Gift Snapshots

Eshbach Family Legacy Strengthens Nursing Education in Baytown

In late 2024, Jay Eshbach, II and his wife, Patricia “Kay” Eshbach, fortified their philanthropic legacy with gifts toward nursing education at Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital. Their support established the Patricia K. and Jay M. Eshbach, II Scholarship Fund, which will provide financial assistance to eligible Houston Methodist Baytown employees pursuing nursing degrees, certifications or other professional development opportunities in the field. Longtime champions of the Baytown community, both Jay and Kay have provided enduring support for local arts, civic initiatives and educational programs.

LIFEGIFT Expands Support for Organ Donation Research at Houston Methodist

LifeGift recently deepened its commitment to the Deceased Organ Donation Research Collaborative Fund at the Houston Methodist J.C. Walter Jr. Transplant Center. Established in 2022, the fund is part of a broader initiative involving medical centers across the LifeGift service area aimed at improving patient outcomes by increasing both the quantity and quality of transplantable organs. Through collaborative analysis of peer-reviewed literature and identification of key performance improvement priorities, Houston Methodist, LifeGift and other partnering institutions are working together to reduce wait times for viable organs and improve survival rates for patients in need of lifesaving transplants.

Occidental and Houston Methodist Celebrate a Decade of Health Equity Impact

In April, Houston Methodist hosted a ceremony honoring its longstanding partnership with international energy leader Occidental (Oxy) and the company’s continued support of the Community Scholars program. The event featured reflections from Houston Methodist President and CEO Dr. Marc L. Boom and Oxy CEO Vicki Hollub, who remarked, “We are honored to partner with an organization that shares our strong values.”

Oxy has been a key ally of the Community Scholars program since 2014, providing foundational funding to support its mission of increasing access to specialty care in underrepresented Greater Houston communities. The company’s latest commitment continues this legacy, ensuring the annual placement of a pulmonology fellow and a teaching physician at the Hope Clinic. This investment not only enhances care for the region’s most vulnerable patients but also helps train the next generation of pulmonary specialists. Dr. Rodney J. Folz, Houston Methodist’s chief of pulmonology and critical care, and Dr. Deepa B. Gotur, associate professor of clinical medicine, lead the pulmonary rotation for the Community Scholars program. Focused on addressing chronic lung disease in high-need populations, Drs. Folz and Gotur mentor medical fellows as they gain hands-on experience in culturally diverse settings.

Renola Family Affirms Support for Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital Nurses

Dedicated supporters of Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital since 2019, Elaine and Gary Renola, PhD, amplified their philanthropic impact with an estate gift in support of its nursing programs. Like its fellow network hospital campuses, Houston Methodist Clear Lake has earned Magnet® recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center — the highest, most respected national honor for outstanding nursing care. The planned gift, dedicated to the hospital’s Crowning Achievement Awards for Excellence in Nursing Endowment and its Nursing Excellence Fund, will expand the Elaine M. Renola Scholarship to provide more nurses with the tools needed to deliver top-tier care. Elaine, who has over 45 years in health care experience as an executive and nursing director, serves on the hospital's board of trustees.

Shadywood Foundation Enables Research Into Alternatives for Standard Cancer Treatments

Bringing in over 7,000 new cancer cases each year, experts at the Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center lead in providing expert care and pursuing innovative therapies. A recent gift from the Shadywood Foundation expands the Neal Cancer Center's capacity to pursue novel treatment options, enabling clinical trials that test alternatives to traditional chemotherapy and radiation for patients with hematologic malignancies, such as lymphoma and leukemia. Led by nationally recognized oncology teams, the center currently supports more than 65 cancer-specific clinical trials — offering hope for new treatments to patients and families facing complex cancer diagnoses.

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