May 5, 2025

Today, The MacArthur Foundation and its nonprofit affiliate, Lever for Change, announced Texas Children’s Hospital as one of five Finalists advancing to the final stage of 100&Change.

100&Change is a global competition awarding a single $100 million grant to help solve one of the world’s most critical social challenges. Since its inception, 100&Change has leveraged an additional $868 million, demonstrating the potential of high-impact philanthropy to fund systemic change. The competition has influenced the philanthropic sector by encouraging funders to adopt large-scale, collaborative approaches to problem-solving.

100&Change received 869 valid applications from organizations and collaborations worldwide, with each proposal identifying a problem and presenting a compelling solution that is impactful, evidence-based, feasible, durable, and just.

Texas Children’s is tackling sickle cell disease (SCD), an inherited disease and one of the most neglected in the world, plaguing African children for 8,000 years. Access to largescale public health SCD care is urgently needed in Africa but has not materialized, as current programs are too slow and unaffordable. Texas Children’s Global and its affiliated Baylor Children’s Foundations in Africa, in partnership with Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), are mobilizing relevant stakeholders, particularly Ministries of Health and pharmaceutical companies; training health workers; and stimulating or supplementing critical SCD supplies to spur widespread access to SCD care.

Texas Children’s has already trained 35 of the first African specialists in SCD care and mobilized complementary resources, including affordable business pricing for pharmaceuticals. We believe the triad of government engagement and ownership, pharmaceutical markets and a critical mass of African clinical experts and leaders will result in an impactful and enduring response to SCD. The goal is to reach one million children with SCD by 2030.

We are overjoyed that our organization was recognized as one of these five transformative teams that have the potential to drive meaningful and lasting change on a global scale.

More information about 100&Change and the Finalists can be found at www.100andchange.org. Learn more about the life-saving care Texas Children’s is providing for children with sickle cell disease.

Becker’s Healthcare unveiled its 2025 list of 150+ top places to work in healthcare, celebrating hospitals, health systems and healthcare companies that go above and beyond to foster outstanding workplace cultures.

It recognizes organizations that are committed to supporting their teams through comprehensive benefits, opportunities for both personal and professional growth, inclusive and empowering work environments, and resources that promote a healthy work-life balance. 

Click here to read the complete listing.

Cedar Ridge High School freshman Ian Hernandez was going for the soccer ball from a throw-in when his Henderson High School opponent’s knee collided with his left eye. Ian, 15, was unconscious for a few minutes, but when he woke up the trainer was looking at him, trying to assess the situation.

Ian was sent to Texas Children’s Hospital for specialized care. Plastic Surgeon Dr. Ibrahim Khansa took Ian to surgery within an hour of arriving at the hospital to save Ian’s vision in the injured eye. 

After resting at home for two and a half months, both Ian and Dr. Khansa weren’t sure Ian would be able to play soccer again. 

The sign of hope came at his six-week follow-up visit when Ian was able to make his eye move a tiny bit. “That’s all it took to give me a sign of hope,” Khansa said. “It was one of the best days of my professional career.” At each two-week visit, the eye showed more progress. “He has made an incredible recovery,” Khansa said. “The muscle is working pretty much normally.” Ian kept the positive thoughts flowing, even while doing physical and occupational therapies. “He’s a very inspiring young man,” Khansa said. “And I don’t say that lightly.” 

Click here to read the article.