The Tomball Regional Health Foundation (TRHF) granted $127,500 in the early days of the TOMAGWA Tomorrow Campaign, which is designed to absorb the cost of transitioning from a Safety Net Clinic to a Federally Qualified Health Center, while preserving existing funds for operational expenses associated with patient care. TOMAGWA HealthCare Ministries (TOMAGWA) had the privilege of honoring TRHF at its inaugural Annual Partner’s Appreciation Dinner. TRHF has been the primary funder of TOMAGWA’s 11-year-old dental clinic, along with providing supplemental support to the medical clinic and TOMAGWA’s grant writer in the past. In 2020, TOMAGWA’s dental clinic provided over 16,800 services to community members in Tomball, Magnolia and Waller.
“The Tomball Regional Health Foundation is pleased to be able to grant $127,500 towards this goal. Becoming a FQHC can give TOMAGWA the stability they need to continue to provide quality healthcare, offer hope, and restores dignity to the uninsured and low-income families and individuals,” Lynn LeBouef, TRHF CEO said.
TRHF was recognized for their years of mission sustaining support, at TOMAGWA’s Annual Partner’s Appreciation Dinner. As TOMAGWA’s CEO described the history of their philanthropy and why they were being recognized she was moved to tears.
“The impact of sustaining the only dental clinic for the indigent population in this region, filling the gap on multiple occasions throughout the years during crisis as the cost of health care continues to rise, and then stimulating the necessary infrastructure for a sustainable future of quality healthcare based in our local community, for those most in need, is something that I may never be able to adequately put into words,” Timika Simmons, CEO of TOMAGWA said.
Funding from TRHF has already made an impact, allowing TOMAGWA to meet critical FQHC Program Compliance requirements for its upcoming site visit. These areas of focus include patient access, software, technology, clinical staffing, administrative restructuring, the hiring of expert consultants, and securing memberships with organizations like the Texas Association of Community Health Centers, to help navigate TOMAGWA through the process.
“The pursuit of FQHC status has certainly been a labor of love for our staff and community of supporters. It has challenged our ministry in every way, while making us stronger and reminding us of our resilience and ability to answer the call of the next chapter of our mission. TRHF has not only been financially invested but also walks alongside us throughout this journey receiving monthly updates, expressing a genuine interest in our progress,” Simmons said. TRHF joins in the celebrations of TOMAGWA’s successes, like obtaining Medicare and Medicaid numbers, that allow TOMAGWA to immediately begin providing full medical services to local children and seniors, who historically had to seek care elsewhere due to limitation of TOMAGWA’s previous model. “Expanding our capacity to provide pediatrics, women’s health, geriatrics, radiology and mental health is the true blessing in all of this,” Simmons said.
As of May, TOMAGWA has secured 65% of the $518,500 TOMAGWA Tomorrow Campaign goal, to support the cost of transitioning to an FQHC, thanks to the support of TRHF and other private and foundational donors. TOMAGWA continues to persist and is excited to become the clinic that our community needs, while providing the quality that our community deserves. To learn more about the TOMAGWA Tomorrow Campaign visit www.tomagwa.org.
Tomball Regional Health Foundation (TRHF) is the new name of the Tomball Hospital Authority (THA). The THA was the owner and operator of the Tomball Regional Medical Center from its founding in 1976 up until its sale in 2011. TRHF’s mission is to promote wellness and improve health status for all residents in our communities through programs that enhance access to health care, preventative care, and health education. Please visit the new TRHF website at www.trhfoundation.org for more information regarding the foundation.
