Prism Health North Texas has invited the community to Care, on the Rocks, an inaugural fundraising event set for Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 6 p.m. at EVELYN, 1201 Turtle Creek Blvd. The event will offer handcrafted cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, live music and a silent auction “curated for a community passionate about supporting healthcare access in Dallas, all “set against a backdrop of old Hollywood glamor,” organizers promised.
The event will be hosted by Darin Kunz and Clint Bradley, who will deliver remarks to guests alongside Dr. John Carlo, the PHNTX CEO who has seen the organization grow from several hundred to nearly 20,000 patients in his 13-year tenure.
Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available at CareontheRocks.org. Tickets begin at $125 including refreshments, while $250 VIP guests will also have access to the Champagne Room, a moody, velvet-encased space exclusive to VIP ticket holders.
The press release stressed that sponsorships between $1,000 and $25,000 “make a direct, local impact, funding check-ups for kids, well-visits for the whole family, counseling, transportation assistance and same day prescriptions for neighbors in need. Depending on the level, a single sponsorship can help provide care for 40 to 900 patients across PHNTX clinics each year, keeping quality healthcare within reach for all North Texans.”
Carlo added, “2025 has been a challenging year for community health centers as funding sources remain unstable and patients’ needs continue to rise. Care, on the Rocks helps ensure we can continue meeting that demand with compassion and excellence. Now more than ever, investing in community health means investing in hope, stability, and the future of North Texas.”
Care, on the Rocks is the first major fundraising event hosted by PHNTX in several years and the first since PHNTX became a federally qualified health center look-alike, a designation the agency received in 2024, according to a press release on the event.
Being certified as a federally qualified health center look-alike has allowed PHNTX to expand its service lines to include pediatric primary care and women’s health services, hire new providers and update facilities to accommodate additional patients. PHNTX serves some 18,000 patients in the Dallas area, including many utilizing Medicaid, Medicare, or without health insurance, who are able to receive care on a sliding fee scale based on household income, the press release explains, adding that the organization relies on grant funding and reimbursements from Medicaid and the 340B Drug Assistance Program to maximize impact.
Kim Burgan, PHNTX’s chief marketing and development officer, said, “Care, on the Rocks is about keeping quality healthcare within reach for everyone in our community. As the demand for care grows, especially in neighborhoods where access has always been harder to find, we’re calling on our community to stand with us.
“Every ticket and sponsorship helps us expand our capacity and continue providing high-quality healthcare to those who need it most,” Burgan said.
Community support is especially important since Texas is home to the highest number of uninsured adults and resources that support access to care are paused, cut or have uncertain futures, the press release notes. Grant funding that supported the employment of eight ACA navigators, solely focused on connecting North Texans to the healthcare marketplace, has been cut, further increasing barriers to both coverage and care, the press release said, adding that delays and reduction in funding that supports prevention programming, essential to preventing future healthcare costs associated with chronic illness and other conditions, has already impacted the organization this year.
— Tammye Nash
