Dr. Thomas A. Lombardo, a cardiologist with Advanced Cardiovascular Specialists, and a Southeast Texas philanthropist, donated $200,000 towards the Renovations of the Creole Building.

This building, located on the property of St. Elizabeth Hospital, is 57 years old and has been in dire need of repair for some time.

“Dr. Lombardo’s generous donation to renovate the Creole Building is a testament to the strong connection he has with the Religious Sisters who have always played such an important role at CHRISTUS,” said Ivy Pate, Foundation President.

The Creole Building houses The Sisters of the Destitute, a Religious Order that does the work of Jesus Christ by serving as nurses at CHRISTUS Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth.

This Order deems its vision as follows: “Rooted in God consciousness, we respond to the prophetic call to promote the new way of life initiated by Jesus to reach out to humanity with compassion particularly, to the destitute.”

This renovation project has made the housing brand new. From updates to the kitchen, bathrooms, and bedrooms, as well as the roof, this project is a gift to the Sisters that have served CHRISTUS so steadfastly over the decades.

In addition to the structural updates, there is also fresh paint, new blinds, and new flooring, giving the Sisters a warm and welcoming home environment.

Our Catholic Sisters have a deeply rooted connection with the CHRISTUS Hospitals. In fact, the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word of the Diocese of Galveston established the first hospital in Beaumont, Texas, in 1896, which was later consolidated with St. Elizabeth Hospital.

Our Sisters have played a vital role in delivering compassionate healthcare to Southeast Texas for over a century.

The CHRISTUS mission is to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ. As a Catholic health ministry, CHRISTUS is a partner and an advocate in the creation of innovative health and wellness solutions that improve the lives of individuals and communities so that all may experience God’s healing presence and love.

Dr. Lombardo’s generous donation to renovate the Creole Building is a testament to the strong connection he has with the Religious Sisters who have always played such an important role at CHRISTUS,” said Ivy Pate, Foundation President.

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Tommy Frank, President of The CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Foundation Board, is a man who is comfortable in leadership roles. He worked for Conn’s for fifty years, rising through the ranks to become the Chairman and CEO in 1994, all the while expanding Conn’s market and growing its sales volume to levels it had never before reached.

Tommy is currently serving his third term on the CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Foundation Board. His commitment to the CHRISTUS mission of extending the healing ministry of Jesus Christ is clear through his involvement with the board and his continued participation with the annual gala.

In addition to his impressive professional career, Tommy also is also an accomplished woodworker. He recently offered his carpentry skills to help create a wooden frame to house a Touch2Play – a piece of interactive entertainment for children – in the St. Elizabeth Emergency Department waiting room.

“Tommy is a true leader. In addition to his role as Board President, he offered his carpentry talents to build a storage unit for new pieces of equipment in the emergency department. We truly value him as a board member and as a CHRISTUS supporter,” said Ivy Pate, Foundation President. 

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On July 10, students from Lamar University made a generous donation to the Effie M. Hebert Pediatric Center’s playroom at CHRISTUS Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth. Their donation was revealed and blessed in a ceremony held for hospital associates, patients, and visitors.

The students are part of a new organization, Lamar University Dance Marathon (LUDM), that raises funds year-round for local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, CHRISTUS Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth and Jasper Memorial. The students raised money through peer-to-peer fundraising, giveback nights at local restaurants, and their big event, Dance Marathon. Dance Marathon is a celebration held on campus where students get to meet the families of patients treated at their local hospital, participate in games and dancing, enjoy entertainment, and reveal their annual fundraising total.

This year, they decided to use the nearly $5,000 they raised to purchase new toys and furniture for the hospital’s Pediatric Center playroom. On the day of the ceremony, the students worked all morning to put the new furniture together and organize the toys before debuting the revived playroom to the hospital. During the ceremony, the group’s president, Cade Johnson, said he and a few of the other LUDM members spent a significant amount time in the hospital as children and knew firsthand how it feels for a young child to be bored during a hospital stay.

