Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González
On the evening of May 2, 2025, the Altacair Foundation hosted its 2nd Annual Gala under the theme “Lucky Maverick: Betting on AltaCair.” The event was held at the Brookhaven Event Center in Pharr, Texas.
The gala featured casino games, live entertainment, and a formal awards presentation. Edinburg Mayor Ramiro Garza was presented with the Leadership Luminary Award during the event. In his public remarks, Mayor Garza stated, “I’m deeply honored to receive the Leadership Luminary Award from the Altacair Foundation at their 2nd Annual Gala this evening. I accepted the award on behalf of my family, whose support allows me to serve our community. I also share the award with our city family whose incredible teamwork and commitment has allowed for us to make our community better. Many thanks to the Altacair Foundation for this recognition and all their work for our communities.”
The evening brought together civic leaders, community members, and supporters of the foundation’s mission. In addition to the award presentations, the event included networking opportunities and featured a program to increase awareness of the foundation’s impact in the region. Funds raised during the gala will support the foundation’s ongoing regional initiatives.
The Altacair Foundation is a nonprofit organization based in Edinburg, Texas, dedicated to addressing the Rio Grande Valley’s health and social service disparities. The organization was established in 2023 by Dr. Edwin F. Estévez, former Market President of Value-Based Care at Prominence Health.
The foundation is led by President and CEO Dr. Rashmi Chandran, a healthcare executive with over 12 years of service in the Rio Grande Valley. The Board of Directors includes Dr. Edwin F. Estévez (Board Chair), Eric Weaver (Vice Chairman), Sister Norma Pimentel, Marc Moron, Morgan LaMantia, Maritza Gonzalez (Secretary), Veronica Gonzales, Todd Mann, and Dr. Jennifer Mendoza Culbertson.
The Board of Advisors includes Barry Patel, Cesar Meria, Manny Vela, Dr. Dimple Desai, and Sabrina Walker Hernandez. The foundation’s Medical Director is Dr. Linda Villarreal.
AltaCair’s mission is to facilitate collaboration to meet the basic healthcare needs of the underserved and unserved population. Its vision is to meet the healthcare needs of all Rio Grande Valley members and elevate the region to a community with easy access to public health. The foundation aims to address healthcare gaps by connecting organizations’ efforts to individuals in need and serving the unserved, underserved, and uninsured.
