LOCAL Houston | The City Guide April 2018 | Page 42

COMMUNITY
STIRRING THE POT
HEALTH CARE ACTIVISM IS ON THE MENU
Mark your calendars for SUNDAY, APRIL 8, for I’ll Have What She’s Having (IHWSH)’s inaugural benefit, Something for Everyone, at Evelyn’s
Park in Bellaire.
Not familiar with the organization? IHWSH is an all-female organization of chefs, small business owners, restaurant professionals and physicians
raising funds to advance local women’s health initiatives. Proceeds will fund essential women’s health services at Legacy Community Health,
Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH), The Rose and Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast (PPGC).
Formed in 2017, IHWSH was conceptualized by vascular surgeon Lori Choi, whose practice in major urban centers and rural America convinced
her of the urgent need to protect women’s health, if the integrity of our communities and families is to be safeguarded. Dr. Choi’s vision – to
unite our city’s best-known and rising restaurant stars with physician educators to draw attention to the frightening statistics caused by loss of
access to quality, affordable health care – has created a consortium of more than 100 professional women, with diverse backgrounds and skill
sets, united in passionate commitment to advance the cause of improved access to women’s healthcare.
IHWSH works to call attention to the fact that Texas has more uninsured women than any other state, and that the health statistics for Harris
County are among the worst in the state. The health care organizations selected as beneficiaries of the organization serve as principle providers
of affordable, high-quality healthcare to uninsured people in our region – including many women in the hospitality industry.
IHWSH members are passionate about contributing funds to benefit women who cannot otherwise afford cancer screening and treatment, birth
control, STD testing, perinatal care and family planning. With the near constant political threat of Medicaid cuts and “defunding” of our vital
community health centers, Something for Everyone demonstrates our city’s broad support for health care access and the physicians and medical
centers who are struggling to care for Texas women in an era of declining resource allocation.
Hosted by Lori Choi, Tracy Vaught, Gracie Cavnar and Mimi Del Grande, the April 8 event features three acts—three opportunities to support
the cause at different price points on the same day at the same location. More than 30 chefs, 23 wine and spirit specialists and dozens of
front of house professionals, representing an equal diversity of locally owned businesses, will participate.
Back row L to R: Barbara McKnight (Culinaire); Lynette Hawkins (Giacomo's); Anita Jaisinghani (Pondicheri); Tracy Vaught (HTown Restaurant
Group); Claire Smith (Alice Blue, Canopy); Janice Schindeler (Words & Food); Lisa Seger (Blue Heron Farm) Front row L to R: Mimi Del Grande
(Schiller Del Grande); Erin Smith (Feges BBQ); Monica Pope; Jamie Zelko (The Ivy & James); Lindsey Schechter (Houston Dairymaids)
For more information, visit www.illhavewhatsheshaving.org or
follow the organization on social media: @IHWSH_TX on Instagram and Twitter and @IHWSHTexas on Facebook.
44
where to play
outside
46
story of houston
48
prescription for
wholeness
50
barbara bush
houston literacy
foundation
52
onward and
upward
55
family health
with local
doctors
02.6.2018
4:32pm
56
houston's top
teachers
Photography by Julie Soefer
42
L O C A L | 4 . 2018
4 . 2018 | L O C A L
43