Grantee Spotlight: Friendship of Women Creating Pathways to Safety, Healing and Hope
For more than 30 years, Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. (MHM) has worked to create and sustain healthy communities across its 74-county service area. In 2026, MHM allocated $64.5 million to more than 195 nonprofit organizations and municipalities, including $32.6 million in new grants through an open cycle launched in 2023. This investment reflects MHM’s commitment to supporting thriving people and places by addressing vital conditions, the essential properties and environments everyone needs to reach their full potential for health and life.
One of those partners is Friendship of Women, Inc. (FOW), based in Brownsville and serving individuals and families throughout Cameron County. A first-time MHM grantee in 2026, FOW received $150,000 to support its mission of providing leadership and comprehensive services that promote safety, healing, and hope for adults and children impacted by family and sexual violence.
Friendship of Women: Supporting Survivors, Strengthening Communities
Since 1977, FOW has served as a refuge and trusted source of support for survivors of family violence and sexual assault in Cameron County. What began nearly five decades ago as a community response to an urgent need has grown into a comprehensive network of services to help individuals and families move from crisis to stability.
Today, the organization provides emergency shelter, advocacy, counseling, legal support, crisis intervention and long-term safety planning. Through these services, survivors are not only able to escape dangerous situations but also begin rebuilding their lives with dignity, confidence, and independence.
At the center of this work is Executive Director Gloria Ocampo, who oversees the organization’s programs, staff, partnerships, and strategic vision.
“My role is to make sure our mission is carried out every day through strong operations and meaningful advocacy,” Ocampo said. “Everything we do is focused on helping survivors find safety, healing and the support they need to move forward.”
For FOW, success is measured not only by the services provided but by the lives transformed through access to safety and support.
Advancing Health Equity Through Crisis Intervention and Support
FOW understands that the effects of family and sexual violence extend far beyond immediate physical harm. Violence can impact mental health, housing stability, financial security, educational opportunities and access to healthcare, creating barriers that can affect individuals and families for years.
Many survivors face significant challenges when seeking help, particularly those navigating language barriers, or those with limited resources or lack of access to healthcare and support services. FOW works to remove those barriers by meeting survivors where they are and offering culturally responsive, trauma-informed services that honor each individual’s experience.
“Many of the individuals we serve face significant barriers to healthcare, and our team works to bridge those gaps through crisis intervention, counseling, medical accompaniment and connections to community resources that support long-term well-being,” Ocampo said.
Whether helping a survivor access medical care, navigate the legal system, secure safe housing or connect with community resources, FOW recognizes that safety is foundational to health.
By addressing the conditions that impact physical, emotional, and social well-being, the organization is helping create pathways toward health equity for some of the community’s most vulnerable residents.
How MHM’s Grant Is Making a Difference
MHM’s investment is helping FOW expand access to critical services for survivors throughout Cameron County.
With support from the grant, the organization expects to reach an additional 250 individuals impacted by domestic violence, ensuring more survivors receive compassionate, trauma-informed care regardless of income, circumstances or ability to pay.
The funding will strengthen the organization’s capacity to provide crisis intervention, advocacy and supportive services at a time when demand continues to grow.
“This support allows us to reach more survivors and connect them with the resources they need to achieve safety and stability,” Ocampo said. “It helps ensure that no one has to face these challenges alone.”
Changing Lives Through Prevention and Advocacy
While FOW is widely recognized for responding to crisis, the organization’s work extends far beyond emergency intervention.
Through prevention education, community partnerships, and advocacy efforts, FOW works to address the root causes of violence and create safer, healthier communities.
Ocampo hopes community members understand that meaningful change requires collective action.
“We are not only helping people heal after violence occurs,” she said. “We are also working to prevent violence before it happens by educating our community, building partnerships and advocating for systems that better support survivors.”
She also emphasizes that the organization’s impact is made possible through the compassion, expertise and dedication of its staff.
“Our team shows up every day with commitment and care for the individuals and families we serve. Their resilience and dedication are what make this work possible.”
How You Can Help
FOW encourages community members to get involved by volunteering, advocating for survivors, sharing information about available services, and supporting the organization’s work financially.
Every action helps strengthen the network of support available to individuals and families experiencing family or sexual violence and expands access to safety, healing and hope throughout Cameron County.
Together, We Build Stronger Communities
For nearly five decades, FOW has stood alongside survivors during some of the most difficult moments of their lives, helping them find safety, restore stability, and begin the healing process.
Through its partnership with MHM, the organization is expanding its reach and ensuring more individuals and families can access the support they need to thrive.
Together, FOW and MHM are demonstrating that when communities invest in safety, dignity and healing, they create stronger families, healthier communities, and a brighter future for all.
