Washington, DC – An anonymous donor has named Mary’s Center’s community health center on Georgia Avenue in honor of the organization’s Founder and President and CEO, Maria Gomez. Ms. Gomez is known throughout the greater Washington, DC area for her tireless dedication to improving the health and well being of the region. She founded Mary’s Center in 1988 as a prenatal care clinic with a $250,000 grant from the DC Office of Latino Affairs.
Today, Mary’s Center offers dozens of health care, family literacy, and social services to 24,000 participants with a $25.8 million dollar budget. In addition to her leadership of Mary’s Center, Ms. Gomez is engaged in local and national-level advocacy on behalf of those without access to health care.
The new Maria S. Gomez building, located at 3912 Georgia Avenue, NW in the Petworth neighborhood of Ward 4, was opened in March 2011 toward the District’s goal of providing high-quality, accessible and affordable care in all neighborhoods of the city.
During the naming ceremony, Mary’s Center will also receive a contribution from CareFirst toward the Center’s accreditation as a patient-centered medical home. Mary’s Center volunteers, donors, partners, and neighbors have been invited to celebrate Maria’s leadership and the Center’s impact on the city.
What: Naming of Building
When: Wednesday, September 19, 2012
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. (EST)
Who: BB Otero, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services
DC Councilwoman Muriel Bowser
Maria Harris Tildon, Senior VP of Public Policy and Community Affairs, CareFirst
Julie Martinez Ortega, Mary’s Center, Board Chair
Where: Mary’s Center
3912 Georgia Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20011
