$300 Million Fundraiser Retiring

Memorial Hermann Foundation CEO stepping down after 12 years of colossal fundraising

Dan Wolterman, Lori Wolterman, Ileana Trevino, Michael Trevino

Memorial Hermann Health System CEO Dan Wolterman wife Lori, Memorial Hermann Foundation CEO Ileana Trevino and husband Michael Trevino at a Memorial Hermann Gala.

Photo by Gary Fountain

After 12 years at the helm of the Memorial Hermann Foundation and after leading the effort to corral close to $300 million for Memorial Hermann Health System, high-profile CEO Ileana Trevino has announced her retirement.

While she has been considering retirement for a number of years, Trevino tells friends that she felt the timing of Memorial Hermann Health System CEO Dan Wolterman retiring in June presented a step-away opportunity. Dr. Benjamin K. Chu, who Trevino says is "amazing and fabulous" will step in at that time as system president and CEO.

"The timing really makes sense to leave when Dan is leaving," she tells CultureMap. "We've had a spectacular year and it's good to go out on your own terms."

Wolterman brought Trevino in 12 years ago and asked her to remain until the end of the year. In a compromise, Trevino plans to continue in place until the end of November. In the meantime, she will continue with her duties and assist in the national search for her successor.

“Her outstanding years of contributions to Memorial Hermann benefited and enhanced the care of many patients as well as supported the work of our caregivers," Wolterman said in a statement. "We all offer our warmest and best wishes on the next chapter in her career.”

Trevino's most noteworthy accomplishments include conducting the $40 million Life Flight Campaign, securing $100 million for the Revolutionizing Neuroscience Campaign and launching the $200 million Breaking New Ground Campaign in support of trauma services.

For Trevino, who is far too young for a career end, plans to spend time with her family immediately following her retirement and then focus on consulting.

"I love Memorial Hermann so much and I'm going to consult, which is what I have wanted to do all along," she says. If it happens that she can consult with Memorial Hermann that would be ideal.

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Thanks, Queen Bey

Pop icon Beyoncé donates $100,000 to University of Houston Law School

Photo by Erza Shaw Getty Images

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Pop megastar Beyoncé Knowles-Carter has donated $100,000 to the University of Houston Law Center Criminal Justice Clinic through her BeyGOOD Foundation. The gift will allow the clinic to hire fill-time faculty to head it, benefiting the students who study there.

“I am delighted that the BeyGOOD Foundation has made this very generous gift to the UH Law Center,” said Leonard Baynes, dean of the UH Law Center. “Not only will this funding help establish a full-time criminal justice clinic that provides pro bono legal services in our community, but it will also supercharge our already excellent criminal law and justice programming.”

The clinic is one of nine at UHLC. It helps students learn to navigate the criminal justice system, especially on behalf of clients that are underserved by skilled attorneys. People of color are affected disproportionately by a lack of good, ethical representation.

Beyoncé, the most decorated artist in Grammy history and easily the biggest musical star native to Houston, has a long history of advocating for criminal justice reform. She was a staunch supporter of the police reform following the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, asking law enforcement to “stop killing us” in a web post. In 2020, she penned an open letter to the Kentucky attorney general asking for justice in the death of Breonna Taylor.

Through her BeyGOOD Foundation, established in 2013, Beyoncé has focused mostly on expanding the prospects of Black-owned business and offering education opportunities to students. Forwarding the cause of legal representation in Texas while also helping out marginalized communities compliments her other philanthropic work.

“At UH Law, we envision a legal profession where ‘everyone has the opportunity to prosper,’ as BeyGOOD envisions, and we will achieve this vision by providing access to strong and effective legal representation in criminal proceedings,” Baynes said. “And together, through this gift, the BeyGOOD Foundation and UHLC will shepherd the next generation of criminal justice attorneys in the city of Houston, the state of Texas and the nation.”