OurLegacyToday Winter 2016
Legacy Community Health Board of Directors Beth Bruce Chairperson
Annual Holiday Schmooze transforms Houston into a Winter Wonderland
Amanda Goodie Vice-Chairperson Beryl Basham Secretary
2016 Schmooze co-hosts Henry Richardson, Steve Summers, Greggory Burk, Becca Cason Thrash, Glen Gonzalez, and Monsour Taghdisi
Alex Jessett Treasurer Glenna Pierpont At-Large / Executive Committee Sehba Ali Glenn Bauguss Tony Bravo Beth Bruce George Burch Dr. Abigail Caudle Victor Cordova, Jr. Cyndy Garza Roberts Bryan Hlavinka Bethsheba Johnson Alton LaDay Mariana Chavez Mac Gregor, MD Johnson Olatunji Naveen Pinglay Lauren Soliz Marissa Taler Legacy Community Health Endowment Board of Directors James A. Reeder, Jr. Chairperson Tripp Carter Vice-Chairperson
Snow-covered trees, twinkling lights, Santa Claus, and a Snow Princess welcomed guests to Legacy’s 2016 Holiday Schmooze.
More than 200 guests enjoyed vibrant conversation, custom cocktails, and tasty nibbles while raising more than $150,000 for Legacy’s HIV/AIDS programs.
This year’s party with a purpose broke new ground for the Schmooze, with the event moving from the traditional house to
the LifeHTX venue owned by Schmooze co-hosts Monsour Taghdisi and Henry Richardson. Taghdisi says LifeHTX is “our home away from home” and welcomed Schmooze as its first charity event.
Also new this year: the addition of three other co-hosting couples who have pledged to invite the next three Holiday Schmoozes
into their homes. Steve Summers and Glen Gonzalez will host in 2017. Becca Cason Thrash and John Thrash, and Greggory and Pat Burk will also show off their hospitality.
Our thanks to Jackson and Company, Tenenbaum Jewelers, and Phlash Phactory - Houston’s Premier Photo Booth Rental,
for their support! Check out photos of this year’s Schmooze on pages 4 and 5.
Join Legacy As We Grow to Build Healthy Families and Transform Generations
Bryan Hlavinka Secretary
Mike Holloman Treasurer
the past six years has been dramatic! We served over 125,000 clients in 2015 and anticipate
Michael Alexander Joshua L. Espinedo Dr. Kelli Cohn Fein Brent N. Whiteley
While more than 15% of Houstonians live below the federal poverty guideline, 60% of
Legacy patients live at or below the federal poverty guideline. Legacy’s patient growth over an even greater number as we close out 2016.
To better accommodate the patient growth in two of the communities Legacy serves,
we have launched the “Building Healthy Families” capital campaign to build new clinics in Houston’s historic Fifth Ward and the densely populated Gulfton neighborhood in Houston’s southwest. Both communities have received designations as medically underserved areas,
Melanie Gray Board Member Emeritus
and Legacy provides primary healthcare services to literally thousands of patients and their families in both communities.
Melissa Mithoff Board Member Emeritus
will provide easier access for patients and Legacy will be able to offer more healthcare services that address the communities’
Monsour Taghdisi Board Member Emeritus
babies a month while the Legacy Lyons Clinic in Fifth Ward serves the largest percentage of older patients of all our Houston area
Claire Cormier Thielke Board Member Emeritus
By expanding our reach and broadening an array of healthcare services through new, state of the art clinics, these facilities
needs. Legacy’s Southwest Clinic currently sees a large number of maternity patients who are currently delivering around 300 clinics. At both clinics, Legacy also provides necessary community based courses outside the exam room that give people ways to improve their lives and the lives of their families.
Thus far, we have raised just under half the $15 million needed to build these clinics. You can be an important part of our
efforts to build healthy families and a better Houston for everyone.
Please consider giving to Legacy to help us change lives and transform generations.
Help us make a difference!
Chree Boydstun Chief Development Officer
From the Desk of Katy Caldwell
Legacy Community Health CEO
Legacy Community Health has
a history of identifying a need, and then rushing to fill that need. We did this in Southwest, when CHRISTUS asked us to take over their clinic in the Gulfton area and when the City of Houston asked us to expand to fill their Lyons Avenue clinic in Fifth Ward. These super-neighborhoods would have lacked access to affordable health care had we not intervened, so Legacy jumped in, learning on the fly and
Legacy Central Beaumont
making necessary adjustments. We faced this type of scenario in Baytown, Beaumont, and on KIPP campuses, and each time Legacy succeeded despite a compressed timeline.
Now that we’ve weathered this storm and come through stronger than
“Roadmap to Ending the HIV Epidemic in Houston.” Thanks to philanthropic
ever, it’s time for me to take a step back and ensure that Legacy continues to
support from the Ford Foundation and AIDS United, this report will provide
be a vital, vibrant, and successful part of Houston’s health care landscape for
policymakers and health care providers citywide, or even countrywide, steps
years to come. To accomplish this, I am on a 90-day sabbatical that began
they can take to cut new cases of HIV in half over the next five years. This is
December 1, 2016. During this time, I will re-charge my battery and, more
undoubtedly an ambitious goal, but it is one we believe is achievable.
Our Public Affairs department unveiled a new report in December, titled
importantly, take a 30,000-foot view of where we are now and plan for where we need to go. Dr. Ann Barnes, our Chief Medical Officer, will serve as interim Executive Director until I return on March 8, 2017.
Legacy will endure during my brief absence, and we expect to keep
bringing you success stories like our new Central Beaumont clinic. This location was limited to adult primary care when it opened in November 2015, and right away our patients began requesting that we also provide services for their children and/or grandchildren. The clinic is centrally located, and many of our patients walk to the clinic or take the bus, so offering our full array of services at one clinic was important. I’m pleased to share that Legacy added pediatrics in September, and we expect the number of pediatric patients to grow steadily for the next year.
Responsiveness has long been a hallmark of Legacy Community Health,
and so it remained in 2016, when Legacy reacted quickly to events, crises, and patient concerns. We were among the first health care organizations to take the threat of the Zika virus seriously by educating the public and offering free screenings to pregnant women. We spearheaded the Houston Stands with Orlando movement, which offered a nonpartisan statement in support of civic pride, unity, freedom, and inclusion. This effort encouraged Houston corporations, nonprofits, business owners small and large, elected officials, and philanthropists to participate by sharing this important message of Katy was named one of 2016’s “Women on the Move” by Texas Executive Women.
support. Lastly, we responded to patient needs at our Santa Clara location by completely renovating the space. The new layout, which premiered in late October, is more patient centric, and makes it easier and more convenient for the medical team of doctor, support staff, and patient family to collaborate.
Our partnership with KIPP and Yes PREP continues to build healthy
Finally, I want to leave you with a message of hope and perseverance.
classrooms on an ever-increasing number of campuses. We now offer
I know the outcome of the presidential election has many of us on edge
behavioral health services for KIPPsters at 10 campuses, and nine of
and concerned about changes in health care delivery in the United States.
these also offer primary care. Legacy offers primary care at two Yes PREP
I pledge to you this: our mission will continue, regardless of who serves as
locations, and behavioral health at five schools. In the first 17 weeks of the
President of this country. Legacy employees have done an amazing job over
2016-17 school year, we’ve seen 61% more on-campus pediatric patients and
many years in effecting real change in and out of the exam room, no matter
85% more school-based behavioral health patients than all 32-plus weeks of
who was in the White House or what party controlled Congress, and we will
the 2015-16 school year.
continue to do so in the months and years to come.
Building Healthy Families Campaign Kickoff October 11
Hosted by Jim Reeder and Eric Nevil Co-chairs Tripp Carter, Trini Mendenhall, and Martha Turner officially launched Legacy’s $15-million dollar Building Healthy Families Campaign to fund two new buildings in Fifth Ward and Southwest Houston.
Jim Reeder and Eric Nevil
Martha Turner, Tripp Carter, and Trini Mendenhall
Tommy O’Neill and Brent Whiteley
George Burch and Katy Caldwell
Jim Sikorski, Dustin Ruffatto, Scott Moster, and Mike Holloman
Ken Sill, Kari Findley, and Richard Holt
Marissa Taler, Chree Boydstun, and Dr. Ann Barnes
New Buildings
Legacy Southwest Clinic Legacy Fifth Ward Clinic
2016 Holiday Schmooze December 7 • Life HTX Hosted by Henry Richardson and Monsour Taghdisi, Greggory and Pat Burk, Steve Summers and Glen Gonzalez, and Becca and John Thrash
Alex and Demi Jessett, Tony Bravo, and Richard Werner Milton Townsend and Becca Cason Thrash
Chree Boydstun, Glenna Pierpont, Santa Claus, Kevin Black, and Tony Bradford
Keith Dodd, Diana Howard, Reese Akers, John Pettiette, and George Hawkins
Monsour Taghdisi and Ginni Mithoff
Fady Armanious, Vivian Wise, and Melissa Mithoff
Michael and Melissa Mithoff and Rocky and Joe’l Mafrige
J.D. Adamson, Debbie Festari, and Tony Gibson
Claire Cormier Thielke and Ceron
David and Mary Ann McKeithan and C.C. Conner
David LaDuke and Gary Hammett
Steve Summers, Monsour Taghdisi, Diane Lokey Farb, and Glenn Gonzalez
Amanda Goodie and Ron Roberts
Phoebe Tudor and Chree Boydstun
Nora and Tim Surratt
Steve Locke, Jani Lopez, Anthony Danzey, and the Snow Princess
Kari Findley and Ken Sill
Matthew and Dr. Ann Barnes
Karen Wildenstein and Cheryl Byington
Courtney Hopson and Ceron
Bryan Hlavinka, Brent Whiteley, and Tommy O’Neill Ali and Haydeh Davoudi
Oral History Project Reception
November 17
Woodson Research Center at the Fondren Library – Rice University Founded by community activist Tori Williams and Harris County archivist Sarah Jackson, the OH Project collects the first-person accounts of people affected by the early days of Houston’s AIDS epidemic. Legacy is one of the founding sponsors. Tori Williams
Shannon Simpson, Linda Arnold, Lynne Schwartzenburg, and Renee Tappé
Annise Parker, Carmon Brian Keever, M. Sandra Scurria M.D., and Lee Pecht Brian Riedel, Lynne Tyer, Alice McCarthy, Ann Pinchak, and Lisetta Lavy
World AIDS Day December 1 Legacy Montrose
This year’s ceremony included the presentation of the L. Joel Martinez Award to Steven Vargas for his significant contributions to the HIV/AIDS community.
Chau Nguyen and emcee Ryan Korsgard from KPRC
L. Joel Martinez Award recipient Steven Vargas (second from right) and family
Members of Positive Organizing Project read the names of the people we’ve lost
Derby Day
May 7 Neon Boots Dancehall & SalOon
Our Kentucky Derby watch party kicked off the countdown to Mint Julep. Rusty Mueller, Jonathan Smith, Monica Paredes, and Domenic Cusano
Caitlin MacManus and Tomas Fritts
Winners of the Derby Day Hat Contest
Linda Cantu and Alan Detlaff
Mint Julep July 17 South Beach Night Club Legacy’s annual summer variety show, chaired by April Ayers, Jani Lopez, Bryan Hlavinka, and George Burch raised more than $60,000 for our HIV/AIDS programs.
Tribute to the victims of the Orlando Pulse nightclub tragedy
John Pettiette, Chree Boydstun, and Keith Dodd
Ryan Chuston with some of the performers Having fun at ‘The Best Little Drag Show in Texas’
14th Annual Legacy Luncheon September 26 Wortham Center
Friends and well-wishers joined us at this year’s luncheon to honor Dr. Kelli Cohn Fein. Proceeds benefitted Legacy’s Little Readers program.
Kari Findley, Frank Campisi, and Martha Turner
David LaDuke and Gary Hammett
Yolanda Green and Ray Purser
Mario Elie, Gina Gaston, Dr. Kelli Cohen Fein, and Martin Fein
Sheridan Williams, Chree Boydstun, and Dr. Yvonne Cormier
Kirk and Beth Bruce
Phoebe Tudor and Y. Ping Sun
Claire Cormier Thielke and Ginni Mithoff
Leisa Holland Nelson, Ellie Francisco, and Barbara Van Postman
Bill Dodson and Dean Putterman
Danielle Ellis and Mary Ann McKeithan
Todd Fiscus, Dominique Sachse, and Ceron
Bill and Glenna Pierpont
Houston City Council member Ellen Cohen and Cyndy Garza Roberts
Anthony Danzey and Steve Locke
Last year, Lights of Legacy members contributed more than $142,000 dollars to further our mission of driving healthy change in our communities.
