freedom to do other things like pursue healthcare.”

If you or a loved one would like to contact the Community Council of South-Central Texas, visit their website and find a location near you to get in contact with a representative today.

CCSCT Website: https://www.ccsct.org/

MHM invests nearly $150 million to advance health equity across South Texas

DW Admin on June 14, 2023

San Antonio, TX June 14, 2023) – In 2023, Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. (MHM) is investing $149.9 million to advance health equity and strengthen communities across its 74-county service area. That amount includes direct services, community investments, the development of community partnerships and advocacy initiatives that create a more level playing field for individuals to thrive. The organization’s 2023 commitment represents an increase of 25% from its 2022 investment.

That $149.9 million propels a strategic focus on advancing health equity, the framework of thought and action guiding the organization’s efforts to address systemic inequities and socio-economic barriers that keep people from living their healthiest lives.

“At Methodist Healthcare Ministries, we are broadening the definition of health care through invaluable partnerships with vital community-focused agencies across Texas,” said Jaime Wesolowski, President & CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries. “Our mission of ‘Serving Humanity to Honor God’ shines more brightly when reflected through the bold vision, leadership and hard work of our board of directors, 475+ team members and partners caring for our communities in ways are uniquely positioned to do to advance health equity in our 74-county service area.”

MHM’s mission also includes its one-half ownership of Methodist Healthcare—the largest healthcare system in South Texas. The ownership structure ensures Methodist Healthcare continues to be a benefit to the community by providing quality care to all, and earnings to MHM to care for the uninsured and economically disadvantaged throughout South Texas.

To ensure the organization delivers on its mission, vision, and strategy; its $149.9M is allocated across several key areas of investment at MHM: Grants, Strategic Operating Initiatives, Direct Services and administrative costs that support these initiatives. To ensure its investment carries the highest level of community impact, MHM has consistently kept its administrative expenses under 15%—required to receive the highest possible points from Charity Navigator for analysis.

Grants:

MHM has allocated $43.8 million in community grants to over 130 nonprofit agencies across its 74-county service area. The grants are rooted in partnerships that support access to care, integrated delivery systems and patient-centered models. MHM’s goal is to create measurable impact at the community and regional levels to further establish health care networks.

MHM aims to help create and sustain healthy communities by supporting organizations that address the community conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and pray. Grant recipients in 2023 address one of the following priority areas: access to care – mental and behavioral health; access to care – general; digital inclusion and broadband infrastructure; food security; housing; education and workforce development.

MHM allocated funding to over 138 grant programs to deepen collaborative efforts, incentivize quality health outcomes, leverage and strengthen health care delivery systems and promote sustainable systems change. Click here to see our 2023 funded partners.

Of the more than 130 community investment grant recipients in 2023, 40% were first-time recipients for MHM, meaning the process was successful in creating new opportunities for organizations in need of support. Fourteen percent are focused on addressing issues that are upstream, meaning MHM is intentionally addressing conditions and circumstances that affect the health and well-being of patients and clients before they might reach out to MHM, or its partners, for assistance. Sixteen percent of grant recipients represent rural communities, furthering efforts to support organizations outside of urban areas.

An example of how MHM supports its funded partners is Community Health Development, Inc. (CHDI) in Uvalde, TX which will receive $1,380,527 to construct a new facility in Real County to expand its current services and provide additional support staff and medical, dental, and behavioral health providers. CHDI’s “Expanding Access to Comprehensive Care in Uvalde and Real Counties” project focuses on efforts to increase its capacity. For over 39 years, CHDI has been committed to providing the highest level of quality medical, dental, and behavioral health services to those in greatest need in Uvalde. However, barriers, such as the recruitment and retention of qualified staff at all levels and disciplines in Uvalde, as well as facility limitations in Real County, have kept the agency from serving more people in need. Through this community investment, CHDI will be able to address its two most significant challenges and advance health equity in the communities they serve.

“CHDI is honored to have had MHM as a partner supporting our mission to improve the health and wellbeing of the communities we serve since 2009,” said Mayela Castañon, CEO of Community Health Development, Inc. “MHM’s partnership over the years has enabled CHDI to increase access to dental services in Uvalde, and with this investment, CHDI will build a new 8,000 square foot state-of-the-art primary care center in Leakey to expand access to medical and dental care, ensuring that thousands have access to affordable dental care. CHDI is extremely grateful to have MHM as a community partner that demonstrates a significant commitment to improving community health, especially in rural areas!!”

