Healthcare Org Toasts to 30 Years of 'Making a Difference' in East End

WITH A GOAL of ensuring access to quality healthcare for underserved families in Houston’s East End, El Centro de Corazón has been making a difference for 30 years. Its annual Making a Difference luncheon, this year chaired by Vicky Dominguez with honorary chairs Leisa Holland Nelson Bowman and Leila Perrin, raised more than $150,000.

Emceed by Cyndy Garza Roberts, the River Oaks Country Club affair honored Michele Leal Farrah for her commitment to El Centro and similar causes all over Houston. The organization’s CEO, Marcie Mir, thanked supporters and shared why El Centro must still expand its services to reach more Houston residents. Notably, 74 percent of El Centro’s 12,000-plus patients live at or below federal poverty level ($31K annually for a family of four) and more than half are uninsured.

Then Stephanie Ramos gave the keynote address; the ABC News correspondent and Army Reserve Major spoke about channeling inner strength to make a bigger impact.

Andrea Godea, Larry Savala, Amalia Savala

Sippi Khurana and Donae Chramosta

Blanca Lopez, Julie Garza, Hoda Sana

Shelley Ludwick and Elvia Taylor

Elizabeth Ramos, Marcie Mir and Michele Leal

Esmeralda De la Cruz, Lorena Gomez, Vicky Dominguez

Neena Arora, Diana Grair, Kavon Young

Maria Smith, Diana Ospina

Mari Trevino Glass and Cinthya Reade

Evelyn Leightman, George Connelly, Helen Perry

George and Michele Farah

Lisa Wilmore, George Connelly

German Ibañez, Melanie Rodriguez

Linda Flores Olson, Vicki Luna, Graciana Garces, Jorge Gonzalez

Jan Mendenhall, Xochitl Ljuboja, Miriam Zatarain

Jolene Trevino and Vicki Luna

John Cisneros, Marco Perez

Lisa Wilmore, Ed Emmett and Leisa Holland Nelson Bowman