Our Story

More than 100 years ago, a group of San Antonio physicians planted the seeds that grew to become the nonprofit Baptist Health System (BHS).

 

In 2003, the BHS Board of Trustees recognized that economic hardships threatened to compromise the system’s ability to provide exceptional care and the system was sold to the for-profit corporation Vanguard Health Systems (the system is now owned by Tenet Health).

 

The profits of the sale were used to create Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio (BHFSA), allowing the Baptists of the San Antonio area to continue caring for the physical and spiritual needs of our community.

 

Since that time, the Lord has used BHFSA to impact the community and change lives through the good work of our dedicated grant recipients.

 

From its establishment, BHFSA has awarded 1,494 grants totaling over $100 million to nonprofit organizations in 8 counties. In 2022, BHFSA awarded 108 grants totaling $9,409,200.

Although Baptist Health System is now a separate for-profit corporation run by Tenet Health, BHFSA enjoys multiple partnerships with BHS in the hard work of healing our community.

BHFSA assists BHS in carrying forward their Christ-based legacy by providing advice and guidance in the implementation and maintenance of chapels in the System’s hospitals.

Additionally, BHFSA provides scholarships to equip and educate chaplains through the BHS Clinical Pastoral Education program.

A beautiful, hand-woven tapestry adorns the foyers and lobbies of each San Antonio Baptist hospital and emergency clinic. These tapestries were first presented to the hospitals and clinics in September of 2013 to honor the 10th anniversary of a strong partnership between BHFSA and BHS. Since 2013, each new hospital added to the System has received a tapestry.