The Buzz Newsletter. Who We are. The Ben Taub Humanitarian Award. Mr. Ben Taub

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1 Newsletter Date Volum e 1, Issue 1 Volume 1, Issue 1 July 2013 Who We are For the past 20 years, Harris County Hospital District Foundation has been flying under the radar, and working behind the scenes changing lives and expanding access, connecting a growing community with the healthcare it needs. The HCHD Foundation is a nonprofit corporation that raises funds and public support for Harris Health System programs and services that go beyond the narrow scope of tax-assisted care for the uninsured and underinsured. Harris Health System is the community-owned healthcare system for Harris County, and is fully integrated offering an array of primary care, specialty care, and acute care to all residents of Harris County. Yet, the Foundation does so much more. For example, the Foundation s Children s Health Fund has provided close to $500,000 for numerous programs outside of Harris Health, just this year. Some of those programs include Children at Risk, El Centro de Corazon, Hispanic Health Coalition, Houston Independent School District / One Voice Texas, Star of Hope and many others. The Foundation also hosts numerous events throughout the year and we hope you will take a moment and review the upcoming happenings listed below. We d like to see you at one of the events and personally meet and thank you for your support. Please visit our website for more information about the Foundation and details about our upcoming events, The Ben Taub Humanitarian Award Mr. Ben Taub The Ben Taub Humanitarian Award will be presented to Don and Sidney Faust October 10, 2013, at the Jubilee of Caring Gala, which will be held at River Oaks Country Club, and hosted by HCHD Foundation. The award is named after Houston native Ben Taub, who passed away in 1982, at 93. A commentary in the Houston Post a few days later, stated: Before his death Ben Taub could have looked across Houston and realized that he had shaped, changed and guided the growth of his city to make it a far better and kinder place for the poor, the orphaned, the foreign, the ill, the old. A deeply committed philanthropist with his time and wealth, from being one of Houston s largest real estate developers, and heading his wholesale tobacco firm, he never stopped giving. He sat on over 23-plus boards, and was involved with many non-profits. What Ben Taub gave to Houston, with his time, resources and his gift of being able to see the big picture, and then pull all the pieces together for the common good, would fill many volumes. Therefore, it was natural when the Harris County Hospital District, now known as Harris Health System, built one of its hospitals in the Medical Center, it should carry his name, as well as the Humanitarian Award. "This award is designed to honor the hard work, commitment of time and resources given to Harris Health System and to the medical institutions in Harris County by the recipient and to encourage others to take up the many challenges that still face our community. Albert Einstein once said, 'only a life lived for others is worth living.' There is much work to be done and the Foundation is encouraging others to continue the example set by the Fausts, said Henry J.N. Taub II. For more information on the Gala, please visit

2 Page 2 SCRUBS: Young Professionals Welcoming the New Executive Director A group of young professionals between the ages of 22 to mid-thirties have joined together and formed Scrubs, an organization that supports the Harris County Hospital District Foundation and further supports programs and services of Harris Health System. Scrubs host numerous social and fundraising events throughout the year, with Cinco de Bingo being their annual fundraiser. This year, over 200 professionals attended the third annual event. For more information and info on the next fundraiser, to mix and mingle with other young professionals, while supporting a great cause, please visit and click on Scrubs. HCHD Foundation Executive Director, Ruth Ransom; Rose Cullen, host of Silver Tea; and Wanda LeBlanc. Cullen and LeBlanc are HCHD Foundation Board Members. Ruth Ransom is celebrating her one-year anniversary with HCHD Foundation in September, and we are thrilled to have her as part of our team. Prior to arriving at the Foundation, Ruth served in a variety of professional and volunteer roles in Houston for over thirty years. These roles included, CFO of MetroCorp Bancshares and Vice President of JPMorgan Chase Bank, Treasurer and Trustee of the Board of Trustees of the Awty International School, volunteer-alley Theatre, Boy Scouts, and the Houston Live Stock Show. Ruth has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas, Austin, attended National Chengchi University in Taiwan, and Beijing Normal University in Beijing. When not working, you ll find her sailing with her husband of 33 years and two sons. In my community work, I have seen the needs first hand. I have seen families in need. I have seen what a difference healthcare makes for not only the parents who exhale when the doctors say their children are fine, but also the tears when the news is otherwise. I have seen parents who are struggling, hoping to see their children grow into adulthood, and as a mother, I understand this. The Foundation is very important to me, because I have seen the difference it makes here at Harris Health System with the dedicated doctors and nurses, but also in the communities nonprofits as well. I am looking forward to a long career at the Foundation, but most of all, I look forward to making a difference, Ransom said. *****

