Special Advertising Section: CityBook Philanthropy Report

A HEART FOR CHILDREN

One of the first ladies of philanthropy in Houston, Houston Children’s Charity leader Laura Ward has spent decades identifying unique needs and raising critical funds for underserved kids.

The Houston Children’s Charity’s 25thanniversary luncheon last November ended with a shock for Laura Ward, the co-founder and president and CEO of the nonprofit that has assisted kids in hard times since 1996. That’s when the surprise announcement that Ward, a self-described “control freak” who thought the program she had arranged for the event had just ended, had been honored by Texas Children’s Hospital; it had named its Child Life Room in the Med Center after her.

“My first impression was, ‘Is this a joke?’” recalls Ward, a beautiful, always thoughtfully composed woman who doesn’t take praise easily. “Eventually, I realized it was real, but I could not speak. I just couldn’t believe it. I would try to close my mouth, but I would look again at the photo on the big screen of the signage for the new room, and my mouth would fall back open.

“I couldn’t be more proud of anything,” she says. “I

don’t know if there’s ever going to be anything to top that in my career.”

And what a career it’s been, with more than three decades of helping kids — a mission that started when she was a child herself, growing up as one of nine siblings in the small Cajun town of Crowley, La. “One thing Mom and Dad instilled in us,” recalls Ward, now a mom of three, grandmother of three and wife of iconic Houston TV news anchor Dave Ward, “is you’re supposed to wake up every day and do something kind for somebody. It’s just a part of the day, like drinking water.”

As young as age seven, she helped deliver food to the food insecure in her community, and learned about the joy of giving from her mom, who once took a gold necklace off her neck and gave it to a hotel cleaning lady who admired it. “That’s just the way Mother rolled.”

Later on, as a young mom trying to help raise cash for her children’s school, she discovered she had a gift. “I realized I didn’t mind picking up the phone and

cover photo by ashkan roayaee

Clockwise from top left: Laura with Pitbull and daughters Corey Rowe Flores and Rachelle Rowe; Texas Children’s Hospital CEO Mark Wallace with Laura and husband Dave Ward; Laura on the runway at CKW Luxe gala; Laura and Maria Moncada Alaoui, GM of BMW of West Houston and longtime title sponsor of Houston Children’s Charity Gala; Tilman J. Fertitta, Houston Children’s Charity founding member and Chairman of the Board, and Laura giving handicap-accessible vans to disabled children; Laura with her children and their spouses — Corey Rowe Flores, Remigio Flores, Rachelle Rowe, John Rowe and Nozomi Matsumoto

I met Laura over 30 years ago. A very unlikely meeting has turned into one of my best friendships. Her honesty, loyalty and love for the children we serve has surpassed all of my expectations. A true leader and lover of doing things right.

asking people to pay $5 to eat spaghetti to benefit the kids,” she remembers. “I’m not good at much. But I found something I can really do. I got the bug, and I never stopped.”

Laura, who studied at LSU and was a Kappa Delta sorority sister with revered Houston society scribe Shelby Hodge, would eventually join the boards of many children’s charities and, in 1996, become a founding member and leader of Houston Children’s Charity, partnering with the likes of Rockets and Post Oak Hotel owner Tilman Fertitta and entertainment mogul Gary Becker, both of whom remain in leadership roles at HCC today. She’s personally raised more than $100 million for underserved kids and ranks among the city’s top fundraising executives.

For its part, HCC strives to serve the basic, critical needs of children that are not being met by other organizations, explains Laura, who personally engages with underserved kids and their families, assessing hardships firsthand. “We look for the children who are falling through the cracks of the system, and those are our clients.”

The organization’s many programs include providing beds for kids who don’t have one; Laura says it’s “staggering” how many Houston children don’t. “We give out 100 beds a month,” she notes. “Last month we gave away 200, because the Houston Rockets gave us $60,000, and we were able to do more.” Each bed setup includes a new mattress, box spring, bed frame, bedsheets and pillow.

“And no matter how many beds we give away — and we have given away thousands since ’97 — we always

have a waitlist of over a thousand children.” Texas Mattress Makers is a partner in the enterprise.

Houston Children’s Charity also gives handicappedaccessible vans to families with children who are wheelchair-bound. “We want to feed a child,” says Ward. “We want a child to have a bed. And no kid should be stuck at home all day because they’ve turned 17 and gotten big and their mama can’t get them out of their wheelchair. No child should live that way.”

