SUMMARY PAGE

March 2006

Purpose - The HRDF provides free temporary housing (up to three months) and a safe, welcome, comfortable, supportive environment for families in need who must come to Houston for treatment in the Texas Medical Center hospitals.

History - Established in 1968 by members of the Bering Drive Church of Christ, the HRDF is an independent, non-profit, tax-exempt public foundation supported by foundations, individuals, corporations, and 22 local churches representing 9 denominations. The project was initiated in a small rented fourplex ‘army barracks’ building and expanded to a $2 million 42-unit fully funded 4-building Hospitality Apartments complex designed and constructed on 8 lots half a mile south of the Medical Center. No direct government support has ever been received by the HRDF.

Operation - Never in its 37-year history has one penny been paid for any professional management or fund-raising help; all services are provided exclusively by about 125 dedicated Community Volunteers who serve as Trustees (30), Advisors (42), Office Staff (37), and a Resident Manager. They daily make all operational decisions and represent more than 20 local churches, civic organizations, and corporations.

Services - To date the Hospitality Apartments have served more than 5,500 families from 49 U.S. states and 65 foreign countries. All apartments are completely furnished (including linens). Two on-site laundry rooms are available without charge to the Guests. In addition to housing, Volunteers provide other services which include limited food, crafts, transportation, home-made bread, opportunities for service, monthly fellowship dinners, bingo, etc. Not infrequently, the Volunteers ask Guests into their homes for dinner, take them shopping, or invite them to attend church services if appropriate. As medical treatments dictate, Guests are welcome to stay up to 3 months. The average stay is about 7 weeks, and the cumulative occupancy rate for the last 37 years has been 99.9%. Resident Managers may stay longer if needed.

Eligibility - Need is the only criterion used to determine eligibility. Selection is made by the Volunteers in chronological order of application. Most applicants are referred by hospital Social Workers. There are no restrictions based on gender, patient age, religion, national origin, or language. To protect the other Guests, we will not admit people with communicable diseases. Guests are expected to do their own laundry, care for the property, and leave the apartments clean and ready for the next Guests. Smoking is not allowed inside any buildings. Because there are no on-site facilities for children, non-patient children between the ages of 1 and 18 may visit no more than 3 days per month and must be kept under strict supervision.

Charges - There are absolutely no charges for any of these services. Our philosophy is very simple: JUST PASS IT ON!

Resident Manager - Like all our Volunteers, Resident Managers are dedicated to making the Hospitality Apartments live up to their name. They serve Guests because they want to, not because they are paid to.

Ken and Sue Goodman were our first managers, having come from Amarillo in 1983 for Ken’s successful cancer treatment. They “retired” to Lufkin after 16 years of pioneering service. Pamela Loeb (from MI) became the second manager in 1999, followed by Lily and LeRoy Cossey (Springdale, AR). Bob and Ann Shumate (Morrilton, AR) did an outstanding job while serving as caregivers for their son. In May, 2002, J.D. and Kathleen McGaugh (Waldron, AR) took the reins and did a spectacular job interacting positively with Guests and doing/supervising maintenance work often with assistance from other Guests with special skills. John and Priscilla Monson (Prairieville, LA) served brilliantly until John lost his long battle after a heart transplant. Linda and Larry Shores (Waldron, AR) have been excellent managers since Feb. 2005.

Funding - There are two types of funding. Capital Funds ($2.0 million) have been provided by local churches, foundations, corporations, and individuals. About half of the Operating Funds (less than $7/apt-day, or ~$100,000/year for all 42 units) are covered by 22 local "supporting churches" that contribute amounts ranging from $15 to $600 a month. Frequent memorial gifts provide a substantial part of the operating funds. Several Trustees/Advisors/
Friends also make regular contributions. Operating costs include utilities, minor maintenance, insurance, communications (e.g. a monthly newsletter The Volunteer sent to ~500 addresses), monthly fellowship dinners for our Guests and Volunteers, etc. As a matter of policy, the HRDF will not accept direct financial support from government agencies. Anyone interested in hosting a dinner or other social event should contact Trustee Catherine Gay.

Relocation - After 37 years of effective service in the same place half a mile south of the Medical Center, the Hospitality Apartments now have to relocate. MDAnderson is building a new four-lane boulevard (an extension of Bertner Avenue south from the Center) that will connect their hospital buildings to a new Medical Research Park just south of Old Spanish Trail. The proposed pathway passes directly through the middle of our current property. The good news is that MDA has swapped adjacent land they own outside the roadway for our property and paid us $1.59 million, the appraised value of our 4-building complex. We need to raise another $1.5 million from private sources to cover the estimated construction costs of a new, expanded (42 to 46 units), more ADA-compliant, environmentally friendly multiplex on the new site.

Joe W. Hightower, President