3 Page 3 Where the Dollars Go Preventive Care = Healthier Tomorrows By supporting HCHD Foundation, you are changing lives through a number of different community programs and services, which include those listed below: ** Trauma Services provide outreach to high school students through its Shattered Dreams program. This program graphically shows the consequences of underage drinking and driving, which serves as a deterrent. ** The Mobile Dental Van provides services to over 2,500 patients each year at nine homeless shelters. ** The Mobile Mammography Van provides over 30,000 mammograms in the community each year, which translates into better outcomes and survival rates for women and cost savings for Harris Health and the community. And, the Troubleshooters program provides more than 20,000 immunizations to low-income children annually. These programs provide crucial resources that go beyond the narrow scope of tax-assisted care. Last year, the Foundation was a key supporter in the capital campaign to fund the Smith Clinic, a state-of-the-art facility focused on specialty outpatient care and diagnostics. Additionally, the Foundation supports the operation of many community outreach programs, as noted. The Foundation s support is also critical in Harris Health System s medical and patient education and the Ben Taub Trauma Center, which is a community necessity. We cannot do all that we do to support a healthier Houston without your help, and we hope you will consider donating in-kind, monetarily or volunteering at one of the Foundation s many fun events throughout the year. If you are interested in partnering with us, becoming more involved with the outcomes of our community, or simply learning more about the Foundation, please visit us online at or call us at , said Executive Director, Ruth Ransom, HCHD Foundation. Thank you for considering Harris County Hospital District Foundation, a 501 (3), and all donations are tax deductible. HCHD Foundation s Upcoming Events! October 10, 2013: The Jubilee of Caring at the River Oaks Country Club. The Foundation will be presenting the Ben Taub Humanitarian Award to Sidney and Don Faust. The proceeds will benefit Excellence in Cancer Care programs at Harris Health System. Sunday, October 27, The Foundation's Second Annual Mallets and Medicine Polo Fundraiser will be held at the Houston Polo Club. The afternoon of international-level polo brings together many Texas Medical Center docs and donors, and promises to feature one of most exciting matches of Houston's Fall Polo Season. You won't want to miss it! February 8, 2014: Fun Run. Participants run or walk a 5K through the Texas Medical Center in support of Healthy Family Programs at Harris Health. Last year over 1,200 people joined the fun, and we expect many more this year. On the Drawing Board: First Quarter 2014: Harris Health Systems will have over 100,000 square feet of new medical facility space and the walls will be bare. Therefore, the Foundation is calling all professionals, amateurs, and children to take photographs in either black and white or color of nature or animals. The winners photographs will hang in the new medical facility. The details are being planned now, so watch for the next newsletter for more information. For more info on our events, please visit the website:

4 Page 4 The Silver Tea Special Event: Supporting Our Nurses In the next 18 months, Harris Health System anticipates opening nine new clinics providing medical homes primarily to the residents of unincorporated areas of Harris County. These clinics will expand access to health care to 100,000 new Harris Health System patients without other healthcare options. As with any new clinic opening, we will need healthcare personnel. We expect to increase our nursing staff by 25% during this period. However, at the same time we are facing a large number of nurses that are approaching retirement. The Work-School Program is key in growing our nursing leadership and attracting outside talent needed to fill critical positions. It is vital that the program be expanded and incentives increased to maintain excellence in healthcare. Our nurses are on the front lines, taking care of those in our communities every day. They are one of our most important assets, and helping them raise the bar through education is one of our first priorities, said Ruth Ransom, executive director, HCHD Foundation. HCHD Foundation s Silver Tea Special Event is truly one of a kind. The Tea is held in a private home, and many attendees continue to compliment the personal and intimate gathering, which benefits Harris Health System s Nursing Practice and Professional Advancement s Work-School Program. Harris Health System s Nursing Practice and Professional Advancement s Work-School Program began with funding provided by the HCHD Foundation through its Silver Tea special event. The program is available to full-time nursing employees currently enrolled in a nursing degree-seeking program. The program has graduated 50 students with degrees ranging from Associate to Doctorate Degree in Nursing, but more needs to be done. Harris Health System nurses are enrolled in degree programs at the University of Texas at Houston, Arlington and El Paso, as well as Prairie View A&M and Texas Woman s University at Houston. Books and fees at these institutions range from $1,100 to $2,100 per semester. Our Foundation has been able to offer a $500 stipend per semester per student, up to 20 students, plus some are paid time-off from work, thanks to the Silver Tea. This event has not been enough to provide the funding Harris Health System s nurses need, which has forced more outside recruitment and expense. To retain nurses and help advance their careers, the Foundation needs to be able to offer a $2,000 stipend per student, per semester in addition to the paid time off for education. In return, participants agree to work at Harris Health equal to the amount of time supported by the Work- School Program. Harris Health intends to continue as an employer of choice and offer equal or better incentives, such as placing a priority on continuing nursing education, to attract and retain these highly important individuals. If you would like to donate to the nursing program and/or receive an invitation to the Silver Tea Special Event, please Ruth.Ransom@harrishealth.org Together, we can support our nurses for a healthier and brighter tomorrow!

5 HCHD Foundation Events: Raising Funds and Having Fun!

6 Page 6 Thank You! Harris County Hospital District Foundation cannot begin to thank all those who support our mission and help build a healthy tomorrow for those in our community, who otherwise would not have access to healthcare or vital community programs: Thank you to Rose Cullen, who opened her home for the Silver Tea. Rose is a wonderful and gracious hostess, who helped make this event not only special but one to be remembered. Our Board of Trustees continue to work very hard to further the Foundation's mission, and we simply cannot thank them enough for all they do. For a list of the board members, please visit Again, we would like to thank all who helped make the Smith Clinic a reality. The clinic is open and changing lives every day.

7 Page 7 Contact Us If you have questions or comments, please contact us at HCHDFoundation@harrishealth.org or Ruth E. Ransom Executive Director Ruth.Ransom@harrishealth.org Carolyn Amos Operations Manager Carolyn.Amos@harrishealth.org Catherine Sitzman Del Paggio Development Officer Catherine.DelPaggio@harrishealth.org Alix CaDavid Grants & Programs Manager Alix.Cadavid@harrishealth.org Leah Sanchez Arnold Senior Accountant Leah.Arnold@harrishealth.org Denise De La Garza Raiser's Edge Specialist Denise.DeLaGarza@harrishealth.org We look forward to hearing from you! Correspondence should be addressed to: HCHD Foundation 2525 Holly Hall, Suite 292 Houston, TX Phone: Fax: