2023 Summer Newsletter - Legacy Community Health

Empowering Students with Legacy’s School-Based Health Clinics

Natalie Serrano is a senior at YES

Prep Fifth Ward Charter School who is passionate about soccer. But when she tore her meniscus and started experiencing knee pain, it was a major setback. Thankfully, she found the Legacy School-Based Health Care (SBHC) and Nurse Practitioner Amber Gardner, who played a huge role in getting her back on track.

SBHC provides comprehensive pediatric and behavioral health care right on campus, reducing time out of the classroom for students and time away from work for parents and guardians. Students, their siblings, and the children of school staff receive the same quality of care they would find in any of Legacy’s larger clinics.

Under Gardner’s care, Serrano was able to lower her glucose levels and learn how to better manage her diabetes. “Legacy has kept me out of the danger zone,” Serrano said. “I’ve been able to create a realistic diet that I can follow on my own as well as understand why certain things happen to my body.”

“It’s been my pleasure to have Natalie under my care,” Gardner said. “Her commitment to her own health and wellness has led to positive health outcomes. It has been rewarding to partner with her and celebrate her progress over the past two years.”

Serrano adds that the clinic’s accessibility has made it possible to achieve her health goals. “When I really need to see the nurse practitioner, I’m able to quickly get an appointment, and since the clinic is at school, I don’t need a parent to bring me,” Serrano explains.

All three of Serrano’s siblings also use Legacy’s services, relieving the burden of juggling work and caregiving with scheduling and transporting the children for appointments. Serrano’s mother, Mary Serrano, is grateful for the program. “Legacy has played a critical role in the health of my family for the past 11 years,” she recalled. “The convenience and quality of care is incomparable

Serrano’s school is one of 34 SBHC locations at YES Prep, KIPP, and Galena Park ISD schools. The clinic staff partner with teachers, counselors, parents, and students by attending events, becoming familiar faces on campus and part of the school’s team.

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“Our success relies on collaboration and relationships,” said Stephanie Ramirez, Legacy’s Vice President of School-Based Health. “It’s rewarding seeing students open up and have real, down-to-earth chats with our clinicians and staff about stuff they’d never talk about with their parents. We really get to connect with them using their own lingo and just being there for them.”

That trust allows Legacy’s staff to better understand their young patients. “If a child comes to us with a fever or backache, the symptoms may only scratch the surface,” Ramirez pointed out. “There could be underlying issues at home or school affecting their overall health. Our presence and resources allow us to treat the whole student, addressing all potential concerns.”

This spring, Legacy’s Senior Director of School-Based Behavioral Health Services

Roma Bhatt testified in Austin in support of Senate Bill 1966. The bill would create a grant program for school-based health care initiatives in underserved areas of the state. Bhatt emphasized the positive impact of schoolbased health programs on students’ physical and mental wellbeing, and the creation of a safer, more supportive environment for all students and school personnel.

Three new SBHC clinics are scheduled to open by summer’s end. “We’ve grown so quickly.” said Ramirez, “I want to revisit our older clinics that have run out of space because the demand is so great. We want to create our school based clinic space as one that makes these children feel valued, understood, and cared for.”

Longer term goals include educational opportunities for students interested in learning more about careers in health care. “Let’s think outside the box of what could we really do,” encouraged Ramirez, “not only with keeping our students healthy, but also helping them then become advocates for health and well-being, with an inside look at what it’s like to be a clinician or a medical assistant.”

That’s the path for Natalie Serrano, who aspires to be a dental hygienist. She graduates from YES Prep this summer and looks forward to the next chapter in her life in the medical field. Who knows – she may eventually join Legacy to help future students meet their own health goals!

SBHC Nurse Practitioner Amber Gardner and Natalie Serrano

Summer 2023

Young Leaders of Legacy: Empowering a New Generation of Health Advocates in Southeast Texas

Legacy Community Health is pleased to announce the launch of a new project called Young Leaders of Legacy (YLOL). This initiative aims to inspire young professionals in Greater Houston and Southeast Texas to become champions for healthier change in their communities.

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Legacy Community Health

Naveen Pinglay Chairperson

Ryan Martin Vice-Chairperson

Allison Floyd Wells, M.D. Treasurer

Ronnie Kurtin Secretary

Mariana Chavez Mac Gregor, M.D. At-Large / Executive Committee

Cathy Easter

Taryn Hargrove Gore

Gary Hammett

George Hawkins

Bryan Hlavinka

Danilo Juvane

Rebekah Le

Johnson Olatunji

Neftali Partida

Cindy Scharringhausen

Legacy Community Health Endowment Board

Mike Holloman Chairperson

George Hawkins Vice-Chairperson

Ray Purser Treasurer

Bryan Hlavinka Secretary

Linda Cantu

Tripp Carter

Cyndy Garza Roberts

Sharon Land

Ryan Martin

Mark McMasters, M.D.

Board Members Emeriti

Melanie Gray

Melissa Mithoff

James A. Reeder, Jr.

Monsour Taghdisi

Claire Cormier Thielke

YLOL seeks to connect today’s ambitious philanthropists with Legacy, with the goal of ensuring a healthy future for all members of the community. Members are encouraged to participate in Legacy-sponsored outreach programs and promote Legacy Community Health professionally and personally. In addition, the organization intends to sponsor an annual crowdfunding campaign to benefit one of Legacy’s service lines. While YLOL primarily targets young professionals aged 21 to 35, individuals 21 and over are welcome. The annual membership fee is $75 for an individual and $125 for a two-person account.

Dr. Jerson Desiderio, an optometrist at Legacy Fifth Ward and a founding member of YLOL, revealed his enthusiasm for the initiative. He said, “While networking and participating in projects and fundraisers were rewarding experiences, I yearned for a deeper community engagement beyond direct care. Joining Young Leaders of Legacy presents opportunities to discover new passions, learn from others, and make a substantial difference beyond my patient care responsibilities.”

Co-director of Young Leaders Azjuri Aguebor echoed this enthusiasm for the new initiative’s unrealized potential. “There is no established plan for this brand-new endeavor. Early participants will shape the organization’s course and open up new opportunities,” she said. Aguebor went into detail about his plans to provide resources, such as help creating resumes and headshots, as well as networking and communication skills training, particularly in philanthropy and donorship.

Dr. Desiderio added, underlining the significance of mentorship, “Young professionals navigating the professional world will find immense value in this group. Personal guidance from seasoned professionals is irreplaceable; it offers insights that online resources cannot provide.”

Bella Villarreal, co-director of YLOL, shared her excitement about the community-oriented plans of the group, including a significant gardening initiative slated for 2023. “Our goal is to engage deeply with our community and positively impact as many lives as possible, leaving a lasting legacy,” she said.

Reflecting on the group’s origins, Villarreal highlighted the necessity to rejuvenate Legacy’s philanthropy efforts. “We are committed to ensuring Legacy’s prosperity and gaining recognition for the expansive community work we undertake, which often goes unnoticed,” she explained. YLOL seeks to establish Legacy as an integral part of Houston and Southeast Texas, inviting both Legacy employees and external individuals to join in these efforts.

Young Leaders of Legacy’s Dr. Jerson Desiderio, Azjuri Aguebor, and Bella Villarreal

Wanda Johnson

Cynthia Jones

Jesse H. Jones, II

Donna Junker

JWS Health Consultants

Grant Kaiser and John Furnish

Doris and Lane Kalmin

Shelley Kennedy and Debra T. Denny

Kendall Kessel

Rand W. Key

Gary Killingsworth

Craig Kinsel

Kirksey Gregg Productions, LLC

Claudia Kolker

Lynn Kopper

Dianne and Rich Korn

The Honorable James Kovach and Ben Montalbano

Kroger

Kroger, Southwest Division

Clifford Kuhfeldt

Ronnie Kurtin and Dr. Gary H. Lew

Kirk Kveton

Candace Kyle

Brandy and Chris Laakso

Robert T. Ladd

Michelle Jannise and Cheryl Lamb

George C. Lancaster

Sharon A. Land

Ellen Landis

Phil Lane

Michele Laprade

Sarah L. Larned

Claudia Nicole Lassiter

Bob Lawson and Joe Tate

Rebekah Le

Truc Le

Johannes C. LeBlanc

Chad Lebrun

The Francis L. Lederer Foundation

Jose Leon

Letsos Company

Irish Lewis

Norman Lewis

Linbeck Group, LLC

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Locke

Jay Allen and Ken Long

Jacob M. Lopez

Jani Lopez

Joe L. Lopez

Diana C. Lopez-Maldonado

Lovett Comerical/POST Houston

Ana Loza

J Patrick Luby III

William Lyons

Don Mafrige, Jr.

