Wesley Community & Health Centers Receives $500,000 Grant to Expand Care

Wesley Community & Health Centers is expanding its ability to serve Central Phoenix families with support from a $500,000 grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation.

The grant will support construction of the Mary Rose Wilcox Center for Health Care and Innovation, a new two-story, 40,000-square-foot health center currently under construction at Central and Hadley, just south of downtown Phoenix in the historic Grant Park neighborhood.

“Our mission has always been grounded in whole-person care and community empowerment,” said Blaine Bandi, CEO of Wesley Community & Health Centers. “This generous support allows us to strengthen our reach and ensure that members of our community receive not only compassionate medical care, but also the broader resources needed to thrive.”

The new center is designed to expand the scale and accessibility of Wesley’s services. When completed, the facility will include 24 primary care exam rooms, two same-day exam rooms, specialty exam rooms, a retail pharmacy, imaging services, multipurpose community rooms and a demonstration kitchen.

“This grant is an investment in healthier, stronger communities,” said Bob Parsons, Co-Founder of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. “Everyone benefits when people can get the care they need. This new center will be a cornerstone for families who deserve high-quality care close to home.”

Located along the light rail, the new health center will also make it easier for residents to access care without having to travel far from their homes. Wesley currently serves an estimated 7,000 patients each year through its network of fixed health centers and mobile units. Once the Mary Rose Wilcox Center for Health Care and Innovation opens, which is expected in fall 2027, Wesley anticipates being able to double the number of patients it serves annually.

“This health care center is about so much more than a new building. It’s a commitment to the families who make Central Phoenix such a vibrant community,” said Renee Parsons, Co-Founder of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. “We’re proud to help bring a resource to life that will strengthen health, connection, and opportunity for generations to come.”

Wesley has operated in Phoenix’s underserved neighborhoods since the 1950s, growing from a neighborhood community center into a Federally Qualified Health Center, or FQHC. Today, Wesley provides a range of services designed to address medical needs and the circumstances that can affect a person’s ability to maintain good health. Its offerings include primary medical care, integrated behavioral health, diabetes self-management education, HIV prevention and specialized women’s health services.

The organization also works beyond the exam room through programs focused on youth, education, nutrition and community connection. Wesley offers afterschool and summer programs for young people, English as a Second Language classes, nutrition programs and community gardening initiatives.

The center’s anticipated opening in fall 2027 will mark a significant expansion for an organization that has spent more than seven decades working alongside Central Phoenix communities. With support from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, Wesley is building not simply a larger facility, but a place intended to make health care and community resources more accessible to the families who rely on them. For more behind this Frontdoor, visit wesleychc.org.