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The HOPE Project, Tenaha
Clinic, Honored - August
12, 2008
Submitted by Melba Gillis
The HOPE Project, Tenaha
Clinic, honored by the Texas Rural
Health Association (TRHA) with the
2008 Communities That Care Award :
Making a Difference in Rural Texas.
Jean Diebolt, CEO, and Melba Gillis,
CFO accept ed
the award on behalf of the HOPE Project.
Wednesday, August 6th, in the Texas
Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Hotel
in Austin . Each year, the TRHA recognizes
individuals and communities who have
made a significant difference in improving
the health of rural Texans. The award
recognizes communities that have gone
the extra mile for its citizens by
implementing a health care project
that has made a significant difference
both for the people and the community
it serves. Those nominated must have
made a positive difference in their
communities, relied very little on
government support, and benefited
an underserved population. Five years
ago, the Episcopal church missions
in Center, San Augustine, and Carthage
joined to form a cooperative project--a
clinic for the under-insured and the
uninsured of their counties. Today
the HOPE Project serves everyone who
walks through the doors -- over 4200
patients. George Bowers, Mayor of
Tenaha, recommended the two women
for their work in establishing the
Tenaha Clinic and being so responsive
to community suggestions for further
growth. Albert Burns, a city father,
calls the clinic the Jewel of Tenaha.
Judge John Tomlin also praised the
yoga program that the HOPE Project
offers at the First United Methodist
of Center--a program to help prevent
the devastating problems of falls
and broken hips in the older Shelby
County residents--free to those who
couldn't otherwise afford it. Always
supportive of the HOPE Project, Congressman
Louis Gohmert praised the work of
Diebolt and Gillis saying that how,
as volunteers without a cent of compensation,
they mobilized the community support
and enthusiasm to make this project
work. Gohmert added that this is exactly
what the President meant when he spoke
of faith-based initiatives and "a
thousand points of light.'
Janis S. Ritter, the Center Director
of the Piney Woods Area Health Education
Center , in Nacogdoches nominated
the HOPE Project for the award.
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