MERCEDES, TEXAS - Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas has awarded Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement (VIDA) $60,000 to enhance career pathways for allied health professionals.
Felida Villarreal, VIDA’s president and CEO said the grant acknowledges the pivotal role of community organizations in driving positive transformation, addressing influential factors impacting health such as socio-economic challenges, and fostering avenues for economic advancement.
“We are immensely grateful to Methodist Healthcare Ministries, for selecting VIDA as a recipient of this $60,000 grant,” Villarreal said.
“It is our continued priority to support our low-income residents to achieve economic mobility through high-demand and high-wage career pathways, especially in the healthcare industry.”
Villarreal said the funding from Methodist Healthcare Ministries is a valuable contribution to supporting the community’s health and residents’ access to quality healthcare.
“This grant will allow VIDA to continue providing the essential wraparound support services for building and sustaining a competitive healthcare workforce in the RGV. Thank you MHM for recognizing the importance of investing in human capital to promote health equity and economic prosperity of our region,” Villarreal said.
For over 28 years, VIDA has helped more than 6,000 economically disadvantaged valley residents successfully complete career training programs in high demand occupations and achieve self-sufficiency. In 2023, VIDA served 627 participants with an average persistence rate of 96%. Participants entered VIDA’s program earning an average hourly wage of $10.54, but graduated and secured employment with an average hourly wage of over $23.44! This is a true representation of human capital investment and aligning workforce skills with local industry demand. To learn more about VIDA, please visit www.vidacareers.org or call (956) 903-1900.
Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas broadens the definition of healthcare by providing low-cost clinical care for the uninsured and by supporting community-led efforts that improve living conditions that cause people to be sick in the first place. We use our earnings as co-owners of Methodist Healthcare to ensure that people who are economically disadvantaged and uninsured can live their healthiest lives. We do this by advocating for, investing in and providing access to quality clinical care and addressing factors that affect health—including economic mobility, supportive relationships, food security, broadband access, and safe neighborhoods. Ultimately, we fulfill our mission of “Serving Humanity to Honor God” by advancing health equity so that more resilient individuals & families living in the 74 counties we serve can thrive.
Meanwhile, Modern CEO has posted a feature on Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement (VIDA) President and CEO Felida Villarreal.
Modern CEO is a newsletter that “explores inclusive approaches to leadership drawn from conversations with executives and entrepreneurs, and from the pages of Inc. and Fast Company.”
Villarreal is on the board of Fast Company, a private, fee-based network of influential leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs.
The feature on Villarreal starts off with a common occurrence at VIDA:
“When a 25-year-old woman walked into the doors of the Valley Initiative For Development and Advancement (VIDA) last year, she had no employment, no stable income. A single mom who was homeless and on government assistance, she was seeking a brighter future for herself and her two children.”
The feature said Villarreal and her team stepped in to help.
“VIDA referred her to a valued community partner, who presented her with a new apartment. VIDA also provided her with the necessary support and guidance to resume her college studies. Today, that woman is scheduled to graduate with her associate degree in nursing in December 2023 and subsequently take her state board examination to become licensed as a registered nurse.”
Villarreal told Modern CEO that the woman’s story is one of many that inspires her to do the work she does.
“When you look at stories like these, it’s truly incredible to see firsthand the dedication and commitment of the individuals we serve in overcoming prominent barriers to achieve a higher education and an opportunity for advancement,” Villarreal told the newsletter.
Editor’s Note: Click here to read the Modern CEO feature in full.