Strategic Operating Initiatives:

In addition to the annual grants to partners, MHM has allocated nearly $21 million toward strategic initiatives that amplify its overall strategic goals and disrupt the cycle of intergenerational poverty. MHM is investing in approaches that address the root causes of poverty and health inequities, such as cross-sector partnerships, investing in community infrastructure, policy/legislative action eliminating barriers and/or addressing the long-term needs of individuals, families and communities. Examples of the types of initiatives MHM is investing in include: economic mobility, access to clean water, community-led collaboration initiatives and efforts to close the digital divide.

Direct Services

Creating access to care through the provision of clinical services has always been key to the organization’s mission. MHM operates two San Antonio-based primary health care clinics: Wesley Health & Wellness Center and Dixon Health & Wellness Center, and two school-based health centers: George Ricks School Based Health Center at Krueger Elementary and George Ricks School Based Health Center at Schertz Elementary. The clinics address the needs of low-income families and the uninsured by providing services at no cost or on a sliding fee scale. The health care services MHM provides are a cornerstone of its charitable purpose of creating access to care. Additionally, MHM offers health care services and programs throughout its 74-county service area including community counseling services, Community Health Worker program, Get FIT prevention program, parenting support groups and Wesley Nurse program.

Since inception, Methodist Healthcare Ministries has provided more than $1.5 billion in health care services through its clinical programs, as well as through partnerships, and is one of the largest private funding sources for community health care to low-income families and the uninsured in South Texas.

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About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

Lessons Learned from Value-Based Grant Program

DW Admin on July 7, 2022

Since 1996, Methodist Healthcare Ministries has invested more than $412 million in grants within our 74-county service-area. We believe that everyone deserves a fair opportunity to make the choices that lead to good health. Traditionally, our Community Investments department has made it a priority to promote access to clinical care in underserved communities, but we also recognize that root causes of poor health outcomes must be addressed if we are to achieve health equity and intervene effectively to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty.

With a national movement towards value-based payment models by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and other payors, in 2016 Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ Community Investments department developed a new grant program aligned with value-based concepts. These concepts included emphasizing quality of care rather than quantity of care and incentivizing health improvement through a flexible funding model.

This program, initially called Integrated Health Improvement, focused on improving specific health outcomes for a qualified panel of patients. A funding amount was allotted per patient on the panel, consisting of a base amount and incentive amounts. If the panel of patients reached the health outcome goal(s) by the end of the year, the funded partner received the incentive payment(s) for the goal(s) that was met. To the department’s knowledge, this program was one of the first, if not the first, value-based program from a regional nonprofit funder in South Texas, and it inspired another funder in our service area to support a similar program.

From 2017 to 2021, Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ value-based grant program served complex care patients in South Texas. During this time period, 15 of our Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) funded partners participated in this program.

Since the first grant year in 2017, the value-based program went through many adjustments, which were informed by funded partner feedback and outcome performance. One of the most notable changes to the program was the addition of prevention components after hearing from grantees that preventive measures were key to improving the health of the patient populations they served. The program was aptly renamed “Integrated Health Improvement & Prevention”.

Throughout the years, key program components remained similar—including patient eligibility, which specified that panel patients needed to be over 18 years of age, uninsured or underinsured, low-income, and patients must have at least two of the required comorbidities. Comorbidities included depression, pre-diabetes or diabetes, hypertension, and overweight or obesity. Health outcome goals also remained similar and reflected the specified comorbidities.

As we reflect on the program, we think there were many successes. Flexible funding allowed our partners to use their grant dollars in ways best suited to achieve program success. Some partners used this program to try new things for their health centers, like case management, patient dashboards, and program contracts/agreements with patients. During the program, partners increased their quality of care, including improving documentation, establishing and improving workflows, and strengthening follow-up with patients. These changes also helped grantees better prepare for reports and reviews from other funders. Their efforts helped to establish a consistent source of health care for patients, and patients exhibited improvement in their health. As we spent additional time with partners at their centers and communicated with them through email and phone to provide technical assistance and for audits, our relationships with partners strengthened.

There were also challenges with the program. Grantees, especially in rural areas, often have staff that wear multiple hats, making this complex program difficult to implement and manage. The program required ample staff time and training to develop and implement many processes, including finding or recruiting patients that met panel criteria, documenting their clinical data and financial information, and reporting back on patient level data four times a year. As partners built new processes, some encountered challenges with their electronic health record or billing systems. Once set-up and staff training were completed, another challenge that arose was patient attrition due to reasons such as patients moving, changing providers, or changing phone numbers. This made it difficult to fill the patient panel and keep patients engaged in care to help meet the challenging program metrics.