An inspiring leader, Laura has contributed her time and expertise to numerous other charities over the years, such as the Arbor School and the Houston

Laura is a relentless fundraiser, and children are always top of mind. With Laura as their advocate, underserved children in our community come first at Houston Children’s Charity.

-Gary Becker

-John Johnson, Silver Eagle Distributors

Laura with her husband, legendary news anchor Dave Ward

Laura understands that collaboration is the engine that drives success, and she inspires everyone involved with Houston Children’s Charity to utilize our unique gifts, to serve our community, and to do more — and the results are always big and worthwhile. Her passion for helping children and those in need is palpable, and she delivers that devotion in every aspect of her work.

-Maria Moncada Alaoui, BMW of West Houston

Furniture Bank. She led the capital campaign for the Dave Ward Building at Crime Stoppers of Houston, for which $10 million was raised, and she has chaired the Houston Police Foundation’s gala many times, raising over $9 million to support Houston’s officers. For her many efforts, she has been inducted into the Greater Houston Women’s Hall of Fame, named one of the city’s 50 most influential women by Houston Woman Magazine, listed as a Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation Woman of Distinction, designated a “Most Admired CEO” by the Houston Business Journal, honored at the Easter Seals Greater Houston’s “Hats Off to Mothers” luncheon and awarded “The Nikki Richnow Freedom to Fly Award” by Arrow’s Freedom Place. She was also an honoree at the Tickled Pink Luncheon this year.

Despite it all, she’s humble about her accomplishments, sharing credit with her HCC board, and gushing not about herself but her “most incredible” husband. “Talk about support,” she says

of Dave. “He emceed our gala for 22 years. The man has just given his life to this city. I feel blessed every day that I share a life with such a remarkable man. Nobody really knows the depth of his heart for this city.”

Next up for the busy Laura is Houston Children’s Charity’s 25th annual gala Oct. 14 at the Post Oak Hotel, which comes after 26 years due to a Covid hiatus. Nearly 60 tables have been sold for the event, featuring a performance by Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo most of them thanks to Laura herself picking up the phone and asking for help for kids — just as she did with those spaghetti dinners all those years ago. She’s proud of how successful and popular the gala, which in recent years has featured Cyndi Lauper and Pitbull, has become, considering it’s not one of the long-legacy annual events like those for the opera or ballet.

“We’re just a children’s charity,” she says with a wry smile, “that puts on one hell of a party.”

Dr. Susan Blaney, HCC founding board member Grant Guthrie, Laura Ward, HCC board member Edna Meyer-Nelson, devoted friend Carol Sawyer, and HCC board members Maria Moncada Alaoui and John Johnson, president of Silver Eagle Distributors

Laura and longtime friend Gary Becker, Vice Chair of the HCC board

“THE SUCCESS OF OUR COMMUNITY’S PERMANENT HOUSING PROGRAMS HAS TRANSLATED TO A 63 PERCENT REDUCTION IN OVERALL HOMELESSNESS SINCE 2011.”

Photo by Allison Zapata, Coalition for the Homeless

COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS OF HOUSTON/ HARRIS COUNTY

HOMELESSHOUSTON.ORG

What’s your mission? The Coalition for the Homeless acts as a catalyst, uniting partners and maximizing resources to move people experiencing homelessness into permanent housing with supportive services. We have spent four decades building and strengthening relationships with nonprofits, local governments, housing authorities and other stakeholders with the guiding belief that we go further and are more effective when we work together.

We are a little different from direct service providers readers may be familiar with. Our strategies focus on what solving homelessness requires on a bigpicture scale. We maintain a high-level view of partners, resources, and community needs, and we play a unique and essential role: leading our local homeless response system with evidence- and data-based strategies.

Can you give us an analogy to describe your unique role? Imagine an airport. There are the airlines that provide services to their customers. Then there are the behind-the-scenes operations of the airport itself — everything that helps the process run smoothly, that customers might not think as much about, but are equally as important to get passengers safely to their destination.

Now apply the analogy to homelessness. If someone is making the “journey” from homelessness to housing, the direct service providers are like the “airlines” who interact with them the most closely and help them along the way. Agencies that you might have heard of or volunteered with. The Coalition for the Homeless is like the airport. We run the behind-thescenes processes that help direct service programs move people from homelessness to housing!

