IDRF
INFECTIOUS DISEASES RESEARCH FUNDS I AND II
As a hospital founded over a century ago to serve a city ravaged by the Spanish flu, Houston Methodist was destined to take a leading role in the COVID-19 response. Like the hospital’s early days, philanthropic visionaries played a pivotal role in making it possible for Houston Methodist’s front-line workers to provide lifesaving care. When the pandemic erupted in March 2020, three longtime Houston Methodist supporters — Ann and John Bookout III, Diane and David Modesett and the Jerold B. Katz Foundation — created a Challenge Initiative to support the Houston Methodist Infectious Diseases Research Fund (IDRF). They offered to match gifts dollar for dollar.
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Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation
Through this act of generosity, physician leaders developed innovative COVID-19 therapies and clinical practices and set the stage for Houston Methodist to lead in the fight against COVID-19 and future disease outbreaks. “In the midst of the chaos, Houston Methodist President and CEO Dr. Marc Boom and his team were methodical and coolheaded,” says David Modesett. “They had a plan in place and were already working on it. Diane and I wanted to find a way to say, ‘You’re doing a great job, and we have confidence in you.’” The challenge goal was reached within two weeks. Spurred by this overwhelming response,
the Modesetts, Freeport LNG, and the Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Foundation established a second Challenge Initiative — meeting their goal in even less time than the first Challenge. To date, generous benefactors have given more than $8.3 million to support IDRF. And as board chair of the Houston Methodist Academic Institute, John Bookout III not only contributed but also spearheaded fundraising efforts for IDRF. With the research dollars in place, Houston Methodist’s team conducted multiple clinical trials on COVID-19 therapies. The team rapidly translated their scientific findings into better treatments that benefited patients and impacted the disease response nationwide.