To help our partners with their challenges, we provided one-on-one technical assistance, held workshops, and sought their continuous feedback and suggestions through surveys and multiple check-ins. We modified and simplified the program design where we could. Modifications included explaining program elements more thoroughly and adjusting the program metrics to be more achievable. We simplified the reporting as the years went on, aiming to ask for only what was needed to determine panel eligibility, panel size, and metric attainment. We also connected partners with each other, to share ideas on electronic health record templates, program set-up, and eligibility documentation. If the challenges were too extensive for the partner—such as consistently not meeting their panel size or not meeting most goals—we transitioned them to another grant structure.

Many lessons were learned throughout the program, and in 2021 the program came to an end at Methodist Healthcare Ministries, as our organization changed its strategy around grant-making to be focused on achieving health equity and breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty by addressing root causes and the Social Determinants of Health.

Our funded partner, Gateway Community Health Center, designed their value-based program, “Lado A Lado” or “Side by Side”, for their clinic locations in and around Laredo, Texas, and had great success with the value-based program. Gateway shared their experience with the program, and how it impacted their clinics and the lives of their patients in the video below.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries Awards $1.2 Million Grant to Doyle Community Center

DW Admin on June 17, 2022

San Antonio, TX (June 17, 2022) – Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. is providing the Doyle Community Center in Kerrville, TX with a three-year, $1.2 million dollar grant to support the operational capacity of the nonprofit organization and continue neighborhood revitalization efforts that originated from their recent work with the BUILD Health Challenge grant. This investment will ensure the Doyle Community Center has the necessary leadership, skilled staff and strategic plan in place to create the much-needed structure, systems, programs, and processes to ensure organizational sustainability.

With the funding, the Doyle Community Center will be able to create its own vision, redefine its mission, and forge its own path following the conclusion of funding from the BUILD Health Challenge. Over the next three years, Doyle Community Center will hire staff, create a strategic plan, and fundraising plan that will allow the Doyle Community Center to become sustainable and provide strategic programs and services to the community.

“It has been inspiring to see the Doyle Community Center become revitalized and energized over the past few years as part of the Hope for Health Collaborative and we see incredible potential for continued growth,” said Jaime Wesolowski, President & CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries. “The BUILD Health Challenge gave the community the kickstart it needed to organize itself and bring together the necessary stakeholders so that they can take ownership and pride in their efforts. We are thankful for the opportunity to continue to support them and their efforts.”

The Doyle Community Center is part of the Hope for Health Collaborative that received funding from the Build Health Challenge in 2019. The Hope for Health Collaborative was formed by New Hope Counseling Center, Peterson Health, the Texas Department of State Health Services-Region 8, Barnett Chapel and Glory Community Garden, Light on the Hill at Mt. Wesley, the City of Kerrville and the Doyle Community Center in a joint application for the BUILD Health Challenge. These organizations, as well as many others, committed to work together to address the revitalization of the Doyle neighborhood of Kerrville, with a focus on social connection, navigation and resident participation to address their individual and community resources and healthcare needs.

Launched in 2015, the BUILD Health Challenge addresses the intersectional factors that impact health and well-being at the community level. BUILD recognizes that direct medical care, while critical, is only one piece of the puzzle when it comes to lifting up the standards of living for people in the U.S. and works across sectors with local community organizations to affect positive, sustainable improvements to community health.

“I’m very excited to be a part of the Doyle Community Center’s continued growth and success story as we identify and provide strategic and valuable services for the residents of the Doyle Historical District,” said B. K. Gamble, Executive Director of the Doyle Community Center. “The funding provided by Methodist Healthcare Ministries has made it possible to hire quality staff to support our vision, mission, and strategic programs. We very much appreciate the investment MHM has made in our efforts to enrich the lives of our constituents.”

The Doyle Community Center received its 501(c) (3) nonprofit designation on September 29, 2003. The community center’s purpose is to provide education and social activities along with access to health, food, and social services to the residents of the Doyle community. Though Doyle has been incorporated for some time, it operated at a grassroots level providing various programs and serving as a gathering place for the community. The board of directors has served as a working board and has actively participated in day-to-day activities.

The $1.2 million investment is part of Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ $129.9 million community investment for 2022 to advance health equity and support communities across South Texas through direct services provided through clinical and regional operations, as well as the development of community partnerships and advocacy.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ mission also includes its one-half ownership of the Methodist Healthcare System—the largest healthcare system in South Texas. This creates a unique avenue to ensure the Methodist Healthcare System continues to be a benefit to the community by providing quality care to all, and revenue to Methodist Healthcare Ministries for its programs and services.