Sonal Majmudar

Kimberlyn Maldonado

Dr. Paul B. Mandell

Michael Mandola

Rania Mankarious

Timothy L. Mann

Manning’s Office Solutions, LLC.

March of Dimes, Texas Chapter

Jacob Margolin

2022 DONORS AND TRIBUTES

Jeffrey Martin

Mr. and Mrs. Ryan P. Martin

Brenda Martinez

Petra Martinez

Johnathan Martinez

Marco A. Martinez

Tim Martinez

Marvy Finger Family Foundation

Christine and James Mastandrea

Lauren and George Mattiuzzi

Karen and Mike Mayell

Mayor’s Office for Adult Literacy

Soraya and Scott McClelland

Sarah McCord

Kathy and Jody McCord

Stan B. McDonald

Nancy McGregor and Neal Manne

Deborah McGuire

Mary Ann and David McKeithan

Jeffrey McKinney

Kristi and Lance McLeod

Kathryn McNiel

Mike Medina

Medix

Joe Melton

Merril Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc.

Scott Mesteller and Micheal Reeves

Cari S. Middaugh

Kristine Miller

Ashley Minkeu

A.J. Mistretta

Ian Mitchell

Jay Mitchell

Ginni and Richard Mithoff

Mithoff Family Charitable Foundation

Mobiloil Credit Union

Molina Foundation

Molina Healthcare of Texas

Mark Montondon

Daisy Morales

Julia Morgan

Gursaran B. Morrical

Morris & Dickson Co., LLC

Bette Moser

Lisa Moye

Beth Muecke

Virginia A Muller

Michael Muna

Julie Muntz and Pera Johnson

Anne and Dr. James E. Muntz

Andrea Gale Murray

Jim Mzyk

Nabors Industries Ltd.

Joseph Bradley Nagar

Jason R. Neerman

Barbara J. Neustaedter

Kwok-Wai “Ken” Ng

Nice Winery

Trudy Nix

Bobby Normandin

Jose Nunez and Frederick Smith

Dr. Sahadat Kemi Nurudeen

Kathryn O’Brien

Stephen Odom-Harris

Latisha Ogbunamiri

Sarah M. Ogle

Alexandra Olmedo

Hao On

OneStar Foundation

Andrew Ortiz

Kathy and John Orton

Maricarmen Osawa

Oscar Massin Inc.

Alan Pactor

Araceli Palacios

Todd Partridge

Dr. Shivani Patel

Mary Patton

Brent C. Pennington

Luis Perez

Pamela Perry

Laura Peters

Elizabeth M. Petersen

Linda Petersen

Kathryn Phillips

Shayne Phillips

Physician Resources, Inc.