Ken Sill and Kari Findley
April 14
Home of Kari Findley and Ken Sill, co-hosted with Martha Turner and Glenn Bauguss
Karina Barbieri and Cyndy Garza Roberts
Mike Holloman and Tim Surratt Richard Werner and Tony Bravo
Beth and Kirk Bruce
Link 2 Legacy February 3 • Legacy Montrose
Link 2 Legacy Advisory Committee members Baine Herrera, Jason Black, Lauren Soliz, Susan Brokhin, and Chloe Rushing
James Lee and Rita Sirrieh
Jennifer Mattheis, Lauren Birdwell, and Samantha Davis
Community Partners
The Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation is a supporter of Legacy’s Little Readers. We joined the Foundation to kick off Read Aloud Month in March. Jim Sikorski’s annual Share Our Blessings holiday party set a record with more than $10,000 collected. Pictured with Jim (left) are Chree Boydstun and Al Farb from The New 93Q.
Montrose Softball League Assistant Commissioner David Wong presents an $8,000 donation to Body Positive Wellness Center Director Felicia Sexton.
On June 4, ERSICSS presented the Carnivale: A Night In Rio to benefit Legacy’s Body Positive Program. Daniel Turner, Chloe T. Crawford, and Jay Landa are all smiles at the J. Landa jewelry Mint Julep fundraiser on June 15.
Baubles and Brunch April 20 • Tootsies
Melissa Mithoff and Derek Warburton hosted Bela Thacker and Zayver Jewels at Tootsies, with a portion of the proceeds going to Legacy.
Chree Boydstun, Melissa Mithoff, Derek Warburton, and Katy Caldwell
Bela Thacker, Seema Suarma, and Sharon Townsley
Emily Smith, Chiara Casiraghi, and Kendra Phillips
This year, our providers gave out more than 17,000 books to pediatric patients for Legacy’s Little Readers. Little Readers Corner at Legacy Southwest
Books make great gifts at the holiday party for Legacy’s Autism Support Group
The People We Serve
Thanksgiving Dinners Our caring supporters (including more than 100 Legacy employees) contributed to Legacy’s Season of Caring and Back to School campaigns. Many thanks to Conn’s, El Real restaurant, Amerigroup, United Healthcare, Community Health Choice, GE Volunteers, Today’s Respiratory, Neighborhood Centers, and HISD for donating their time and treasure.
Striking a ‘Thankful’ pose at Legacy Bissonett
Legacy Beaumont Thanksgiving
Patient Holiday Parties
Visiting with Santa at Legacy Mapleridge
Excited about a gift from friends at Legacy Baytown!
Back to School Parties
GE Oil and Gas brought toys to Legacy Southwest
Thank you, Lambda Nextgen Houston!
Registering families at Legacy Santa Clara -back to school
Back To School at Legacy Lyons-Fifth Ward
Checking out their new backpacks at Legacy Southwest
Legacy’s Angels Visible Changes stylists volunteer each year to provide free haircuts for our children at Back to School events
Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Houston, TX Permit No. 1886
P.O. Box 66308 Houston, TX 77266-6308
February 28 Advocacy Day in Austin Join Legacy in Austin on February 28 for the Texas HIV/AIDS Coalition (THAC) Advocacy Day at the Capitol. This day of advocacy is a statewide effort to help Texans affected by HIV/AIDS connect with their elected officials.
May 7 Derby Day, the official kickoff for Mint Julep Cheer on the horses of the Kentucky derby as we kick off our annual Mint Julep show. Wear your best derby hat for an afternoon of friends, fun, and games. Chloe Rushing, events@ legacycommunityhealth.org 832-730-4433
Venita Ray, vray@legacycommunityhealth.org 832-548-5048
April 26 The 2017 Frank Billingsley Golf Classic Hit the links with us at the Golf Club of Houston for the 7th Annual Tournament with KPRC Chief Meteorologist Frank Billingsley. Tim Martinez, tjmartinez@legacycommunityhealth.org 832- 548-5123
Follow our new Facebook page at www.facebook.com/OurLegacyToday and Twitter feed at @OurLegacyToday
October 3 The 15th Annual Legacy Luncheon Proceeds benefit Legacy’s Little Readers, sponsored by H-E-B. Chloe Rushing, events@legacycommunityhealth.org 832-730-4433