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About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. is a private, faith-based not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating access to health care for the uninsured through direct services, community partnerships and strategic grant-making in 74 counties across South Texas. Guided by its mission of “Serving Humanity to Honor God,” Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ vision is to be the leader for improving wellness of the least served. The mission also includes Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ one-half ownership of the Methodist Healthcare System, the largest healthcare system in South Texas, which creates a unique avenue to ensure that it continues to be a benefit to the community by providing quality care to all and charitable care when needed. For more information, visit www.mhm.org.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries invests nearly $130 million to advance health equity across South Texas

DW Admin on June 7, 2022

San Antonio, TX (June 7, 2022) – Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. is investing $129.9 million this year to advance health equity and support communities across South Texas through direct services, the development of community partnerships and advocacy. The funding for 2022 represents an increase of 14.2% from 2021. The nonprofit is deepening its work creating access to care for the uninsured in its 74-county service area.

The $129.9 million represents the organization’s strategic focus on advancing health equity, the framework of thought and action guiding its efforts to address systemic inequities and socio-economic barriers that keep people from living their healthiest lives. The 2022 investment includes funding for direct patient-care services, strategic operations and advocacy work being done across 74 counties, as well as $30.6 million in community grants to over 90 funded partners to extend their mission to nurture resilient families across the state.

“For over 25 years, Methodist Healthcare Ministries has been blessed to have the resources we need to make this type of impactful investment in the communities we serve, as we endeavor to fulfill our mission of ‘Serving Humanity to Honor God’,” said Jaime Wesolowski, President & CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries. “With the support of an incredible team, an engaged board of directors and our commitment to advancing health equity, we believe this investment will help support resilient families and build thriving communities across our service area.”

As a private, faith-based, not-for-profit organization, Methodist Healthcare Ministries puts the earnings it receives as 50-50 co-owner of the Methodist Healthcare System to fund community-led efforts and promote public policy changes that advance a level playing field for healthy living—now and for generations to come.

Grants:

In 2022, Methodist Healthcare Ministries awarded $30.6 million in community investment funding to over 90 nonprofit agencies across its 74-county service area. Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ grants are rooted in partnerships that support access to care, integrated delivery systems and patient-centered models. In partnership with Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), safety-net clinics, counseling services and regional community projects, Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ goal is to create measurable impact at the community and regional levels to further establish health care networks.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries aims to help create and sustain healthy communities by supporting organizations that address the community conditions in which people are born, grow, live, and work, otherwise known as the Social Determinants of Health (SDoH). Methodist Healthcare Ministries is interested in learning how organizations are addressing SDoH in general and places a special focus on several key intersecting issues: economic mobility, digital inclusion and broadband infrastructure, and food security.

Grants address one of the following giving areas: Access to Health Care; Mental & Behavioral Health; Programs to adopt Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) screening tools; Food Security/Systems; Digital Inclusion; and Cross-sector Collaborations to Strengthen Health Equity.

An example of a long-time partner that Methodist Healthcare Ministries has supported is Family Service, which Methodist Healthcare Ministries has awarded $7.8 million since 2007. Family Service operates a number of programs that help address SDoHs, including a Rural Child Abuse Prevention Program, Early Childhood Wellbeing Program and a Financial Empowerment Program.

In 2022, Methodist Healthcare Ministries is providing more than $850,000 in funding for various programs. The Por Las Familias Rurales (For the Rural Families) program will address suffering among a vulnerable population (children at risk of child abuse and neglect) and improve mental health outcomes by working with families in rural areas to build parenting and coping skills. The Early Childhood Wellbeing Program will provide mental health services to children that includes looking at the linkages to care for SDoH. And the Edgewood Connected Beyond Classroom Initiative, in which Family Service will be working with Methodist Healthcare Ministries, Texas A&M San Antonio, and Edgewood I.S.D. to co-create the Digital Inclusion Scholars Program (DISP) and institutionalize it as an Edgewood Independent School District student program – an initiative that will help close the digital divide, yet another SDoH. Most recently, Family Service received funding to provide support for the families impacted by the tragic school shooting in Uvalde last month.

