Methodist Hospitals Marks Major Milestone in Program Addressing Maternal/Infant Mortality

[Gary, IN, February 9, 2026] Methodist Hospitals is proud to announce it has received nearly $350,000 in second-year funding to support critical services aimed at reducing maternal and infant mortality in Gary and across Northwest Indiana.

This funding represents the second installment of a three-year, $1.035 million grant from the Roots & Wings Foundation and is administered through the Methodist Hospitals Foundation. The investment supports the expansion of the Our Mothers, Our Babies program, a comprehensive initiative focused on improving maternal health outcomes, promoting healthy births, and ensuring strong starts for infants, particularly for families facing economic barriers.

“The Methodist Hospitals Foundation is proud to partner with Roots & Wings, a family foundation dedicated to helping low-income children and families reach their full potential,” said Celina A. Weatherwax, Executive Director of Methodist Hospitals Foundation. “Together, we are strengthening care for mothers and newborns at one of life’s most critical moments through the Our Mothers, Our Babies program.

Since its launch, the program has demonstrated measurable impact among Methodist patients, contributing to a 71 percent reduction in neonatal deaths and 37 percent reduction in preterm births since 2022. With both preventive and early intervention services, the program addresses both immediate needs and the broader factors that influence long-term health and wellbeing.

“We are deeply grateful to the Methodist Hospitals Foundation and the Roots & Wings Foundation for their partnership in supporting this lifesaving program for women and babies in our communities,” said Matt Doyle, Methodist Hospitals President and CEO. “This funding allows us to further our mission of providing high quality healthcare to all those in need, regardless of their ability to pay.”

“Roots & Wings is happy to support the Our Mothers, Our Babies program – as well as other exceptional work that Methodist Hospitals is doing to support young children and their families in Indiana,” says Shana Dall’Osto, Executive Director of Roots & Wings Foundation. “Their team brings passion and expertise to support families in the community, so young kids can thrive.”

The funding will also support comprehensive, multidisciplinary developmental assessments for all infants born in the NICU through the hospital’s Neonatal Development Clinic. These services will be provided at no cost to families during a child’s early years of life and will include essential safety equipment, parent and caregiver education, and critical supplies to support healthy development.

About Methodist Hospitals: Methodist Hospitals is a community-based, not-for-profit health system with two full-service acute care facilities in Gary and Merrillville, Indiana, that has been healing Northwest Indiana for more than 100 years. Methodist Hospitals offers a number of award – winning programs, including its Breast Care Center, Cancer Center and Neuroscience and Heart and Vascular Institutes. Its range of services also includes Women & Children’s Services, Bariatric Surgery services, Emergency services, Immediate Care Centers, Orthopedics & Spine services, comprehensive Rehabilitation services, Behavioral Health and Home Health services.

About Methodist Hospitals Foundation: The Methodist Hospitals Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the mission of Methodist Hospitals by raising funds to enhance patient care, advance medical programs, and strengthen community health initiatives. The Foundation partners with donors, volunteers, and community organizations to provide resources that improve health outcomes expand access to care, and support innovative programs that benefit patients and families across Northwest Indiana.

About Roots & Wings: Roots & Wings is a family foundation established in 202 by Judy and Gordon Faulkner. Roots & Wings makes grants across the fields of healthcare, early learning, basic needs and safety and justice. The Foundation supports non-profit organizations that help low-income children and families reach their full potential through prevention, early intervention, and in-depth programming that changes lives. More at www.rootswings.org.

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