Health Come True Foundation: A Clinic Built to Grow
Some of the most meaningful answers to big problems start small: one idea, one community, one team willing to show up. That is the story of Health Come True Foundation, a volunteer-led group working to bring free medical, dental, and mental care to children in underserved communities.
What began as a student-led effort is now an annual clinic that families look forward to all year. The team hopes to grow it around the world.
Health Come True Foundation began as a student-led effort to close care gaps for children in the Dominican Republic. The group offers free pediatric, dental, and mental care through a volunteer-run clinic model backed by partnerships and fundraising. As it grows, the foundation stays focused on steady expansion, community trust, and long-term care for children who need it most.
This post draws from PPF's case study to highlight how the foundation came to life, the impact it has made so far, and how nonprofit fiscal sponsorship through PPF has supported its growth every step of the way.
A simple goal: care for kids who can't easily access it
Health Come True Foundation, first called the Yale International Clinic, was launched by two young doctors at Yale School of Medicine: Dr. Elianny Lantigua of the Dominican Republic and Dr. Pedro Gonzalez of Puerto Rico. Their goal was simple: help where the need was greatest by starting with children in underserved communities in the Dominican Republic.
As the effort grew, Yale Professor of Pediatrics Dr. Marietta Vázquez, now the foundation's Chief Medical Officer, joined the team and brought Andrea Sotomayor on board. Andrea helped strengthen the initiative's fundraising and admin base, pairing clinical ambition with the structure needed to scale.
In 2019, the team ran its first free pediatric and dental clinic in Gualey-Pizarrete. The start of something lasting began.
What Health Come True Believes In
At its core, Health Come True believes every child should have access to care, no matter income or background.
The foundation's mission is to give children free medical, dental, and mental care, plus key medicines and health education that support disease prevention and long-term wellness. It is guided by five values:
- Unity
- Education
- Commitment
- Compassion
- Transparency
Long term, the team wants to expand the clinic model beyond the Dominican Republic and partner with medical professionals from leading schools to reach underserved communities worldwide.
Making It Work Without Charging Volunteers to "Buy In"
One choice helps define how Health Come True works: it does not charge volunteers large participation fees.
Volunteers pay for their own travel and lodging, while clinic operations are funded through partnerships with medical companies, corporate sponsors, and grassroots support from friends and family. Because the group is fully volunteer-led, fundraising dollars go straight to the needs of the clinic. One striking fact: every $20 raised helps treat one child.
Each annual clinic is built to be both useful and sustainable. It usually lasts four days:
- Day 1: volunteer training seminar
- Days 2-3: pediatric and dental care days
- Day 4: reflection and debrief
This hands-on model blends care, learning, and community trust. It has grown year after year.
From 35 Volunteers to 400+ and Growing
The first clinics had about 35 volunteers. Today, more than 400 volunteers help deliver care and build relationships with families in the community. But the biggest impact is not just the volunteer count. It is seeing children in Gualey grow healthier over time and watching the annual clinic become a community event families count on and look forward to.
Over the years, strong bonds of trust have formed between the team and the village. Those relationships make the work more effective and more human.
Why Fiscal Sponsorship Matters in the Background
As the clinics grew, the admin and compliance load grew too. Health Come True chose PPF as a fiscal sponsor to help manage the back end of running and scaling an international healthcare initiative.
Working with PPF gave Health Come True access to 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and tax benefits for corporate partners and donors. With PPF handling compliance, reporting, and tax requirements, the foundation's leaders could stay focused on clinic logistics, medical supplies, volunteer coordination, and partnerships.
What's Next
Health Come True's vision is long term and growth-focused. Upcoming priorities include:
- Clinic growth, starting with the November 2026 clinic in Salamanca, Dominican Republic
- Annual fundraising goals of $50,000+ to support more clinical sites, supplies, and medicines
- More corporate partnerships across medical and pharma organizations
- Education and training to support year-round learning for medical student volunteers
It still comes back to the original idea: show up for kids who need care, and build something strong enough to keep showing up.