“Family Service helps individuals and families overcome the multi-faceted challenges in their lives that affect their long-term health, quality of life, and life potential,” said Mary Garr, President & CEO of Family Service. “Too often, these challenges are deep-rooted, intergenerational, and tied to systemic barriers and lack of access to resources. We greatly appreciate our partnership with Methodist Healthcare Ministries as we are aligned in eliminating or reducing barriers caused by what are known as social determinants of health which, thus, improve the lives and health of individuals and families, and help to strengthen and create vibrant, healthy communities.”

Overall, funding is allocated to over 110 grant programs to deepen collaborative efforts, incentivize quality health outcomes, leverage and strengthen health care delivery systems and promote sustainable systems change. Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ board of directors oversees the selection of funded partners and requests are considered on an annual basis.

Strategic Operating Initiatives Add-on:

In addition to the annual grants to partners, Methodist Healthcare Ministries has allocated nearly $14 million toward strategic initiatives that amplify our overall strategic goals and disrupt the cycle of intergenerational poverty. Methodist Healthcare Ministries is investing in approaches that address the root causes of poverty and health inequities, such as cross-sector partnerships, investing in community infrastructure, policy/legislative action eliminating barriers and/or addressing the long-term needs of individuals, families and communities. Examples of the types of initiatives Methodist Healthcare Ministries is investing in include: economic mobility, access to clean water, more community-led collaboration initiatives and broadband expansion efforts to close the digital divide.

Direct Services

Creating access to care through the provision of clinical services has always been key to the organization’s mission. Methodist Healthcare Ministries operates two San Antonio-based primary health care clinics: Wesley Health & Wellness Center and Dixon Health & Wellness Center, and two school-based health centers: George Ricks School Based Health Center at Krueger Elementary and George Ricks School Based Health Center at Schertz Elementary. The clinics address the needs of low-income families and the uninsured by providing services at no cost or on a sliding fee scale. The health care services Methodist Healthcare Ministries provides are a cornerstone of its charitable purpose of creating access to care.

Since inception, Methodist Healthcare Ministries has provided more than $1.4 billion in health care services through its clinical programs, as well as through partnerships, and is one of the largest private funding sources for community health care to low-income families and the uninsured in South Texas.

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About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries Announces $550,000 grant award to San Antonio Mobile Mental Wellness Collaborative

DW Admin on July 22, 2021

San Antonio, TX (July 22, 2021) – Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. – a private, faith-based not-for-profit dedicated to creating access to health care for low-income families and the uninsured – announced a $558,345 grant award to the San Antonio Mobile Mental Wellness Collaborative (MMWC) at a special event on Thursday, July 22 at the Sosa Engagement Center in the Harlandale Independent School District. The funding will help the MMWC further expand its services into more school districts and reach more students in need of critical mental health resources.

The MMWC, comprised of six local nonprofits, provides a holistic approach to mental wellness care of children and their support systems. The need for youth mental health services is particularly acute in Bexar County where approximately 130,000 children have behavioral health needs and over 10,000 children ages 12 to 17 have a substance use disorder (Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, 2019). Schools appear to be well positioned to play a key role in addressing childhood mental health concerns; however, school districts in lower income areas, where student behavioral health needs are greatest, cannot afford to provide this type of support.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ funding will support the MMWC by creating a ‘backbone’ for the collaborative and support its continued growth. In addition to the $4.75 million in funding by Bexar County, the MMWC has secured funding from the City of San Antonio and other foundations, making this a co-investing initiative. The funding provided by Methodist Healthcare Ministries will enable the MMWC to hire dedicated staff for the backbone, ensuring the collaborative has the support it needs to continue to deliver services to community members in need.

“The challenge of addressing the need for increased mental health services for the youth in our community is not one that can be solved alone, but rather takes a collective group working together to have a positive impact,” said Jaime Wesolowski, President & CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. “Through this funding and partnership, we are proud to stand alongside the San Antonio Mobile Mental Wellness Collaborative and its partner agencies to further their efforts to increase access to critical mental health resources that can help students and resilient families thrive together.”

Methodist Healthcare Ministries has previously provided funding for each organization in the collaborative: Jewish Family Service of San Antonio (JFS), Clarity Child Guidance Center, Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas, Communities in Schools of San Antonio, Family Service Association, and Rise Recovery. Methodist Healthcare Ministries will also work with MMWC to develop a telehealth mental wellness counseling program. The telehealth component will be an essential part of Methodist Healthcare Ministries ongoing work with the Connecting Beyond the Classroom initiative in Edgewood I.S.D., as well as expanding the collaborative into rural counties that have not had access to mental health services before.

