After more than three decades of service to improving health across the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, EHF’s Celene Meyer has announced her well-deserved retirement.
Celene was EHF’s first director of grants management and is known throughout Houston’s philanthropic and health communities for her grace, kindness, and true calm under pressure. She’s credited with establishing EHF’s online grantmaking system that has invested more than $200 million in health-related organizations across Texas since 2015.
Meyer began her renowned career in the marketing and communications department at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, and quickly transitioned to lead the grantmaking efforts for St. Luke’s Episcopal Health Charities.
When the Episcopal Diocese of Texas transferred ownership of the hospital system in 2013 and established Episcopal Health Foundation, Celene joined EHF as a senior program officer and then as its first director of grants management. In all, Celene served the diocese for more than 36 years.
“We’ve made a long journey together and it’s been an amazing one. I thank you Celene for everything you’ve given the church,” said The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas and chair of the EHF board, during a celebration retirement lunch honoring Celene. “Seeing how the work we began at St. Luke’s Health Charities has been transformed into what EHF is today and your partnership in that has been wonderful, and it shows your true love for the mission of the organization.”
“Celene was a steady presence during the transition and her leadership has meant the world to this organization,” said Linnet Deily, executive chair of EHF’s board of directors. “Celene can look back and know she’s made a difference in her colleagues’ lives and the organizations she served throughout her time with the Charities and EHF.”
“Celene, you’re the one person I could always count on to tell me the truth,” said Jo Carcedo, EHF’s VP for Grants. “She once told me you can accomplish a lot if you don’t care who gets the credit. She lived by that.”
In retirement, Celene plans to spend more time with her husband John, daughter Crystal, and grandson Dylan.