Two Texas nonprofits working in the margins of the health care system have been named the 2026 recipients of the Texas Medical Association Foundation’s (TMAF’s) John P. McGovern Champion of Health Award.
The annual award, which recognizes organizations making measurable headway against public health challenges facing Texas’ most vulnerable populations, was announced during TMAF’s annual gala at TexMed 2026, held this year in Corpus Christi.
Free World Bound, a Dallas-based nonprofit operated by Prism Health North Texas, was honored with a $7,500 program grant for its work helping people leave prison without leaving behind their HIV care. Amy’s House of Temple took second place and a $3,000 grant for giving cancer and transplant patients lodging during treatment.
Bridging HIV care gaps after prison
Prism Health North Texas’ Free World Bound has spent more than 20 years addressing one of the most predictable challenges to HIV care: the moment someone walks out of a Texas prison.
Without intervention, many formerly incarcerated people living with HIV fall out of treatment almost immediately after release, which disrupts medication regimens, increases transmission risk, and contributes to the risk of a return to incarceration, according to sponsors.
Free World Bound’s solution connects a three-person team with incarcerated individuals before their release date, lining up HIV care, housing, nutrition, transportation, and vocational support so that continuity of care is in place when they walk out the door.
Last year, Free World Bound’s work ensured uninterrupted HIV treatment for 170 people and enrolled each of them in the state’s HIV medication assistance program. The initiative currently serves 12 counties in and around the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
“The program has saved countless lives, prevented additional infections, and resulted in a healthier Texas community,” said John Carlo, MD, CEO of Prism Health North Texas.
A home away from home
Amy’s House in Temple addresses another serious barrier to care: the cost and logistics of being far from home during extended cancer or transplant treatment.
The nonprofit provides affordable, sanitary lodging for organ transplant recipients, living donors, oncology patients, and their caregivers while they receive care at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center.
Many of the families Amy’s House serves are rural, low-income, or medically vulnerable, and a treatment course far from home could mean choosing between care and financial stability. By providing stable housing close to the hospital, Amy’s House works to reduce stress, support treatment adherence, and protect patients’ physical and emotional well-being throughout their stay, according to program organizers.
“Receiving this award is both exciting and humbling,” said Executive Director Phyllis Renfrow. “It reflects the collective effort of our team and the community we serve.”
TMA Foundation supports philanthropic efforts aligning with TMA’s vision and funds TMA’s population health, science, and community outreach initiatives. Its Champion of Health award is named after the late John P. McGovern, MD, a philanthropist, scholar, and allergist who founded the John P. McGovern Foundation in Houston. Dr. McGovern established a permanent endowment at TMAF, which supports this award.