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As the Metrocrest Hospital Authority (MHA) celebrates its 50th anniversary, the organization has transformed from a simple hospital management entity into a powerful community health and support network that is redefining local philanthropy.
Founded in 1975 by the City of Farmers Branch, the authority began as a mechanism to manage local hospital facilities. Today, it operates as a unique quasi-governmental agency that does more than manage medical real estate — it strategically reinvests millions of dollars back into the community's health and social infrastructure.
"We're not like other authorities that rely on taxpayer dollars," said John Mahalik, CEO of the Metrocrest Hospital Authority. "Our only revenue comes from hospital operations and medical office building tenants."
Currently, the authority owns several medical buildings in the Metrocrest area including the Carrollton hospital complex, which includes a 250-bed acute care facility, three medical office buildings, and surrounding properties. However, MHA's impact comes not from healthcare delivery, but from its robust community grant program.
Each year, the organization distributes between $3 to $3.5 million to local nonprofits, focusing on five critical healthcare priority areas: behavioral health, prevention and screening, access and navigation, dental and vision care, and nutritional health and diabetes management.
Krista Farber Weinstein, MHA chief operating officer, who developed the formal giving program in 2016, emphasized the strategic approach to community support. "We're not just writing checks," Farber Weinstein said. "We're forming partnerships and actively working to address community health needs."
One such partnership has been transformative for Woven Health Clinic, a local healthcare provider. "Their [MHA] funding has been crucial in developing our Empower Health program,” said Woven Health Clinic Executive Director Jackie Rawkowski. “The program goes beyond disease prevention to truly empowering patients to take an active role in their healthcare journey." The Metrocrest Hospital Authority has been investing in the Empower Health program for seven years, providing a total of about $2 million to support the clinic's innovative approach to community healthcare.
The authority's impact is particularly visible in the Farmers Branch, Carrollton and Addison communities. Recent initiatives include funding groundbreaking programs like a partnership with Texas A&M College of Dentistry to provide dental screenings and sealants for elementary school children and supporting a behavioral health program that eventually became a statewide model for student mental health services.
Other notable partnerships include supporting organizations like Metrocrest Services and local fire departments including the Farmers Branch Fire Department, which recently received funding for specialized equipment to help rescue residents during emergencies.
The MHA community commitment goes beyond traditional grant-making. In 2022, leaders unveiled a comprehensive Community Health Needs Assessment, a voluntary effort to understand and address local health challenges systematically.
"It's not just about the organization producing the assessment," Farber Weinstein explained. "It's about the entire community coming together to identify needs and determine how each sector can contribute."
The authority's current focus areas emerged from this assessment, which highlighted critical needs in maternal health, behavioral health and dental care. The organization is now working with partners like Hope Cottage and the American Heart Association to develop targeted interventions.
MHA's approach to community support is particularly innovative. Rather than simply providing funding and walking away, Farber Weinstein regularly engages with these organizations, asking critical questions about program effectiveness and potential improvements.
This collaborative approach has led to significant breakthroughs. A prime example is the behavioral health program that eventually evolved into Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (T-CHATT), a statewide initiative providing free mental health counseling sessions for public school students across Texas.
As healthcare challenges become increasingly complex, Farber Weinstein believes the Metrocrest Hospital Authority represents an innovative model of community support. She hopes by reinvesting hospital-generated revenue into local health initiatives, the organization demonstrates how strategic, partnership-driven philanthropy can create meaningful change.
"We're always looking at how we can leverage our dollars and create partnerships that amplify our impact," Farber Weinstein said. "It's about more than funding — it's about creating sustainable solutions for our community."
