Wesley Community & Health Centers Awarded $500,000 Grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation to Expand Vital Community Health Services.

Wesley Community & Health Centers (Wesley CHC) today announced it has received a $500,000 grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation to support its ongoing mission of providing high-quality, accessible healthcare and community support to Phoenix’s most vulnerable populations.

“Our mission has always been grounded in whole-person care and community empowerment,” said Blaine Bandi, CEO of Wesley Community & Health Centers. “This generous support from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation allows us to strengthen our reach and ensure that members of our community receive not only compassionate medical care, but also the broader resources needed to thrive.”

The grant will directly support the construction of a two-story, 40,000 square foot health center in the historic Grant Park neighborhood.  Presently under construction at Central and Hadley just south of downtown Phoenix, the Mary Rose Wilcox Center for Health Care and Innovation will be transforming the delivery of health care to Central Phoenix communities.  When completed the Center will feature twenty-four primary care exam rooms, two same-day exam rooms, specialty exam rooms, a retail pharmacy, imaging, multi-purpose community rooms and a demonstration kitchen.

“This grant is an investment in healthier, stronger communities,” said Bob Parsons, Co-Founder of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. “Everyone benefits when people can get the care they need. This new center will be a cornerstone for families who deserve high-quality care close to home.

The health center will replace an existing Wesley-run facility, which the community has outgrown. It’s also positioned along the light rail, making the facility more accessible. Wesley serves an estimated 7,000 patients annually via its network of fixed health centers and mobile units. The Mary Rose Wilcox Center for Health Care and Innovation is expected to open in fall 2027, enabling Wesley to double the number of patients the group serves each year.

“This health care center is about so much more than a new building. It’s a commitment to the families who make Central Phoenix such a vibrant community,” said Renee Parsons, Co-Founder of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. “We’re proud to help bring a resource to life that will strengthen health, connection, and opportunity for generations to come.”

Operating in Phoenix’s underserved neighborhoods since the 1950s, Wesley CHC has expanded from a neighborhood community center into a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). Today, the organization offers a comprehensive suite of services including primary medical care, integrated behavioral health, diabetes self-management education (DSME), HIV prevention, and specialized women’s health services. Beyond clinical care, Wesley CHC empowers local families through youth afterschool and summer programs, English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, nutrition, and community gardening initiatives. By addressing both medical and social determinants of health, Wesley CHC remains a trusted pillar for thousands of Phoenix families who face systemic barriers to care.