Save the date – Thursday, May 11 – when the Hope Clinic will host its annual Celebration of Hope event at the Atrium. Lance and Jody Luna are not only excited to be co-chairs of this year’s celebration. They are also excited about the work of Hope Clinic.
Lance has lived in Garland all his life and he and Jody met when she moved to Garland as a young adult. They share a love for the community and have worked with various charitable organizations through the years.
Lance’s dad moved to Garland as a young boy when the town’s population was only 7,000. He stayed here to raise his family, and Lance can’t imagine living anywhere else.
Jody grew up in Mabank and moved to Garland to sell real estate. She joined the Brownlee Team and said that Woody and Linda Brownlee had a huge impact on her and her career.
Learning from the examples of Lance’s family, the Brownlees and other family friends, they make it a point to support charitable causes.
“This community means a lot to us,” Lance said. “We’ve raised our family here. All three of our kids have gone to Garland ISD schools.”
After being together for 25 years, with two children in college and one a senior in high school, Lance and Jody decided to try something new. Two years ago, they founded a company called MHR. Lance said that this new venture was Jody’s idea. He added that she is the driving force behind it all. They buy “as is” properties and renovate them for resale.
“She’s the driving force behind it all,” Lance said. “She took the Luna banner to another level so I’m very proud of her.”
With the launch of their new company, the couple began to look for a charitable organization with which they really identified. They decided on Hope Clinic after touring the facility with its executive director, Tanya Downing.
They were impressed with Downing and Hope Clinic. The doctors, employees and volunteers are amazing and the clinic is state of the art.
“Tanya is more than a bundle of energy. She knew what everyone’s name when we walked through on our tour and she knew what was going on with them,” Jody said. “She is easy to get to know and she has a true heart for the community.”
As co-chairs, Lance and Jody will be introducing some of the speakers at the celebration. Bobby Bradley, president of Texas Entertainment Group, will serve as emcee.
Attendees will hear from speakers Mayor Pro Tem Deborah Morris, Judson Rex, Garland city manager, Pastor Keith Stewart from Spring Creek Church. The moderator will be Bobby Bradley. They’ll also receive an update on the progress of the downtown Garland renovations.
Celebration of Hope (formerly called Hope Clinic Prayer Breakfast) is Thursday, May 11 at the Atrium, 300 North Fifth Street in downtown Garland at 7:30 a.m.
Information on sponsorship levels and tickets is below.
Hope Clinic History: Hope Clinic of Garland, Inc. began in 2002 as a ministry of First Baptist Garland when two church members recognized the need to provide primary healthcare to indigent and uninsured residents in Garland one night a week. Over the years the need for primary healthcare in the community increased. In 2007 the clinic moved to a larger facility and acquired its 501 (C) (3) non-profit status. In 2009, it became a partner with Baylor Scott-White Health system. Hope Clinic remains a safety net clinic for BSW patients.
Medical partnerships have grown to include the Health Texas Partner Network, Parkland Health/Dallas Hospital District, as well as numerous specialty practices to aid diagnoses of our patients. The clinic operates in a 5400 sq. ft. building in a residential area near downtown Garland, easily accessible to our patients. Beginning with one night a week in a borrowed space with an all-volunteer staff, Hope Clinic has grown to a full-scale operation. The clinic facilitates approximately 8,000 patient visits each year.