Congratulations to Texas Health’s 2024 Community Service Award winners who were nominated by their colleagues or leaders for their community outreach efforts. Since 1997, Texas Health has recognized employees for their outstanding volunteerism. Texas Health will donate $1,000 to each winner’s charity of choice in the Texas Health service area.
Salimah Ali, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano (Individual/Clinical Category)
On most Saturdays you can find Salimah Ali working at MAA’s Inspiration (MAA’s) in Carrollton, preparing and packing hot meals for delivery to senior citizens and area homeless shelters.
Ali, an R.N. at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano for the past 25 years, helped start MAA’s in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The mission was to deliver nutritious, home-cooked meals and care packages to about 25 seniors, mostly those associated with her faith congregation, who were homebound during the pandemic. The program has grown from there and today MAA’s prepares and delivers 1,000 meals plus snacks and cooking ingredients weekly to 160 seniors as well as nonprofits serving homeless neighbors, including Austin Street Center and Family Gateway.
“I just wanted to do something to help senior citizens during the pandemic. It brings me personal satisfaction to do something for others,” Ali said, adding that volunteerism was instilled in her by her parents as a child growing up in Pakistan. “Going all the way back to Girl Scouts, I’ve been volunteering.”
In fact, Salimah’s family and friends often join her at MAA’s as well as in her volunteer role at the Ismaili Jamatkhana and Center in Carrollton, where she’s a member of the congregation’s Social Welfare Board focusing on the care of seniors. Ali is involved in planning activities and trips, running errands, and hosting health screenings to check blood pressure and blood sugar.
“I want to do things that keep them active and healthy,” she said. “Sometimes it’s the little things that make a big difference.”
Texas Health will donate $1,000 to MAA’s Inspiration on Ali’s behalf.
Carrie Cantrell, Texas Health Research and Education Institute (Individual/Non-Clinical Category)
For nearly 25 years, Carrie Cantrell has been volunteering her time to All Community Outreach (ACO), where she stocks the food pantry, organizes school supplies, sorts toy donations, helps parents shop in the charity’s Christmas store and just about anything else the nonprofit needs her to do.
Cantrell, director, Research Administration, has worked for Texas Health since 1997. Her community service at ACO in Allen is inspired by the Texas Health Mission — to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve.
“When I’m working for All Community Outreach, I’m doing what Texas Health has asked us to do —to volunteer within our communities to improve the lives of individuals,” Cantrell said.
An Allen resident, she has donated many hours to the Allen-based organization over the years, logging Community Time Off hours and using her own paid time off to serve. She often brings help, including Texas Health colleagues.
“Some of my colleagues live in the Collin County area but others drive from Irving, Fort Worth, and Kaufman County to help with ACO projects,” she said.
For Cantrell, volunteering alongside coworkers has been a great way to bond as a team.
“You can get to know people in a more relaxed setting outside of the office and then you can build on those relationships at work,” she said, adding that she especially encourages new employees in the department to volunteer as a way to accelerate getting to know the team.”
Texas Health will donate $1,000 to All Community Outreach in her honor.
Nursing Medical Division, Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth (Team Category)
The Nursing Medical Division at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth has been volunteering annually at the Tarrant Area Food Bank (TAFB) since 2011, supplying more than 100 employees to work one day during the food bank’s busiest time of year.
Every December, the Nursing Medical Division — from front-line employees to leaders — books an eight-hour shift on one day at the TAFB. Some employees work the full eight hours while others take a four-hour shift. Team members fan out to work across the food bank wherever needed, including the community kitchen, quality control, market and gardens.
“We’ve been doing this for years and everyone looks forward to it,” said Monika Decker, R.N., nurse manager, who has worked at Texas Health for 42 years and helps organize the event. “We’re already planning for this year.” Others on the team assist with planning, including Patrina James, administrative assistant, and Samantha Blair, R.N., who have 37 years and 19 years with Texas Health, respectively, and are supported division leaders.
To add to the festivities, the division hosts its holiday party between the two shifts in a room at TAFB where the team gathers for a chili lunch historically provided by the Texas Health Fort Worth Food and Nutrition Department.
“We are very proud of the team and all that they put into making this a special day for our employees and the Tarrant Area Food Bank,” said Jennifer Chavez, D.N.P., R.N., ACNP-BC, NEA-BC, CCRN, chief nursing officer, Texas Health Fort Worth.
Texas Health will donate $1,000 to the TAFB on behalf of the Nursing Medical Division at Texas Health Fort Worth.
The following individuals were nominated for a 2024 Community Service Award
Clinical Category
- Dr. Marshia Allen, behavioral health clinician, Campus OP Program
- Kemica Duty-Wright, telemetry tech, Texas Health Heart and Vascular Hospital
- Katrina Holley, physician assistant, Texas Health Heart and Vascular Surgical Specialists
- Patricia Kolb, pharmacist, Texas Health Flower Mound
- Christa Rogers, R.N., Texas Health Rockwall
Non-Clinical Category
- Anessa Flores-Heath, practice manager, Texas Health Family Care Flower Mound
- Nancy Tao, vice president of Payor Operations, System Services
Team Category
- Revenue Cycle and Health Information Management Systems, System Services
- Human Resources Department, Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth
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