Target donation to help sheriff deputies who work with children
The Target Corp. gave a Fort Bend County nonprofit comprised of sheriff deputies a helping hand in their efforts to present children a positive message about growing up, life and the real world.
The retail chain recently gave a $5,000 check to the Kids and Cops program. A local store’s team leader, Jessica Szota, and Target Assets Protection team leader, Brandon Andersson, presented the check to Fort Bend County Sheriff ’s Office Sgt. Roger Barton and Sheriff Troy E. Nehls.
“We thank Target for reaching out to the community in such a positive way,” Barton said. “This donation will help the Kids and Cops program and the youngsters of Fort Bend County will benefit from this generous gift.”
Kids and Cops has been active in Fort Bend County schools for 17 years. Through the organization, members help children learn leadership, team building, motivation and problem-solving skills.
“Target has a large presence in Fort Bend County and we appreciate this gift, which will bolster our program and benefit children in our local schools,” Nehls said.
New members join OakBend center board
OakBend Medical Center of Richmond, recently announced this year’s directors and officers.
The hospital has several new members on its board, including Bob Douds, Dr. Amirali Popatia and District 28 state Rep. John Zerwas, R-Simonton.
“We are pleased to have new faces on our board this year,” said Joe Freudenberger, center CEO. “Bob Douds is very active in Fort Bend County and has been a great supporter of OakBend.
“Dr. Popatia is a medical oncologist who speaks several languages and Rep. John Zerwas has been a member of our Health Exchange Advisory Board for many years. His career in both the field of health care and public policy is a tremendous asset for the hospital.”
Board officers are Barry Beard, president; Dr. May Tape, vice president; Tom Crayton, treasurer; Norma Petrosewicz, secretary; and Popatia. The additional board members are Douds, Dr. Ed Uthman, Jeff Council, Melissa Martin, Ruthanne Mefford, and Zerwas,
OakBend Medical Center is an independent health care organization consisting of two fullservice hospitals and several specialty centers. Visit www.oakbendmedcenter.org for more information.
Sugar Land Hospital opens new pavilion
A recent ribbon-cutting and blessing ceremony marked the launch of a new six-story patient tower at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital.
Named the Brazos Pavilion, the tower adds 104 patient care beds to the hospital. Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s total bed count is now 347.
The opening of the Brazos Pavilion is the culmination of the hospital’s $131 million expansion program that began in 2013, said Chris Siebenaler, hospital CEO, in a news release.
“We are proud of this significant investment in the Fort Bend community and thrilled with our expanded ability to serve our patients,” he said.
The tower’s 20-bed intensive care unit opened Feb. 29 and build-out for an additional 56 medical/surgical beds will be completed in May. An additional 28 beds will be added based on demand from the community.
In addition to the Brazos Pavilion, the expansion program added an 8,900-square-foot emergency center in Missouri City; a 75,000-square-foot facility for Houston Methodist Orthopedics and Sports Medicine; and a 20,000-square-foot Heart and Vascular Center, adjacent to the hospital’s Emergency Department.
“Fort Bend’s medical needs continue to increase as the community grows,” Siebenaler said. “We’ve worked hard to expand our physical footprint and enhance our facilities. At the same time, we continue to make available the latest, most sophisticated and complex procedures to our patients with the support of our medical staff.”
Visit www.houstonmethodist.org/sugarland to learn more.