leaders in giving
A Commitment to Higher Standards
Bank of America Gift Creates Medical Information Center at Mexican Consulate
By Angela Dolder

	Bank of America pledged $100,000  to create a medical information center at the Houston Mexican Consulate. Giving Giving home page Hospital priorities Benefits of giving Corporate partnerships Children's Miracle Network Leaders in giving Shine magazine

For thousands of Mexican nationals living in or visiting
Southeast Texas, the Mexican Consulate in Houston provides a vital link to their homeland, a beacon of security they can turn to when they need help.

Thanks to Bank of America’s generous $100,000 pledge and in collaboration with Mexican Consul General Carlos Ignacio González Magallón, consulate visitors now have access to a new health care information resource center, operated by Texas Children’s Hospital.

“It’s all about creating higher standards in the communities
where we live and work. By providing the community with the power of information, we can provide everyone with access to resources to help them live a long and healthy life,” said Rick Jaramillo, senior vice president at Bank of America.

Though highly equipped to assist visitors for most of their
needs, the Mexican consulate lacked the resources to handle the health care questions and concerns of local Mexican citizens and visitors.

“A significant number of 95,000 consulate visitors need
answers to medically-related questions for their children, family members and themselves. I am honored to now provide a center where our visitors can access information and answers to world class health care information,” explained González Magallón.

The center will contain a library and online database of health-related information, including vaccinations, nutrition, the prevention and management of diabetes and how to enroll in public and private health insurance plans, explained Edgar Vesga, international attaché at Texas Children's Hospital. Bilingual and specially-trained volunteers will manage the center.

Texas Children's Hospital enlisted the participation of St. Luke’s Health System to help provide resources regarding health care services and information for adults. Texas Children's will coordinate the operation and management of the medical information
center.

González Magallón estimates that 5,000 people will visit the center each year, many of which will be Mexican citizens living or traveling in Southeast Texas, as well as persons of dual citizenship and Americans seeking to do business or
travel in Mexico.

“With this medical information center, I hope that a person can go home at the end of the day with a sense of relief that they have found answers. And if we can continue this—family by family, block by block, community to community—then we have accomplished our mission with this effort,” he declared.

In 2005, Bank of America provided $6 billion in loans, investments and grants for economic development efforts in support of community revitalization, access to capital
and job creation. Bank of America’s nationwide community development lending and investment goal, $750 billion over 10 years, is the organization’s most ambitious yet and one of the largest community development goals ever established by an American financial institution, Jaramillo said.

Make a gift now or pledge a contribution to be matched by Texas Children's Hospital. For questions, please email jsclem@texaschildrenshospital.org or call 832-824-2107.

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