David Piech

Glenna Pierpont

Dr. Zuleika Goss Pierson

Elva Pineda

Naveen Pinglay and Lynn E. Nazareth

Pinpoint Commercial

Amy Pitts

Gerard Pollard

Kevin Pope

Port Arthur LNG, LLC

Port Arthur News

Cathy Porter

Postino Montrose

Pour Brothers Brewery, LLC

L’Tanya and Adrian K. Price

PromoPrint Group

T. Ray Purser and Doug Hollowell

Dean Putterman

Nanette K. Putterman

Quest Diagnostics

R.E. Smith Foundation

Diana Rangel

Summer Rebienot

Jim Reeder and Eric Nevil

Brian T. Reeves

Jakob Reeves

Susanna Reich

Ibis and David A. Reynolds

Priscilla Rios

Mayra Rivera

RL Design Hillis Roberson

Cyndy Garza Roberts and Thomas Roberts

Dr. Emily K. Robinson

Dr. Rachel Robinson

Keith A. Robinson

Debra Rockman

Jennifer Rodriguez

Regina Rogers

Pennye Rohde

Timothy J. Rolader

Jose G. Romero

Trevan Ross

Gary Ruby and Art Harrison

Keith Rudy

Gefen Adi

Roma Bhatt

Marc Boom

Timothy Brookover

Katy Dr. Caldwell

Tripp Carter

Yvonne Cormier

Albert Davila

Joseph Ruffatto

Justin Ruth

Dr. Vernicka Sales

Richard R. Salinas

Nohemi Samuel

Gaylynn Sanders

Lupita Sandoval

Nikke and Nurudeen Sanusi

Susan and Fayez Sarofim

Chris Sasso

Dr. Scott Sawyer and Barry Mandel

Michael A. Scanlin

Cynthia Scharringhausen

Dr. Kathleen Schmeler and

Stephen Brown

Mr. and Mrs. Doug Schnitzer

Charles K. Schroeder

Maureen Semple-Hirsch

Serna Insurance Agency

Jose V. Serrano

Service Corporation International

Thomas Seymour

Rohan Shah

Steve Shaper

Liz Sheffield

Aaron Shisler

Derrick Shore

Sonia R. Sibley

James Sikorski

Sandra Silva

Christy Sirmans

Cyndi and Dr. Stephen Slade

Brian Smith

Cedrick Smith

Frances Smith

James R. Smith and

Patricia Caycedo

Sandra Smith-Cooper

Paul G. Somerville

Darin R. Sommer

Brian Spack

Sparkle & Co. Florist

Robert Spiegel

Dr. Pamela St. Amand

Mr. and Mrs. Mark C. Stamey

Randy Stanger

Stan’s Hands Massage and Wellness, LLC.

Eliza and Stewart W. Stedman

Elizabeth and Allen Stein

The B.A. and Elinor Steinhagen

Benevolent Trust

Billy Stevens

Benjamin Stewart

Randall C. Stewart

Alexander Strange

Tamika Straw

Sutton Land of Texas, LLC.

Laura Sweeney

Marissa Taler

Tanglz Color Studio

Target Corporation

Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Tate

Rebecca Tate, Ph.D.

Jose F. Teppa

Texas Mulch Masters

Texas Spine & PLLC

Wesley Thomas

John P. Thompson

Tito’s Handmade Vodka

T-Mobile

Tootsies

Travis Torrence

Nicola Fuentes Toubia

Milton Townsend

Mai Thao Tran

Trinity Legacy Partners

Phoebe and Bobby Tudor

Debra A. Tummins and Abigail Daniels

United Healthcare

United Way of Beaumont and North Jefferson County

United Way of Greater Atlanta

United Way of Tarrant County

Valero Energy

Eric Van Haselen and Stephen Pate

Hallie Vanderhider

Mr. and Mrs. Ulises Vidal

Danny Villarreal and Patrick Siddons

Steven Wagner

Geoffrey Walker

Tammi Wallace

Dancie and Jim Ware

Kathryn Wasemiller

James Washburn

Jeffrey Watters

Kim Waycaster

Waycaster Foundation

Connie Weaver

William Kyle Webb

Penne Weidig

The Weingarten Schnitzer Foundation, Inc.

Dr. Allison F. Wells

Douglas P. Welsh

Dina Whitaker

Mr. and Mrs. John D. White

Stephen Whitehead

Mary Wiley

John P. Wilkinson, III

Sheridan and John Eddie Williams

Karen Winston

Vivian Wise

Beth Wolff

Cynthia Wolff

Cyvia G. Wolff

Women’s Resistance of Southeast Texas

Andrew C. Wren

Joshua Wright

Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Wright

Lorraine and Ed Wulfe

Kirk A. Wyllie

Eva and Roberto Ybarra

Zadok Jewelers

Adam Zaske

Douglas Zimpfer

Sherri Zucker

Tara Dion

Jennifer Feldmann

Marvy Finger

Alison Greene

Shannon Hall

Lisa Foronda Harper

Sebastian Hendricks

James Kopper

Kermit Kruse

Legacy Community Health

Jani Lopez

Mari-Carmen Marin

James Muntz

Jerry Poynor

Dean Putterman

Dr. Scott Sawyer

Cindy Scharringhausen

Mark Sparks

Betty Stewart

Hallie Vanderhider

Claire Wright

“Gratitude is the memory of the heart.” - Jean Baptiste Massieu

PLANNED GIVING

Your Lega-SEED to Chance

Are you looking for a quick and easy way to protect your future? Thanks to our friends at FreeWill, you can create essential estate planning documents in just 20 minutes to ensure that your loved ones and the causes you cherish are taken care of — for FREE.