Talli Dolge, CEO of Jewish Family Services of San Antonio, added “Because of Methodist Healthcare Ministries' mission to provide quality healthcare to those who are underserved in our community, all of our organizations are able to continue our own missions, whether that is providing mental health counseling, wrap around family services, healing for grieving families, substance use recovery support, children's psychiatry or student support. Thanks to Methodist Healthcare Ministries, we are now able to bring our missions together to create an opportunity to expand mental healthcare in areas of San Antonio that didn't have enough resources before.”

Through the collaborative, the six organizations offer free services, including counseling for individuals or groups on issues such as anxiety, trauma, grief, anger management, substance abuse, and so much more. The collaborative also provides crisis intervention, parent education, psychological assessment, as well as teacher and administrator consulting and training.

In the upcoming school year, the MMWC will serve five school districts (South San I.S.D., Harlandale I.S.D., Edgewood I.S.D., Southwest I.S.D. and Somerset I.S.D.), supporting over 41,000 students, as well as their families, teachers and administrators.

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About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. is a private, faith-based not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating access to health care for the uninsured through direct services, community partnerships and strategic grant-making in 74 counties across South Texas. Guided by its mission of "Serving Humanity to Honor God," Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ vision is to be the leader for improving wellness of the least served. The mission also includes Methodist Healthcare Ministries' one-half ownership of the Methodist Healthcare System, the largest healthcare system in South Texas, which creates a unique avenue to ensure that it continues to be a benefit to the community by providing quality care to all and charitable care when needed. For more information, visit www.mhm.org.

About the San Antonio Mobile Mental Wellness Collaborative

The San Antonio Mobile Mental Wellness Collaborative was founded in 2019 by six nonprofits wanting to provide a holistic approach to mental wellness by breaking barriers and bringing services right into the schools. The group currently serves three school districts (South San, Edgewood and Harlandale ISDs) by offering individual and group counseling, psychiatry, education, and more to students, parents, teachers and administrators. Organizations in the Collaborative include Jewish Family Service of San Antonio, Family Service Association, Clarity Child Guidance Council, Rise Recovery, Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas and Communities in School of San Antonio.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries Donates $460,000 to Nonprofits in the Coastal Bend to Support Community Disaster Relief Efforts

DW Admin on April 28, 2021

San Antonio, TX (April 28, 2021) – Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. – a private, faith-based, not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating access to health care for low-income families and the uninsured—has donated $463,500 in emergency funding to six nonprofits in the Coastal Bend to support their response and recovery efforts stemming from winter storms that left thousands without power, water and food locally and across South Texas. The organizations receiving funding are the Coastal Bend Food Bank ($250,000), The Coastal Bend Community Foundation ($100,000) Coastal Bend Disaster Recovery Group ($75,000), Mission 911 ($75,000), St. Luke’s United Methodist Church ($5,000) and Grace United Methodist Church ($3,500).

The funds allocated to these organizations are part of the over $3.2 million donated to nonprofits across Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ 74-county service area who are helping those impacted the most. “The winter storm that impacted millions of Texans hit some South Texas communities especially hard and months later, organizations are still doing incredible work supporting those who were impacted the most,” said Jaime Wesolowski, President & CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries. “In times like these, we know it’s important to support great partners like these organizations, who always respond and provide the needed comfort and resources to those in need. On behalf of our entire team and the board of directors at Methodist Healthcare Ministries, I’d like to thank these key partners, their staff and volunteers, who have worked so diligently over the past several weeks to answer the call for help by so many throughout South Texas.”

Each organization has been responding to the increased need for support in the community that was compounded by the effects of the winter storm. The Coastal Bend Food Bank has been serving 63,022 individuals a month since the winter storm, which translates to an increase of 26.3% over January 2021. Executive Director Bea Hanson said, “We are so grateful to Methodist Healthcare Ministries for their generous donation of $250,000 which translates to 1,000,000 meals for families in need.”

The Coastal Bend Disaster Recovery Group has been helping survivors of the Winter Storm who received damages as the result of the storm, include plumbing/pipe damage as a result of the freezing weather, interior work associated with the access to plumbing pipes and more. Christopher Brandt, Executive Director of the Coastal Bend Disaster Recovery Group added “The Grant from Methodist Healthcare Ministries came at perfect timing. We had a group of volunteer plumbers come to the Coastal Bend and with the MHM funding we were able to purchase materials for the plumbers. CBDRG was able to fix and or restore water to the homes of 67 homes to date. “

The Coastal Bend Community Foundation was able to leverage the donation by Methodist Healthcare Ministries to secure matching funding from other area funders, enabling them to provide grant funding to area non-profits both suffering physical damage, as well as assisting low-income populations suffering storm damage. Karen Selim, President & CEO of the Coastal Bend Community Foundation, said “Coastal Bend Community Foundation is honored to partner with Methodist Healthcare Ministries to award winter storm grants to area non-profits both suffering physical damage, as well as assisting low-income populations suffering storm damage. The Ed Rachal Foundation provided a 50% match to MHM’s grant, and all $150,000 is being awarded to 25 area charities. This truly speaks to the power of community and working together to improve lives.”