Tell us about your impact. The Coalition for the Homeless generates incredible impact for the Houston region. We increase the capacity of our system and our individual partners to be able to get people experiencing homelessness off the streets, out of shelters, and into permanent housing.

Since 2012, the partners of The Way Home — our local homeless response system, of which the Coalition is the Lead Agency — have moved more than 25,000 people into housing with a 90 percent success rate over the long term. The success of our community’s permanent housing programs has translated to a 63 percent reduction in overall homelessness since 2011.

How can readers help? Any gift made in support of the Coalition does so much more than cover overhead expenses for our organization. It multiplies the resources available to our community to prevent and end homelessness for people and families. It allows the Coalition to continue leading the homeless response system that cities across the country and the world look to as a model of progress, and it allows the Coalition to continue changing lives for the next 40 years to come.

THE CHILDREN’S ASSESSMENT CENTER

CACHOUSTON.ORG

What year was your organization launched? The Children’s Assessment Center (The CAC) began providing services to Harris County children and families in 1991, and our Foundation was created in 1995 to provide additional funding for increased access to our well-rounded care.

What is your mission? The mission of The CAC is to provide a professional, compassionate and coordinated approach to the treatment of sexually abused children and their families and to serve as an advocate for all children in our community. Simply put, we exist to protect children, heal families, and prevent child sexual abuse and child sex trafficking in our community.

What’s been your impact in the community? The CAC is the only advocacy center in Harris County and the largest in the nation. We provide healing services to over 5,000 child sexual abuse victims and their families each year. The CAC provides forensic interviewing, family advocacy, mental health services, and medical service at no cost to children and families. We also facilitate community outreach and prevention training to raise awareness about child abuse in our community and how to keep children safe. We hope our process will give children and families the tools necessary to empower them on their healing journey. We exist to help our community become a better, safer place for each child of Harris County.

What are you most proud of? We are incredibly proud of our ability to create a safe haven for children and families recovering from child sexual abuse and sex trafficking. Last year, we served 8.2 percent more children than in prepandemic times and expect another increase next year. Our team has the important role of being able to walk alongside our clients and light their path towards healing and hope.

Tell us about your big event. The CAC is excited to host the Spirit of Spring Gala on April 29, 2023, at the Marriott Marquis, chaired by Consuelo Macpherson, Mariana Pope, and Sara Downey. Our Gala has taken a 20+ year hiatus, and now we welcome all our supporters to our reimagined cornerstone event!

What’s your greatest need? At The CAC, we believe awareness and advocacy are the foundation for keeping children safe. As adults, it is our responsibility to keep children safe. We cannot do this alone and need your help. As individuals, organizations, and a community, we must come together to protect children, and become part of the solution. We invite you to make this commitment to help us empower children on their healing journey as survivors of sexual abuse. Please join us at our Gala and be part of the solution to end child sexual abuse in our community.

RED HOT GALA BENEFITING HOUSTON PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS ASSOCIATION CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

HOUSTONSBRAVEST.ORG

What year was your organization launched? Founded in 2013, after the Southwest Inn fire, which took lives of five Houston firefighters. Our Foundation is managed by a board of directors that includes Houston firefighters and civilians. Our bylaws mandate that directors of the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association — active Fire Fighters — always constitute the majority of the foundation board of directors. The Foundation also relies on an advisory board that includes local business and community leaders, each of which has provided important support to the Foundation.

Why did you launch the organization? To Support and protect the health, safety, and welfare of Houston firefighters and their families, and the communities they serve. Houston firefighters deliver excellent service, are good stewards of city resources, and give back to the community. But firefighters and their families sometimes need a helping hand too. Our main goal and focus at this time is to make sure all Houston firefighters have the necessary resources they need in order to do their job to the best of their ability.

What are you most proud of? Since the inception of the “Red Hot Gala,” we have raised over $2.4 million, this is due to the dedication and support of our donors, our Houston firefighters and a small, determined group of volunteers. We are growing in the right direction.

In recent years, the foundation has provided: Firefighting and/ or EMS equipment not provided by the city due to budget cuts; financial assistance for families of fallen firefighters; two K9Arson Vehicles; financial relief for firefighters facing extraordinary medical expenses; financial relief for firefighters with residential damage or losses due to natural disasters; Mental Health Assistance Programs for our Houston firefighters; essential training and continuing education classes; winter jackets for local children through Operation Warm; college scholarship funds for local high school students through the 9/11 Memorial

Golf Tournament; and cooperation with the charitable foundations of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and the Texas State Association of Fire Fighters (TSAFF).