“I had made a will when I was active-duty military, and it was a pretty lengthy process,” says Legacy behavioral health therapist

Blanca Figueroa. “FreeWill was so much easier to use.” She and her husband David married recently and are making plans together. She adds, “My husband and I have had serious illnesses in our family and it reminded us we need to be prepared as well.”

Blanca also included a planned gift to Legacy in her will to repay the greater community for the help provided to her family as she was growing up. What a great way to plant a seed to pay it forward!

Make a Difference and Support Your Own Financial Outlook

If you are 70.5 and older, you can make a tax-free gift directly from your IRA account. This donation not only helps Legacy Community Health meet our goals in real-time but may also help you reduce your future tax burden, allowing you to give and save at the same time. Here’s how it works:

– IRA gifts are generally tax-free, regardless of whether or not the donor itemizes on their tax return.

– This kind of giving is one of the only ways to donate without dipping into your cash reserves!

– Because of recent legislation, donors 73 and older, or donors who have taken a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) before, are subject to RMDs. IRA gifts can satisfy this amount!

Legacy wants to ensure everyone in our community feels informed and supported in ways to drive healthy change in our communities. That’s why we invested in this secure IRA-giving platform, where you can make your gift today in as little as 10 minutes. Visit legacy.community/iragift to learn more, and feel free to share it with your financial advisor. It’s recommended to combine FreeWill’s tools with outside consultation should you have additional questions about IRA giving and before entering into any transaction.

When you donate stock, you can avoid the tax on the gain while deducting 100% of the value of the contribution and earn two to three times the tax savings of donating cash. It’s a win-win for you and Legacy.

And, thanks to our partnership with DonateStock.com, making your gift is easier than ever before. Our website at DonateStock.com/LCH enables you to donate stock from your brokerage directly to our account through a secure portal in less than 10 minutes! It’s fast, safe, and easy to do. By giving stock, your support will have even greater impact - without denting your pocketbook. To learn more please visit DonateStock.com/LCH

Would you like to have a member of Legacy’s staff contact you about leaving Legacy in your estate?

If you have already included Legacy in your plans, please let us know so we may recognize you in our Circle of Caring. Contact Tim Martinez at (713) 203-7221 or tjmartinez@legacycommunityhealth.org for instructions and more information. Follow us online for weekly postings about planned giving at Our Legacy Today on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

1 Philanthropic advisor and entrepreneur Tracy Gary met with Legacy’s Endowment Board and guests in February to share her expertise in connecting with donors. We are committed to strengthening our partnership with Legacy’s supporters as we work together connecting our communities to health every day in every way. Pictured are Endowment Board chair Mike Holloman, Tracy Gary, and Legacy CDO Chree Boydstun.

2 San Jacinto Girl Scout Troop #27081 leader Natalie Britt and her daughter Elin, a Daisy Scout, delivered delicious Girl Scout cookies for Legacy’s fantastic clinicians as part of the troop’s “Cookies 4 Heroes” campaign. Thank you for remembering our medical heroes!

3 Legacy Beaumont employees and volunteer shared Legacy resources and passed out free books at the VIVA Beaumont Hispanic Heritage Festival in April. Children who visited also had the opportunity to create their own bookmarks!

4 Legacy was a proud sponsor of the American Cancer Society’s Greater Golden Triangle Relay For Life. Our own Josh Davis and his husband chaired the event and led the Legacy team of relay participants. More than $250,00 was raised for cancer research, education, and patient resources.

Blanca & David Figueroa

66308

Houston, TX 77266-6308

Sponsorships for premier seating are available now for Legacy’s signature summer event. Blast off on a cosmic adventure at the White Oak Music Hall to a a galaxy not-so-far away! Attendees must be at least 18 years old. Visit legacy.community/mintjulep for more information.

Play, sponsor, or donate to for Legacy’s annual golf tournament, presented by Hawkins Laakso Wealth Management & Equitable. Proceeds benefit Legacy’s School-Based Health Care program. Learn more at legacy.community/golf

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