By Sara Hourwitz, Assistant Director of Individual Giving

Delivering lasting change to communities doesn’t happen overnight; it takes hard work every day of the year. But thanks to the monthly support of community heroes like Dr. Mary Fairbanks and Dr. Terry Fairbanks, Mary’s Center can stay on the front lines of ensuring access to quality care – especially during these difficult times.

When Mary and Terry Fairbanks moved to the Washington, DC area from upstate New York nearly ten years ago, it didn’t take long for them to learn about Mary’s Center. As doctors who work for local healthcare provider MedStar, the Fairbanks began to hear about Mary’s Center through their patients, some of whom were also Mary’s Center participants.

Champions of Care for All

Compared to upstate New York, the Fairbanks found more gaps in Greater Washington’s health systems,  causing hardworking individuals and families to fall through the cracks, unable to access the care they needed. The Fairbanks were comforted “to know that there are places, like Mary’s Center, where people can get care, even if they are uninsured,” Mary shared.

The many languages spoken by Mary Center providers also impressed the Fairbanks. Mary’s Center staff speak a combined 50 languages, which proves invaluable for individuals whose first language isn’t English. The Fairbanks see the challenges patients face when English isn’t their native language, so they know that it can be a huge barrier to accessing health care.  

Taking Action: Becoming Monthly Donors

Because the Fairbanks saw the impact Mary’s Center had on some of their own patients’ lives, they decided to support Mary’s Center through a monthly contribution. “It means a lot to us to be able to give back to places like Mary’s Center,” said Mary. She also emphasized how she and Terry like supporting local causes and donating in their own backyard. “We’re all neighbors and we should support one another.”

We are extremely grateful to the Fairbanks for making a monthly gift to Mary’s Center. These donations are crucial to our mission – especially now. With the COVID-19 pandemic, we have incurred a significant increase in expenses. Monthly donations from caring neighbors like the Fairbanks give Mary’s Center the flexibility to respond to arising needs and emergencies throughout the year.

Click here to make a monthly donation to Mary’s Center – make sure to check the box “Make my donation a monthly gift.”

Thank you to the Fairbanks and all of Mary’s Center’s monthly donors!