Tell us about your main event. The Red Hot Gala 2022, benefiting the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association Charitable Foundation, takes place Saturday, Oct. 29 at the Royal Sonesta Houston. Elizabeth and Alan Stein are the Chairmen, with Carol and Bill Lawler serving as Co-Chairs. Hallie Vanderhider is 2022 Honorary CoChairman. Returning this year are our devoted Presenting Sponsors, Bobbie Nau and Hallie Vanderhider. Many brave Houston firefighters also attend the gala, making it one of the most memorable, moving and fun balls of the year!

GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE ALL HOUSTON

HAVE

RESOURCES THEY NEED TO DO THEIR JOB.”

We Are One Community.

GREATER HOUSTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

GHCF.ORG

Since 1995, Greater Houston Community Foundation has helped Houston thrive by helping individuals, businesses, and foundations make the most of their generosity. Greater Houston Community Foundation has distributed over $2 billion in grants at the direction of its donors. They receive charitable donations; manage philanthropic assets; provide donors with programming, advising and educational opportunities; and make grants through various diverse platforms, including donor-advised funds. In addition to grantmaking, the Foundation provides leadership in addressing critical community needs like urgent disaster relief and recovery efforts. President and CEO Stephen D. Maislin further explains:

How does Greater Houston Community Foundation amplify clients’ philanthropic impact? We design customized solutions to help donors achieve their philanthropic goals and drive impact. Whether we are connecting donors to causes they care about or identifying optimal giving platforms to fit their assets, our work enables clients to focus on identifying community needs and amplifying change. Every donor walks in with a passion, and many possess a certain level of knowledge on the topic. But we help them understand the broader landscape and connect them with the right organizations in that space to make powerful investments.

You believe in partnering with public sector officials, corporations, foundations and organizations like United Way to implement and distribute relief funds in response to disasters like Hurricane Harvey. You also believe in data. Tell us about your collaboration with The Kinder Institute for Urban Research. Understanding Houston, our regional indicators project with the Institute, provides key data for philanthropists, businesses, and nonprofit leaders to drive decision-making in important areas of investment in Houston, including disaster relief, economic opportunity, housing and education. Over time, we can track our region’s progress and disturbing trends based on these indicators. We believe that

grounding philanthropic giving and cross-sector collaboration in data is critical.

What differentiates you from other philanthropic services providers? Our robust knowledge of the local landscape allows us to provide a personalized level of service. We regularly convene donors and leaders around the issues that matter most. Even though our donors can and do give to causes across the globe, their local connections and commitment to learning together and improving our community make us a great partner to anyone doing philanthropy in Houston.

In addition to handling the administrative management of philanthropy for donors, we offer access to various charitable giving vehicles, such as scholarships, supporting organizations, endowed funds and employee disaster relief funds. We also provide philanthropic services such as strategic planning, private foundation services, legacy planning, corporate giving program design and implementation and more.

How are you working with the next generations of philanthropists? As we see the wealth transition from the Baby Boomer generation, part of our role is to continue engaging next-gen donors.

We partner with next-gen donors primarily through our Center for Family Philanthropy, Next Gen Donor Institute, and Youth Leadership teams. In fact, we just commissioned third-party academic evaluation of our 10+ years of engaging the next generation. Out of that evaluation, the researchers published a national case study available to organizations, foundations, and institutions across the country to learn best practices for designing Next Gen Learning. We have also launched The Legacy Society, working with donors who have included the Foundation in their estate planning to create legacy plans and ensure their philanthropic values are carried on in the future.

AVENUE 360 HEALTH + WELLNESS

AVENUE360.ORG

Avenue 360 Health + Wellness is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), with a mission to provide high quality and caring services to promote healthy people and communities.

Our vision is to be the provider of choice by providing high-quality, coordinated, patient-centered, community-based care and services addressing the social determinants of health. We provide primary medical, behavioral health and dental care, hospice care, substance use recovery support services, and supportive housing programs.

Avenue 360 Health and Wellness was founded in 1998 as Houston Area Community Services (HACS), a 501(c)3 to provide affordable and high-quality and comprehensive care to patients living with HIV and AIDS. In 2016, the organization rebranded as Avenue 360 Health + Wellness after merging with Bering Omega Community Services (BOCS). The Omega House AIDS Hospice has been a staple in the Montrose community for over 35 years — serving people in their last days living with HIV/AIDS and providing respite care to those in need free of charge.

