Dear Christian Friends,
Once again, you folks have come through in a time of need. Your $6,953.18 check is vital to keeping the Hospitality Apartments thriving. We are most grateful for your continued participation in this highly effective benevolent ministry.
But the financial support is only part of your involvement. At least once each year members of Christ the King Church have hosted excellent dinners for the guest families we were who have come to our city for treatment of life-threatening illnesses. Many have expressed their gratitude to me, and I think that some have written thank you letters directly to the church.
During 2003 we completed the triennial "rehab" of the entire physical plant, which has left the 42 apartments in mint condition for our guests. During the year there was only one vacant day in a single apartment, which gives us a 99.99% occupancy rate! Moreover, on Christmas Day we provided our 250,000th apartment-day of service to the anxious guests we serve. 2003 was another great year!
As you may know from reading our newsletter The Volunteer, MD Anderson needs our property for a new 5-lane boulevard to connect their Medical Center hospitals with 100 acres they are developing for expansion south of OST. They have offered to 'trade' for our property adjacent land they own just to our south, and they will give us the appraised value of our current improvements. We are excited about this possibility which will allow us to build a new, expanded (from 43 to 50 units), and upgraded (more ADA-compliant in three stories with elevators) physical plant on the new site. Details later.
In gratitude and friendship,
Hospitality Apartments - Human Resource Development Foundation
Joe W. Hightower, Ph. D
Co-founder and President