Staff Reports | Free Press Philanthropy
Wesley Community & Health Centers received a $500,000 grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation to support the construction of a new health center in Phoenix and expand access to health care services for underserved residents.
The funding will support development of the Mary Rose Wilcox Center for Health Care and Innovation, a two-story, 40,000-square-foot facility under construction near Central Avenue and Hadley Street just south of downtown Phoenix, according to a press release.
“Our mission has always been grounded in whole-person care and community empowerment,” Blaine Bandi, CEO of Wesley Community & Health Centers, said. “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.”
When completed, the center will include 24 primary care exam rooms, two same-day exam rooms, specialty exam rooms, a retail pharmacy, imaging services, multipurpose community rooms and a demonstration kitchen.
“This grant is an investment in healthier, stronger communities,” Bob Parsons, co-founder of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, said. “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 new facility will replace an existing Wesley-operated health center that has outgrown its current space. Located along the Valley Metro light rail line, the center is intended to improve accessibility for patients.
Wesley Community & Health Centers serves approximately 7,000 patients annually through its network of health centers and mobile units. The Mary Rose Wilcox Center for Health Care and Innovation is expected to open in fall 2027 and will allow the organization to serve significantly more patients 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,” Renee Parsons, co-founder of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, said. “We’re proud to help bring a resource to life that will strengthen health, connection, and opportunity for generations to come.”
Operating in Phoenix neighborhoods since the 1950s, Wesley Community & Health Centers has grown from a community center into a federally qualified health center.
The organization provides primary medical care, integrated behavioral health services, diabetes self-management education, HIV prevention services and women’s health care. It also offers community programs that include youth after-school and summer programs, English as a Second Language classes, nutrition education and community gardening initiatives.
