TOMBALL (December 23, 2020) – Tomball Regional Health Foundation (TRHF) is proud to announce funding in the amount of $127,500 for TOMAGWA Healthcare Ministries to obtain Federally Qualified Health Center Status. TOMAGWA has been open for more than 30 years to serve uninsured residents in the Tomball, Magnolia and Waller areas. They have grappled with treating patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, as all health care organizations have.

Because TOMAGWA does not receive any governmental assistance they have not had access to the same resources as some other clinics during this unprecedented time. “We were already struggling in the market before COVID, and then [during] COVID, so many safety-net clinics just started drowning,” Timika Simmons, CEO TOMAGWA said. “Becoming a federally qualified health center was something that was a part of our strategic plan to visit much later for sustainability, but COVID kind of gave us a push to say, ‘You need to look at this right now.’” TOMAGWA leaders have now expedited their plans to become an FQHC.

As of mid-November, TOMAGWA needed to raise $225,000 by year’s end and $500,000 by July to implement new programs, staffing and technology. “Tomball Regional Health foundation is pleased to be able to grant $127,500 towards this goal. Becoming a FQHC can give TOMAGWA the stability they need to continue to provide quality healthcare, offer hope, and restores dignity to the uninsured and low-income families and individuals, said Lynn LeBouef CEO.”

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Tomball Regional Health Foundation (TRHF) is the new name of the Tomball Hospital Authority (THA).  The THA was the owner and operator of the Tomball Regional Medical Center from its founding in 1976 up until its sale in 2011.  TRHF’s mission is to promote wellness and improve health status for all residents in our communities through programs that enhance access to health care, preventative care and health education. Please visit the new TRHF website at www.trhfoundation.org for more information regarding the foundation.

TOMAGWA is a Christian medical ministry providing quality health care, offering hope, and restoring dignity to uninsured, low-income families and individuals in northwest Harris, Montgomery and Waller counties for more than 30 years.  TOMAGWA provides more than 22,500 patient visits annually. TOMAGWA has grown from a primary care medical practice to an ambulatory care facility offering primary care, dental, vision, lab, pharmacy, and case management services. TOMAGWA has over 45 collaborative partnerships within the greater Houston metropolitan area including medical providers, acute and post-acute medical facilities, churches, colleges, universities, businesses, corporations, civic organizations and non-profits. Learn more at  www.tomagwa.org.