With many of Texas Children's team members experiencing higher emotional stress and financial strain amid the tumult of the pandemic and recent national events, a new relief fund was established in early June to offer employees another resource for support.
The COVID-19 Relief Fund for Texas Children's Employees grants up to a combined $5,000, which can be used to cover basic family needs — like household bills, food and clothing — as well as medical co-pays, mental health services, childcare expenses and/or a loss of income from leaves of absence. Within weeks of the Relief Fund's launch, over 1,000 employees had applied for support.
A significant gift to support the Relief Fund came from the Carolyn E. and Robert L. Tate Trust. The Tates were from Kerrville, Texas, and included the hospital, along with two other children's charities, as a beneficiary of their estate plan. Texas Children's President and CEO Mark Wallace and his wife, Shannon; members of Texas Children's Board of Trustees; and a number of donors in the community have also made generous gifts.
Because the Tates entrusted Texas Children's with designating their bequest for highest priority needs, the decision was made to dedicate the estate gift for the Relief Fund. Thanks to their foresight and generosity, Texas Children's has been able to provide tangible support for a number of courageous and selfless team members, who have helped sustain Texas Children's since the beginning of the pandemic and during their own time of need.
If you are interested in learning more about making a bequest to provide future support for Texas Children's Hospital, please contact Rachel S. Kronenberger at 832-824-6907 or rskronen@texaschildrens.org.