"This facility will have a generational impact on Texas families amid an increase in Alzheimer's and dementia cases."Read the full letter
Home / Letters of Support
On the record.
Federal, state, academic, medical, and community leaders have put their names behind the Memory Health Life Center. The letters below are excerpted with attribution; full signed letters are on file with the Wood County Health Care Foundation.
Milestone · May 2023
$6 million federal request funded in committee.
The U.S. House Agriculture Subcommittee released its earmarks and the foundation's full request was funded for the clinic and education wing of the Memory Health Life Center, an important early step for the project.
"Congressman Gooden is excited to see this through."
— Claire Alden, Legislative Director, Office of Rep. Lance Gooden (TX-05)
Federal funds
$6M
U.S. Department of Agriculture · FY appropriations
Federal
From Washington.
State of Texas
From Austin.
"I write to offer my strong support for an appropriations request for Memory Health Life Center in Quitman, Texas."
In a letter to Congressman Gooden, Sen. Hughes describes the project as an integrated model of residential care, non-pharmacological treatments, research, and family support — and cites the foundation's existing partnerships with local medical, higher education, and government partners.
Read the full letter"The first of its kind in our community, and could serve as the future standard for research, care, and training."
Academic & Medical
From the academy and the bedside.
The University of Texas System and its health and medical schools are on record — at the Board of Regents level, at the founding-dean level, and from the regional hospital system itself.
"I fully support the proposed Memory Care facility to be located in Quitman."
"Particularly excited about the potential for our students, interns, residents, and SOM faculty to participate in the 'living lab' experience… a true game-changer in our region."Read the full letter
"I affirm my full support of the proposed new memory care center that will be located adjacent to the UT Health Quitman Hospital."
"We would appreciate the opportunity to work with a 'living laboratory' if one was established in Wood County."
Community & Industry
From the region and the field.
"The single greatest impact on the future of Quitman — economic and healthcare combined."
"We are encouraged by the plans for the Memory Health Life Center project in Quitman… the Alzheimer's Association Dallas & Northeast Texas Chapter would be happy to be an active partner."
Letter to the Wood County Health Care Foundation Board citing 400,000 Texans over 65 living with the disease, 1,000,000 unpaid caregivers in Texas, and a 30.5% gap in geriatricians needed by 2030 — and framing the East Texas memory care shortage as a state-level priority.
Read the full letterCities, Towns & Counties
From the neighbors next door.
East Texas towns, county governments, and the Quitman Development Corporation have submitted their own letters of support on official letterhead.
Municipal · Wood County
City of Alba, Texas
Read the letter
Municipal · Van Zandt County
City of Canton, Texas
Read the letter
Municipal · Rains County
City of Emory, Texas
Read the letter
Municipal · Wood County
City of Winnsboro, Texas
Read the letter
County Government
Upshur County, Texas
Read the letter
Economic Development
Quitman Development Corporation
Read the letter
Civic & Service Organizations
From the people who show up.
Service clubs and community organizations across the region who already do the day-in, day-out work of caring for East Texas neighbors.
Foundation
From the stewards of this campaign.
"A community that understands how Alzheimer's works and is more accepting."
Originals on file
Every letter shown above is on the record.
The signed letterhead originals are held by the Wood County Health Care Foundation. Excerpts have been edited only for length; nothing has been added. If you are a donor, partner, journalist, or grant officer who needs a full letter, contact the foundation directly.
Join them
These leaders said yes. Will you?
Every gift, large or small, helps build the Memory Health Life Center and its reach across East Texas.