“Grace United Methodist Church and the Amazing Grace Food Pantry are extremely thankful for the $3,500 donation received from United Healthcare Ministries for Winter Storm Relief,” said Pam Fordtrain, Pantry Director at Amazing Grace Food Pantry. “This will enable us to provide additional food, transportation, utility and minor household repair assistance for residents affected by the Winter Storm.”

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About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. is a private, faith-based not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating access to health care for the uninsured through direct services, community partnerships and strategic grant-making in 74 counties across South Texas. Guided by its mission of "Serving Humanity to Honor God," Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ vision is to be the leader for improving wellness of the least served. The mission also includes Methodist Healthcare Ministries' one-half ownership of the Methodist Healthcare System, the largest healthcare system in South Texas, which creates a unique avenue to ensure that it continues to be a benefit to the community by providing quality care to all and charitable care when needed. For more information, visit www.mhm.org

Methodist Healthcare Ministries Donates More than $200,000 to San Angelo Area Nonprofits to Support Community Disaster Relief Efforts

DW Admin on April 6, 2021

San Antonio, TX (April 6, 2021) – Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. – a private, faith-based, not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating access to health care for low-income families and the uninsured—has donated $212,500 in emergency funding to three nonprofits serving the San Angelo area to support their response and recovery efforts stemming from winter storms that left thousands without power, water and food locally and across the state. The Concho Valley Regional Food Bank is receing a $100,000 donation the Grape Creek United Methodist Church is receiving $12,500 and the San Angelo Area Foundation is receiving $100,000.

These funds allocated to San Angelo are a piece of over $2.3 million donated to organizations across Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ 74-county service area who are helping those impacted the most. “The winter storm that impacted millions of Texans reminded us that when adversity strikes, there are partners we can consistently call on to respond and provide needed comfort and resources to those in need,” said Jaime Wesolowski, President & CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries. “On behalf of our entire team and the board of directors at Methodist Healthcare Ministries, I’d like to thank the Concho Valley Regional Food Bank, the San Angelo Area Foundation, Grape Creek United Methodist Church and their teams of staff and volunteers who have worked so diligently over the past several weeks or so to answer the call for help by so many throughout the Concho Valley.”

The impact of the winter storm was felt directly by the Concho Valley Regional Food Bank and Grape Creek United Methodist Church’s Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry. The need for food assistance was already high as the region was still dealing with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, however the winter storm added unexpected financial strain on residents across the region as they suddenly faced higher than usual utility bills and repair costs for damage caused by the storm. The San Angelo Area Foundation operates a number of disaster relief funds that it uses to help the community when responding to critical needs. The funds from Methodist Healthcare Ministries will help support those efforts and ensure the community has the resources available to respond this and future crisis.

“We appreciate the partnership with Methodist Healthcare Ministries for realizing the long-term effects of not only COVID-19, the recent municipal water restrictions, and winter storm Uri has had on those that are in need here in the Concho Valley,” said Lee Pipkin, Executive Director of the Concho Valley Regional Food Bank. “These three events effected those who may be suffering from other health concerns and when you throw three major events in a row on folks who are in need, it digs a hole that’s hard to dig out of without help like what we are able to provide along with great partners like Methodist Healthcare Ministries. By acknowledging that overall health is dependent on good nutrition, the long-term return on investment is huge for those in need as well as the health care industry. Many thanks go out to our local Wesley Nurses for helping to keep the overall health of the Concho Valley in front of funders like Methodist Healthcare Ministries. “

“In recent years, the Concho Valley region has experienced numerous disasters, placing hardship on many of our community members,” states Matt Lewis, President & CEO of the San Angelo Area Foundation. “With disaster’s ranging from wildfires, flooding, tornados, a pandemic, and most recently the winter weather crisis, these events have further amplified the importance of being nimble in our responsiveness and the critical role we can play in matching the generosity of the Concho Valley with our communities’ greatest needs. Disaster philanthropy is vital for communities when faced with the unexpected and through partnerhisps with organizations such as Methodist Healthcare Minsitires, the San Angelo Area Foundation can continue to be a strong source of support for the community and organizations dedicated to helping neighbors in need.”

