Giving Hope to Little Hearts - The Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Fund Advances CHRISTUS Children’s Heart Center

In recognition of American Heart Month, CHRISTUS Children’s Heart Center is announcing the development of a new pediatric cardiac surgery operating center to make a life-changing difference for children and families in South Texas. The new center will be funded by an incredible $2.74 million grant that was made possible due to donations to the CHRISTUS Children’s Foundation, including a lead gift of $1.5 million from The Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Fund. The Voelcker Fund has contributed over $7.9 million to the hospital over the past decade.

“Supporting the mission of CHRISTUS Children was a heartfelt desire of Minnie Voelcker. The Trustees of the Voelcker Fund visited CHRISTUS to meet with surgeons and staff to review and discuss the plans for the new pediatric cardiac surgery center,” said Trustee, Banks M. Smith. “We were impressed. Mrs. Voelcker would be proud she helped support advanced heart care for the children of South Texas.”

The total $2.74 million grant for the new pediatric cardiac surgery operating center will finance a technology integration system with live streaming capabilities, state-of-the-art monitors, ventilators and other devices for the operating room and perfusion and ECMO equipment necessary for temporarily substituting heart and lung functions during cardiac and thoracic surgeries. The grant will also fund the expansion of the cardiac surgery operating room, effectively doubling its square footage to approximately 850 square feet. The new operating room will be completed in 2026.

The most common type of birth malformations are congenital heart defects. Each year, more than 40,000 babies born in the United States will face a congenital cardiac condition, making heart disease one of the leading causes of birth defect-related illness and death in infants. Dr. Victor Bautista-Hernandez, a leading pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon, and his team at CHRISTUS Children’s Heart Center have already made a remarkable impact with their expertise in newborn and minimally invasive surgery.

“The outcomes for our youngest patients are excellent, and we’re proud to continue setting new benchmarks in care and success,” said Dr. Bautista-Hernandez. “Generous support from our community partners, like the Voelcker Fund, make our continued success possible.”

The Voelcker Fund’s donation is part of CHRISTUS’ Keeping Promises campaign, which aims to address the growing health care needs of South Texas families.

“We’ve made great strides, but there’s still more to be done,” added Terry Kyle, CEO of CHRISTUS Children’s Foundation. “We need your support to ensure that every child in need has access to the highest standard of health care. We invite the community to join us in this important mission.”

Your donation will directly contribute to life-saving surgeries, innovative treatments, and the care that these children so desperately need. Together, we can continue to transform lives, one heartbeat at a time.

To learn more about how you can contribute and make a difference in the lives of children across South Texas, please visit CHRISTUS Children's Foundation's website.