For three decades, Anayat House has been dedicated to providing comfort, support, and respite to patients and their families during challenging medical journeys. Their team understands that a medical or traumatic crisis can disrupt lives and create additional burdens. A nonprofit organization, their mission is to provide an affordable, safe and restful environment where families can stay, find solace, restore hope and focus on the healing of themselves as well as that of their loved ones without the worry of accommodation costs.
Located at 1025 N 14th St. in Beaumont, Anayat House is just a short walk to Christus Southeast Texas-St. Elizabeth campus and less than a five-minute drive from Baptist Hospital, visitors may stay from just one night to several weeks if needed. The 5,000-square foot house has a fully equipped kitchen with a common living and dining area for use by all. The house is ADA accessible with quiet guestrooms, common library with computer station, and laundry facilities.
A suggested donation of $20 per room, per night is asked, however, no individual or family is turned away due to the inability to financially contribute.
For last fiscal year (July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024), Anayat House served 261 families, provided 792 rooms for 1,215 nights. Of the 792 rooms provided, 46% went unpaid by the guest.
To help with costs, Anayat House will host their largest fundraiser of the year Friday, Feb. 21, inside the Downtown Event Centre (700 Crockett St.).
Gala chairs Mandy Raps and Kathy Rodgers alongside several committee members have planned a festive evening, which begins at 7 p.m. Courville’s will cater with a buffet style dinner and Giglio Distributing will take care of the libations. The popular silent auction returns as well. Feature items include a seven-night stay at Blue River Escape at Summit Sky Ranch in Silverthorne, Colorado (8-10 people); four-nights at Tulum Allure in exclusive Aldea Zama in Riviera Maya, Mexico with a state-of-the-art swimming pool, rooftop terrace, and plunge pool; three-month membership to ExyGon Health & Fitness with four, one-hour personal training sessions with April Lindsay; Mahjong lessons with Paula Lovoi and so much more.
Though casual, organizers recommend western wear. Individual tickets (open seating) are $125 and tables for 10 are $500. Tickets can be purchased online at anayathouse.org.
Themed “Hope, Healing & Heroes for the House,” the event will also honor the sacred work of the Forensic Nursing Program from Christus Southeast Texas including David Parkus, Angela Dillahunty, Rachel Thomas, Syrena Krummel, Niya Knighton, Kaylee Sliger, Gabriela Credeur, Laurie Ashworth, Loren Woolf, Dana Hebert and Jaleesa Celestine.
“The work of forensic nurses goes far beyond clinical skills; it requires a profound understanding of the psychological and emotional challenges faced by their patients,” stated the Anayat House Gala committee team. “By providing trauma-informed care to all age groups, they empower the patients and their loved ones on their healing journey and help them reclaim hope for the future.”
The program is the only program of its kind in the area. Their S.A.N.E (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners) program services seven counties throughout the area.
“These dedicated nurses provide compassionate care to those who have endured unimaginable abuse, violence, and other indignities,” added the Gala committee. “As unsung heroes, the forensic nurses are very deserving of recognition for their unrelenting compassionate care for those that are easily forgotten.”
Anayat House has been serving Southeast Texas since 1994. The late Anayat Monjazeb, who, grew up in Persia and became a pioneer in textile engineering, moved to the United States with his wife Mahin. Anayat’s daughter, Mimi Daniali, and her husband, Saeed, emigrated from Iran to Beaumont in the early 1980s.
In 1992, Mimi’s father, Anayat, became ill and spent the last months of life in an intensive care unit in Houston. After her father was admitted, Mimi spent much of her time in the ICU waiting room and became familiar with the other families staying there. Mimi had learned that many of those families were sleeping in the waiting room because they could not afford a hotel.
The experience she had in the Houston hospital and a desire to honor her father, Mimi and her husband were inspired and took a second mortgage on their home and purchased a house on McFaddin Street near the hospitals in Beaumont. After much hard work, the house was opened in 1994. The nonprofit as formed a year later and then in 2004, Danialis gifted the house to the Anayat House organization.
After 20 of successful operation, a brand-new Anayat House facility was constructed at its current location and continues to fulfill Mimi’s dream of providing individuals a place to stay when they or a family member are undergoing medical treatment.
“We want the community to know that the Anayat House services more people than just ICU families or cancer patients,” said Tressa Clarke, executive director. “Someone could be in outpatient treatment or needing to go to the eye center to get cataracts checked. You could be coming to stay with use because you had surgery and need three weeks of wound care.
“We also service those families that have a child that may have gone through a horrific event where sexual abuse nurses needed to be involved. Patients will need therapy every day and if the family is not from Southeast Texas, they can come stay with us.”
Clarke said funds raised from the gala will directly support those guests that stay at the Anayat House with a heavy emphasis on those who are unable to pay the suggested $20 per night stay.
For more information about the organization or gala, view anayathouse.org or call (409) 833-0649.