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About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. is a private, faith-based not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating access to health care for the uninsured through direct services, community partnerships and strategic grant-making in 74 counties across South Texas. Guided by its mission of "Serving Humanity to Honor God," Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ vision is to be the leader for improving wellness of the least served. The mission also includes Methodist Healthcare Ministries' one-half ownership of the Methodist Healthcare System, the largest healthcare system in South Texas, which creates a unique avenue to ensure that it continues to be a benefit to the community by providing quality care to all and charitable care when needed. For more information, visit www.mhm.org

Methodist Healthcare Ministries Donates $140,000 to Victoria Nonprofits to Support Community Disaster Relief Efforts

DW Admin on March 25, 2021

San Antonio, TX (March 23, 2021) – Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.—a private, faith-based, not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating access to health care for low-income families and the uninsured—has donated $140,000 in emergency funding to two Victoria nonprofits. The Food Bank of the Golden Crescent is receiving a $100,000 donation and the Christ's Kitchen is receiving $40,000. These funds will support their response and recovery efforts stemming from winter storms that left thousands without power, water and food locally and across the state.

The funds allocated to Victoria are part of a $4.5 million dollar investment Methodist Healthcare Ministries has made to help South Texas recover from the aftermath of the winter storms. To date, over $2.3 million has been donated to organizations across Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ 74-county service area.. “The winter storm reminds us that when adversity strikes, there are partners we can consistently call on to respond and provide needed comfort and resources to those in need,” said Jaime Wesolowski, President & CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries. “On behalf of our entire team and the board of directors at Methodist Healthcare Ministries, I’d like to thank the Food Bank of the Golden Crescent, Christ Kitchen and community leaders like Pastor Wade of Victoria First United Methodist Church and their entire team of staff and volunteers who have worked so diligently to answer the call for help by so many throughout South Texas.”

Robin Cadle, President and CEO of the Food Bank of the Golden Crescent said, “The generosity of Methodist Healthcare Ministries allows the food bank to stay nimble and be there for our neighbors in their moment of need— whether they are asking for help for the first time in their lives, or struggling with perpetual food insecurity that made it difficult to fill their plates even before the Pandemic or Winter Storm events hit. Everyone deserves to have enough to eat and we are so grateful for the partnership with Methodist Healthcare Ministries in our mission of ‘helping heal the hurt of hunger.’”

The impact of the winter storm was felt directly by the Food Bank of the Golden Crescent and Christ’s Kitchen. The need for food assistance was already high as the region was still dealing with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, however the winter storm added unexpected financial strain on residents across the region as they suddenly faced higher than usual utility bills and repair costs for damage caused by the storm. The food bank’s food distribution increased from 2.9 million pounds in 2012 to nearly 8.8 million pounds in 2020, representing a 195% increase in need. Christ’s Kitchen is one of the few places in town where the less fortunate can come find a free, hot meal and they are serving 600-800 people per day.

“On behalf of First United Methodist Church, I am so appreciative of the partnership we have with Methodist Healthcare Ministries. The healthcare programs that we have been able to develop have been lifesaving in this community, and the support we get from Methodist Healthcare Ministries and the Wesley Nurse program is vital to our mission to “be the church,” said Wade Powell, Senior Pastor of First United Methodist Church. “Methodist Healthcare Ministries understands the connection between health and faith. We are partners in physical and spiritual health, and I love the fact that Methodist Healthcare Ministries is helping support our Food Bank and Christ’s Kitchen, because good nutrition is so important to overall good health. When Jesus calls on us to help feed the hungry, heal the sick, care for the oppressed; I’m glad that First United Methodist Church has a partnership like Methodist Healthcare Ministries to lean on. They are a blessing, not only to our church, but to the entire community.”

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About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. is a private, faith-based not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating access to health care for the uninsured through direct services, community partnerships and strategic grant-making in 74 counties across South Texas. Guided by its mission of "Serving Humanity to Honor God," Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ vision is to be the leader for improving wellness of the least served. The mission also includes Methodist Healthcare Ministries' one-half ownership of the Methodist Healthcare System, the largest healthcare system in South Texas, which creates a unique avenue to ensure that it continues to be a benefit to the community by providing quality care to all and charitable care when needed. For more information, visit www.mhm.org