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NEWS & UPDATES
Gift Snapshots
SUPPORTERS HELP EDUCATE TOMORROW’S HEALERS IN THE WOODLANDS
Building on a prior legacy gift, Margaret and George Blankenship made a new philanthropic investment in the Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital Education Fund, helping to advance medical training and education at the hospital. As one of its strategic initiatives, the expansion of Houston Methodist The Woodlands’ academic program includes the development of a new medical simulation training facility. Thanks to the Blankenships’ generosity, the hospital has acquired a specialized patient simulator manikin designed for use in the facility and to provide high-quality experiential learning opportunities for medical professionals.
The hospital's commitment to education resonated with Alina and Rex Duhn, who also made a gift to the Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital Education Fund. Such philanthropic support for advanced learning further elevates medical standards, expands research and clinical trials, and serves as a pipeline for the development of future leaders in medicine — opening the door to innovative approaches to the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of disease in the heart of the regional community.
The first Houston Methodist campus outside of the Texas Medical Center to launch a graduate medical education program, Houston Methodist The Woodlands stands among the approximately 15% of U.S. hospitals recognized as teaching hospitals.
NIGHT CHAPLAIN FUND ESTABLISHED AT HOUSTON METHODIST BAYTOWN
NIGHT CHAPLAIN FUND ESTABLISHED AT HOUSTON METHODIST BAYTOWN
Tending to the spiritual and emotional needs of patients and their families is an essential part of the healing journey at Houston Methodist, and hospital chaplains are crucial partners to our care teams. Thanks to the continued generosity of Dorothy T. Nicholson, patients at Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital now have access to spiritual care around the clock. In 2025, Nicholson made a gift to establish the Houston Methodist Baytown Night Chaplain Fund, which will support the addition of an evening chaplain and spiritual care activities during late-night hours.
Previous gifts toward Houston Methodist Spiritual Care and Values Integration demonstrate Nicholson’s ongoing dedication to supporting whole-person care for her fellow Houstonians. These include a 2023 commitment to establish a night chaplain fund for Houston Methodist West Hospital.
BHALLA FUND ADVANCES CANCER CARE INNOVATION IN SUGAR LAND
BHALLA FUND ADVANCES CANCER CARE INNOVATION IN SUGAR LAND
In honor of their late son, Col. Raj and Kanwal Bhalla recently made a generous gift to establish the Gurpreet S. Bhalla MD Memorial Cancer Innovation Endowment at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital. The gift will serve as an engine for discovery at the Dr. Mary and Ron Neal Cancer Center at Sugar Land, fueling the center’s mission to support translational research, bring the latest technologies directly to patients and provide hands-on training for tomorrow’s oncology leaders.
The Bhallas’ previous impactful support was honored in 2022 when the hospital named its main pavilion the Col. Raj and Kanwal Bhalla Main Pavilion.
BETCHE ESTATE GIFT TO BENEFIT NANTZ NATIONAL ALZHEIMER CENTER
BETCHE ESTATE GIFT TO BENEFIT NANTZ NATIONAL ALZHEIMER CENTER
Karen and Lawrence Betche have included Houston Methodist in their legacy of philanthropy through a planned gift supporting the Nantz National Alzheimer Center (NNAC). Their generosity will bolster the center’s groundbreaking research into new treatments as well as the Alzheimer’s Patient and Family Support Program Fund.
Alzheimer’s disease is currently the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S., and the number of Americans living with the illness is expected to rise from 7 million to nearly 13 million by 2050. With the Betches’ support, the NNAC will continue its critical mission of improving patients’ quality of life while working to eradicate this devastating disease for future generations.
THREE MEANINGFUL INITIATIVES ENHANCED WITH ONE GIFT
THREE MEANINGFUL INITIATIVES ENHANCED WITH ONE GIFT
Marc P. Gordon recently made an estate gift to Houston Methodist in honor of his parents, Irving and Rose Gordon. Reflecting a range of mission areas, Marc’s contribution advances three meaningful initiatives, starting with the Leading Hearts Fund, which provides for strategic priorities in the Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center. The gift also targets the Houston Methodist Center for Health & Nature – Heart Fund, advancing research on the relationship between nature and cardiovascular health. A pilot program focusing on women aged 65 and older with certain types of heart failure examines the effects of exposure to nature on cardiovascular wellness. Finally, the remainder of Marc’s investment centers on Houston Methodist’s childbirth centers, enhancing care for mothers and newborns.
