Established in 2006, following the sale of Georgetown Hospital to St. David’s HealthCare, GHF has spent years quietly helping the community by funding nonprofits, supporting local programs and listening to the needs of those it serves. In 2015, GHF took an even deeper dive into understanding how it could make a greater impact.
“We engaged in some research with the University of Texas to look at Southeast Georgetown to better understand what would improve quality of life [from a resident perspective],” CEO Scott Alarcón said. “We identified it as an area to focus some of our strategic investments.”
GHF purchased Carver Elementary School and is in the process of transforming it into a family resource center: Carver Center for Families. The center now serves as a hub for parent education, healthy child development, resource navigation and caregiver support programs, making vital resources more accessible.
Changing lives through nutrition and wellness
Among the many services GHF supports, one of its most impactful initiatives is the Lone Star Family Market, a predominantly women, infants and children (WIC) grocery store inside the Carver Center. Designed to help low income families make the most of their benefits, the store provides easy access to nutritious food, supplements and more.
“When people go to these grocery stores, they’re able to use anything in their [WIC] accounts for [purchases],” Alarcón said. “People can go to a women's event or children's health appointment and walk down the hall, take their card, and go home with supplements and fresh fruit.”
Beyond nutrition, GHF has also invested in recreational facilities, ensuring that children and families have safe and accessible places to be active and connect with others. Through partnerships with organizations like the YMCA, GHF has helped renovate the Carver Center for Families gym and expand programs that bring the community together.
Looking ahead to a bright future
In 2018, GHF took a major step toward making its services even more accessible, purchasing the former Bank of America building on Georgetown Square to house its new offices. In September, GHF officially moved in, further solidifying its presence in the community.
“The square is the heartbeat of the community, and it's right by southeast Georgetown,” Alarcón said. “We've already seen that the energy is different. Places and spaces matter. There's so much activity, and we're within walking distance of some of our partners.”
“We can do good things, but if we only do what we've always done, we won't have the same impact,” Alarcón said. “We're trying to grow and evolve as the community grows and evolves. I hope the seeds that we are planting today last generationally. We have an entity where we only focus on the Georgetown community. We don't go super wide. We're trying to go much deeper.”
Through its expanded offices and strengthened partnerships, GHF continues to nurture the heart of the community—one family, one program and one connection at a time.
Get involved with Georgetown Health Foundation today by volunteering with any of its grant partners, including The Caring Place, Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, Carver Center for Families and more.
The above story was produced by Multi Platform Journalist Sydney Heller with Community Impact's Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.
