The Medical Bridge’s Story
1997- Medical Bridges ® becomes incorporated by the State of Texas on July 29, 1997. By December, MB’s first warehouse, at 4,000 square feet, is filled to overcapacity with donated medical supplies.
1998- 40 shipments are sent out through “suitcase” missions (now known as hand carried missions) in MB's first year of sending donated medical supplies oversees.
2000- Medical Bridges ® moves into a larger 10,000 square foot warehouse in April. In addition, it applies for and receives funding to hire its first paid staff position, a part-time staff person who will help with the warehouse and administrative duties as well as coordinate volunteers.
2001- With the addition of Medical Bridge’s first full-time paid position, output nearly doubled with 94 shipments sent to 28 countries.
2002- Thanks to several major contributors and the Houston Endowment for a significant grant, the debt acquired from the purchase of the 10,000 square foot warehouse was fully retired.
2004- Medical Bridges ® organizes volunteer drive to aid in relief efforts in Southeast Asia after the tsunami hit the Indian Ocean on December 26, 2004. MB was able to send a container filled with basic supplies to help those affected in the area.
2005- Medical Bridges ® moves to our current 28,000 square foot warehouse located on Magnet Street near Reliant Stadium and the Texas Medical Center. A new computerized inventory tracking system is put into place. The software, designed and built specifically for Medical Bridges ®, allows more accurate tracking of on-hand inventory and electronically releases material that will be shipped. Also in 2005, the operating budget for Medical Bridges ® was large enough to require an audit, a major milestone in an organization’s growth.
2008- Medical Bridges ® hosts its first annual service awards dinner in February to honor our volunteers that work to make our organization a success. The first annual Medical Bridges ® golf tournament is also held in May.