“We just wanted to create an area where kids would have fun and enjoy being here with their families,” Johnson said. “Hopefully, this will make the hospital a little more inviting for pediatric patients and help them be less nervous when they visit the doctor.”

At the end of the ceremony, Father Emmanuel Chikezie blessed the donation and associates gathered to thank the altruistic students while enjoying refreshments donated by Gigi’s Cupcakes.

“I am immensely grateful to the Lamar University Dance Marathon students. Their donation is going to help our pediatric patients and their families have a more relaxed hospital stay,” said Melissa Conley, Program Manager for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals at the CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Foundation. “It’s inspiring to see these Lamar University students put their heart and soul into a project that will have such a great impact on our hospital.”

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On June 25th, Courtney Knox, Texas Rx Card Representative, presented a check to CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Foundation. Melissa Conley (left) Program Manager, and Ivy Pate (right), Regional Vice President, were pleased to receive the check donation in the amount of $818.90.

After the presentation, Courtney was given a tour of the hospital, including the newly updated NICU. Melissa and Ivy invited Courtney to participate in a call-in interview to be played during a November radio fundraiser. CHRISTUS Southeast Texas-St. Elizabeth and Texas Rx Card will continue to work together to raise awareness of the Texas Rx Card and the CMN relationship. A donation will be made to your local CMN hospital each time a prescription is processed using the Texas Rx Card. We are excited to be a supporter of CHRISTUS Southeast Texas-St. Elizabeth and all the patients they help.

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The CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Foundation proudly announces a $125,000 grant from The Hearst Foundations. This grant will cover the purchase of seven new defibrillators for the Emergency Department at CHRISTUS Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth (St. Elizabeth).

The new defibrillators are the only model available that are specifically designed to treat children as well as adults. In addition, the portability of these defibrillators offers a major benefit to our medical staff, as many of the patients they treat must be transported internally throughout the hospital.

The new fleet of defibrillators will enhance St. Elizabeth’s work towards achieving a higher-level designation for the Emergency Department.

The Hearst Foundations are national philanthropic resources for organizations and institutions working in the fields of Education, Health, Culture and Social Service. The Hearst Foundations’ goal is to ensure that people of all backgrounds have the opportunity to build healthy, productive and inspiring lives.

The CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Foundation was honored to host a recent site visit by George Irish, Eastern Director for The Hearst Foundations. Ivy Pate, Director of CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Foundation, gave Mr. Irish a tour of St. Elizabeth, showing him where the new defibrillators will be housed in the Emergency Department. Mr. Irish also toured the newly renovated Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The visit to the NICU was especially meaningful for Mr. Irish as The Hearst Foundations have given past grants to St. Elizabeth for NICU equipment as well.

To date, The Hearst Foundations have given CHRISTUS $250,000 in grants.

“We are so proud to once again be a recipient of The Hearst Foundations’ generosity. Thanks to The Hearst Foundations, the St. Elizabeth Emergency Department will offer the newest and most advanced technology in resuscitation care,” said Ivy Pate.

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The 38^th Annual CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Foundation Gala was a smashing success. The meal was delectable, the décor was stunning, and, of course, the entertainment was stellar. Each year, philanthropic-minded businesses, organizations, and individuals gather for a night of finery all in the name of the CHRISTUS mission: to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ.

This year’s gala was especially meaningful as we celebrated the perseverance and unity of the CHRISTUS Health Community during Hurricane Harvey. We recognized CHRISTUS employees staying steadfast in their duties as healers during one of the worst natural disasters our community has seen in decades.

We also recognized the evening’s honorees: The Beaumont Enterprise and The Hearst Foundations. The Beaumont Enterprise – a household name in our area – has been supporting the CHRISTUS Gala since its inception 38 years ago. The Hearst Foundations have given a total of $250,000 to the CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Foundation. These generous grants enabled us to renovate the CHRISTUS St. Elizabeth Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and purchase lifesaving equipment for the Center for New Life and the Emergency Department.

The evening culminated in a show-stopping performance by Daryl Hall and John Oates. They wowed the crowd with popular hits such as “Rich Girl,” “You Make My Dreams,” and countless others.

