Legacy Community Health announced today that its long-standing relationship with Houston Methodist will grow even further with a $50 million donation to expand Legacy Community Health’s presence in the Greater Houston area. This commitment from Houston Methodist will support two new capital projects and provide operating funds for Legacy Community Health centers in North Houston and Pasadena.

 

As part of its Community Health Program Investment, Houston Methodist has earmarked $100 million for future community health projects to support underrepresented communities in the Houston area. The first $50 million investment is designated for Legacy Community Health capital projects. Houston Methodist will also purchase the land for Legacy’s two new clinic sites.

 

“Houston Methodist is proud to partner with Legacy Community Health to support the critical work it is doing in some of our most vulnerable Houston communities,” said Marc Boom, M.D., president and CEO of Houston Methodist. “Thousands of patients across the city will benefit from the addition of two new community health clinics in the Houston area. Together we can expand to provide quality, specialized health care and support programs designed to tackle some of the greatest health issues impacting our communities.”

 

As the largest gift Legacy has received in its 40-year history, the donation will fill a significant gap in some of the most underserved areas of the state, now offering residents in North Houston and Pasadena area communities’ access to adult and pediatric primary care, comprehensive HIV care, specialty care such as endocrinology, and support services. These centers will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology designed to offer a welcoming atmosphere to those in need of health and wellness services, without judgment and regardless of their ability to pay.

 

History of Legacy and Houston Methodist

Legacy’s long-standing relationship with Houston Methodist started in 1998 and has supported such landmark programs as Legacy’s Youth Re-entry Program, the Community Scholars Program, and the Community Network of Care. It has also supported Legacy Baytown’s Family Medicine Residency Program at Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital, which provides a well-rounded experience for its residents by providing them with experience with community-based clinic rotations, training them in inpatient care (including ICU management) and obstetrics-gynecology (OB-GYN), and helping to ensure continuity of care from the hospital to clinic.

 

“This generous gift is an absolute game-changer for the North Houston and Pasadena communities,” said Legacy Community Health Chief Development Officer Chree Boydstun. “To know that Houston Methodist is investing in Legacy’s ability to expand to these communities and provide comprehensive health and wellness services to those that need it most is absolutely heartwarming. I am so honored we are able to be a part of building healthier communities, and it would not be possible without Houston Methodist’s generosity.”

 

The largest Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in the state of Texas, Legacy Community Health has over 50 community health centers across the state and 41 in the Greater Houston area. In 2020, Legacy served nearly 190,000 community members.

 

Legacy’s new chief executive officer Dr. Robert Hilliard, Jr., said, “I am absolutely floored by Houston Methodist’s generosity. Providing health care where it isn’t available is our mission and Houston Methodist’s donation allows Legacy to achieve this. I cannot thank them enough for this opportunity.”