Spanning more than seven decades, a philanthropic ripple effect was part of Hope Cottage’s 105th anniversary kick-off this afternoon.
The story started in 1948, when a young couple named Fay and George Young reached out to Hope Cottage and adopted a little girl they named Carol.
Over the years the family of three showed their appreciation for Hope Cottage by supporting it, with George serving on the Hope Cottage board of directors. Even when Carol married Eddie Marvin and they had a couple of kids — Michael and Maggie – the ripple continued, with Carol carrying on her parents’ involvement by serving on both the Hope Cottage board of directors and the Hope Cottage Foundation Board.
In 2016, when the ribbon-cutting took place for Hope Cottage’s standout headquarters on Texas Street, it was noted that the George and Fay Young Foundation had made the lead gift to the $4.56M capital campaign.
This past February Carol passed away “suddenly, at the age of 75, surrounded by her children.”
But the ripple that was created by Carol’s being adopted by Fay and George continued today with the announcement that Hope Cottage was partnering with HHM Health to created a new maternal health clinic “that will bring prenatal care to underserved women.”
It was pointed out by HHM Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. LaTasha Jarrett that, according to a 2022 ValuePenguin study, Texas ranks 50th in the nation for access to quality prenatal and maternal care and the state has the lowest percentage of women ages 18-44 with healthcare coverage and the lowest percentage of women with a primary healthcare provider. She added that the 2022 Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee report estimated 90% of maternal deaths in Texas may have been preventable.
As HHM Health CEO Brian Hawkins explained, “HHM Health recognizes the need for better women’s healthcare in the great state of Texas. So many of our patients are part of vulnerable communities and often don’t know where to turn. We have made a commitment to continue to step up and be that resource for women in Dallas. Partnering with Hope Cottage allows us to reach more mothers and help them deliver safely.”
Thanks to $2M from the George and Fay Young Foundation, not only will construction get underway in August to create the clinic space on Hope Cottage’s first floor, but Hope Cottage’s pregnancy costs will be covered for five years.
According to Hope Cottage CEO Stephanie Bohan, “Strong families begin with healthy births. Yet here in Dallas and across the state we are seeing a crisis in maternal health, with many mothers unable to access prenatal care, putting them and their children at risk. We are thrilled to partner with HHM Health, which shares our commitment to helping pregnant women get the services needed to delivery healthy babies.”
At the clinic, HHM Health will “offer low-cost pregnancy testing, Medicaid enrollment and prenatal care,” as well as referring expectant mothers to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas for labor and delivery. Following the birth of their babies, HHM Health will “continue to care for mothers at its Women’s Health in Vickery Meadow and babies at its Pediatric Clinic off Walnut Hill Lane.”
Hope Cottage will “provide mothers with parenting education, case management and access to community resources during and after their pregnancies, as well as adoption information and counseling for women who wish to explore the option.”
The clinic is scheduled to open in January 2024 and will be named in honor of the little girl that started the ripple that started 75 years ago.