We want to say a big “thank you” to all the community members that make our gala such a success, and we look forward to seeing you all next year!

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On Saturday, April 7, the CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Health System kicked off Autism Awareness Month by sponsoring Autism Awareness Day: A Sensory Event hosted by the Beaumont Children’s Museum and The Arc of Greater Beaumont. Community members were invited to experience the excitement of the children’s museum while learning about autism.

The first hour of the event was reserved for families with children on the autism spectrum, which allowed them time to get familiar with the museum in a low sensory environment with fewer people around. The museum also provided a Quiet Room that was open all day for children who became overstimulated to have a place to relax.

When the museum opened to the public, children were able to participate in activities such as making fossils, creating custom sensory bottles, and playing with sensory toys and a tactile wall. Families were also given the opportunity to play with service dogs, meet First Responders, and learn what CHRISTUS hospitals do to make ER visits for individuals on the autism  spectrum less traumatic.

Ashley Bares, Certified Child Life Specialist at CHRISTUS Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth, shared how the healthcare professionals at St. Elizabeth strive to make children on the autism spectrum more comfortable during hospital visits.

“When registering at the Emergency Room, parents of children on the autism spectrum can ask for an ASAP (Autism Spectrum Awareness Plan) or SNAP (Special Needs Awareness Plan) form,” explains Bares. “These forms help us better understand the challenges some patients face when they come to the Emergency Room so that we can do our best to make them comfortable. We can offer sunglasses for light sensitivity, fidget toys to keep their hands busy, and a weighted lap pad for those who find comfort in deep touch pressure.”

CHRISTUS Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth is proud to provide awareness and support for our autism community and we hope to make hospital visits comfortable and stress-free for everyone who comes through our doors.

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On Thursday, March 29, board members from Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas, Laura Childress and Lisa New, presented Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals in Southeast Texas with a check for $2,270.

Each year, CMN recruits volunteers from CHRISTUS hospitals and the community to help run Mardi Gras by serving drinks, taking tickets, selling souvenirs and more. When weekend is over, volunteer hours from the 16 non-profit organizations behind Mardi Gras are added up and Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas makes a donation to each organization based on their hours.

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in Southeast Texas is proud to be one of the 16 member non-profit organizations benefiting from Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas and we are beyond grateful for our CHRISTUS associates and community members who volunteer on our behalf!

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On Monday, March 26, the beginning of Holy Week, a dedication was held for the newly renovated Prayer Room, located on the third floor of the Outpatient Pavilion.

A Crucifix, special ordered from Italy, now sets atop a stone modeled after the Golgotha, a site immediately outside Jerusalem’s walls where Jesus was crucified.  On either side of the Crucifix are stained glass windows, which were left behind in the Phelan Mansion and kept in good condition by the nuns. The stained glass windows have been restored, mounted, and up lit.

This beautiful work was made possible through the generosity of Dr. Mark Kubala, a devoted Catholic, a long-time neurosurgeon with Golden Triangle Neurocare, a dedicated supporter of the CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Foundation, and most recently a published author (The Execution of Jesus the Christ).

Dr. Kubala made a generous donation to the Foundation to purchase the crucifix, as he wanted the Prayer Room to be more representative of a Catholic facility.

Mary Williams, granddaughter of John Henry “Harry” and Johannah Phelan, spoke of the importance of the Catholic faith to her grandparents, the emphasis placed on faith during her upbringing, and stories of her childhood.

Bishop Guillory gave the dedication and Tommy Frank, Foundation Board Chairman, gave a special reading. The event culminated with words from Dr. Kubala.

“We are so grateful that patients have a beautiful, peaceful place available to pray for loved ones undergoing treatment in the hospital,” said Foundation President Ivy Pate.  “Thank you, Dr. Kubala, for your immense generosity. Your dedication to this project is awe-inspiring.”

The Prayer Room is open to people of all faiths and denominations. It is a place of peace and calm where all patients, families, and staff are welcome.

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Congratulations to our winners and thank you to everyone who participated! With your help, we raised over $30,000 for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Foundation.

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