Hope Clinic, celebrated 20 years of providing free healthcare to Garland’s underserved community at its “Celebration of Hope” breakfast event Thursday, May 12.
Sponsors
A number of generous companies and individuals sponsored the event. Micropac and Texas Security Bank were executive sponsors. Platinum sponsors were Texas Brand Bank and Al Horstmann. First Baptist Church Garland, Miller Equipment Co., Kyle Pearson, Don and Sydna Gordon and Hardcastle Estates were gold sponsors. There were also a number of silver sponsors who helped make the event possible.
Breakfast was provided by Dickey’s BBQ Pit in Garland. Flower arrangements were donated by Rowlett Florist in downtown Garland. Pam Swendig of Good Samaritans of Garland, Inc. provided the music.
Speakers/Attendees:
Shon Cass, vice-president and cofounder of Texas Security Bank, served as emcee and Pastor Fredy Urizar gave the invocation. Jim Witt, one of the clinic’s founders and missions pastor at First Baptist Church, Garland and Mark King from Micropac also addressed the audience. Dr. Michael Horne, president and CEO of the Parkland Foundation, was the
keynote speaker.
Mayor Scott LeMay, along with council members Jeff Bass and Dylan Hedrick were on hand, along with Garland ISD board of trustees members Linda Griffin, Jamie Miller, and Daphne Stanley. GISD superintendent Ricardo Lopez and Paul Mayer from Garland’s Chamber of Commerce also attended, along with representatives from the Garland police and fire departments..
Jim Witt talked about how the organization had begun as a one-night per week clinic at Friendship House and provided medical and spiritual care with an all-volunteer staff. Now, it has become a first-class clinic with doctors that they can pay to be there all the time.
“God’s fingers have been on this every step of the way,” he said.
Horne, president/CEO of Parkland Foundation, who was the keynote speaker, has received numerous awards, serves on several boards. He earned a doctorate in education at Harvard and also has several other degrees.
He thanked the staff at clinic for everything they do. In addition, he said that the clinic’s clear mission is to share the love of Jesus Christ by partnering with the community to provide primary healthcare to the underserved population.
“To fulfill Hope Clinic’s mission we must activate hope,” Horne said. “To hope is to acknowledge that challenges do exist as well as actively seek a solution.”
Mark King, Hope Clinic’s board of directors chairman, told the audience that they need the community like never before.
“We need your help as a community to take this organization through the next 20 years,” he said.
King praised the work of Tanya Downing who began serving as executive director of Hope Clinic two months ago. Downing expressed joy because there were 320 people in attendance to celebrate 20 years of Hope Clinic.
“I’m so very grateful to be here,” she said. “I wake up every morning and thank God for this job. So, thank you everyone for all of your support.”
About Hope Clinic:
Since 2002, Hope Clinic has provided primary healthcare to the uninsured community. The clinic occupies a 5,400 square foot facility in a residential area near downtown Garland where they provide approximately 8,000 patient visits per year.
The clinic became a partner with Baylor Scott-White in 2009. Currently, partners include Health Texas Partner Network and Parkland Hospital as well as numerous specialty practices. Hope Clinic receives some government grants, but depends heavily on the generosity of local residents and corporate sponsors.
The clinic is located at 800 S. Sixth Street, Suite 100 in Garland. More information is available at www.hopeclinic-garland.org.
Photos courtesy of Chuck Clark.