Now known as the Friends of Texas Health Cleburne, the committee hosts the Black & White Gala each year. They have raised more than $2.5 million during their 16 year history in order to fund the Shots for Tots, Mammograms Are A Must! and Know Your PSA programs. The board has supported these projects at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Cleburne:
- Ann Marti Schmidt Women's and Infants Services Unit
- Surgery Department Renovation and Expansion
- Emergency Department Renovation and Expansion
- Lobby Renovation
- Digital Mammography Equipment
- LINC (Ladders in Nursing Careers)
Shots for Tots
The hospital's award-winning Shots for Tots program, which was the founding initiative for the Black & White Gala, has paid for more than 70,000 immunizations in Johnson County. Since the program began, Johnson County no longer has one of the lowest immunization rates in Texas. The program has received the Hot Shot Award for Outstanding Local Volunteer Organization and Outstanding Local Corporate Partner from the Texas Department of Health. It has also received the Innovation and Creativity in Immunizations Award and the Coalition and Community Groups Award.
The no-cost childhood immunizations are administered daily at the Texas Department of State Health Services clinic on East Kilpatrick Street in Cleburne. In addition, the program arranges for out-clinics throughout Johnson County in schools, malls and health fairs.
Mammograms are a Must!
In 1996, Mammograms Are a Must! was added to the mission of the Black & White Gala. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States and is the second-leading cause of cancer death in women. In support of early detection, no-cost screening mammograms at Texas Health Cleburne may be scheduled by Johnson County women who have no health insurance, no diagnosed breast health problems and match a low-income financial profile. Diagnostic follow-up mammograms and sonograms are also available as needed. Combined with an educational focus by a Community Outreach Coordinator, this program has provided more than 2,500 no-cost mammograms and diagnostic support for women in Johnson County.
Know Your PSA
The Know Your PSA initiative for men was added in 2001. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer in men, and approximately one out of every six men will develop prostate cancer during his lifetime. Texas Health Cleburne conducts at least one PSA clinic for men in Johnson County each September, Prostate Awareness Month. Know Your PSA has provided more than 450 no-cost prostate screens, which include a digital rectal exam, the PSA blood test and prostate cancer education.
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