Today, Avenue 360 is a patient-centered medical home with eight locations offering services to approximately 11,000 patients. Avenue 360 is unique among FQHCs in the extent of social support it offers, which includes a Class A Pharmacy and adult substance abuse services, as well as permanent supportive housing. In recognition of the quality of its services, Avenue 360 is accredited by the Joint Commission for Ambulatory Care,

Behavioral Health and Home Health and is certified by the Joint Commission as a Primary Care Medical Home.

Our 2021 achievements include: Avenue 360 was awarded a $5 million grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), transforming the approach to Substance Use Screening and Recovery Services by fully integrating Recovery Support into Primary Care. Avenue 360 opened a premier facility in Midtown that offers primary care, HIV services, dental, behavioral health, substance use recovery, day activities services, and walk-up HIV testing all under one roof.

With a renewed focus on women’s health and our HIV treatments, we recruited 20 new providers. Thanks to our donors, Omega House received a new exterior paint job, roof, remodeled living room, and updated AC units to celebrate its 35th anniversary. To better meet the growing need in the aftermath of COVID, social work services were expanded to all eight clinic sites resulting in a 30 percent increase from 2020.

“WE PROVIDE PRIMARY MEDICAL, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DENTAL CARE, HOSPICE CARE, SUBSTANCE USE RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES, AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAMS.”

CHRISTUS FOUNDATION FOR HEALTHCARE

CHRISTUSFOUNDATION.ORG

What is your mission? CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare is dedicated to extending the healing ministry of Jesus Christ, continuing the legacy of the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word through the promotion of health and welfare to people in need.

Why was the organization launched? In 1866, the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word came to Galveston with a mission to heal “the sick and infirm of all kinds.” In 1887, they expanded their reach with St. Joseph’s Infirmary, Houston’s first general hospital, that later became St. Joseph’s Hospital. While the focus has shifted from hospital care to primary healthcare through community clinics and related services, CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare continues the original mission by serving the needs of underserved and uninsured communities of all faiths, ages and cultures in the Greater Houston and Galveston areas. Our seven programs include stationary clinics, mobile clinics, and school clinics, in addition to our Galveston homeless outreach.

What year was your organization launched? Our foundation started in 1966 as St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation, raising funds for St. Joseph’s Hospital. In 2005, upon the sale of the hospital system, St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation became CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare, with a focus on caring for those most in-need of the Foundation’s services. For more than 50 years, CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare has remained true to its mission. We have had to adapt our approach to meet other needs, such as mental health, and continue to focus on meeting the health needs of our region’s most vulnerable, with quality, dignity and respect for our patients.

What’s been your impact in the community? Our purpose is to meet unmet needs. We serve the underserved in ways other organizations don’t. Most people truly want to take care of themselves. They don’t want something for free;

they work hard and just want something they can afford. Our patients are an important part of the productivity of the city, with many working in construction, restaurants and more. Keeping them healthy keeps Houston stronger. In addition, our healthcare programs also reduce the burden on area ERs for sick and general care.

Tell us about your big event. Our Spring Luncheon honors community leaders and raises funds for CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare’s healthcare and social service programs. Held at River Oaks Country Club, the event offers an intimate gathering with a well-known guest speaker. Previous years’ speakers have included Chris Gardner, Elizabeth Smart, Bob Newhart, Mark Kelly & Gabby Giffords, and more. Our goal is to not only bring awareness about our organization, but also leave our guests feeling inspired. Our next Spring Luncheon will be held Tuesday, March 28, 2023.

How many employees and volunteers work with your organization? We have a total of 80 full-time and contract employees. The Foundation is governed by 43 dedicated board members, and it relies on a base of 83 volunteers. In our fiscal year 2022, those volunteers gave 12,875 hours of service to our clients.

How much have you raised since you launched? Donations allow us to treat people within their economic means by subsidizing the cost of care. It gives people the opportunity to pay what they can afford, while still getting the healthcare they need. Since its inception, millions of dollars have been raised by the Foundation, but every year, the needs are greater than the available funds.

What are your major challenges? Meeting the tremendous healthcare needs of our patients and finding the resources to meet those needs. We exist off private donations from our dedicated sponsors and supporters.

FOUNDATION HOUSTON, INC.

AFHOUSTON.ORG

What year was your organization launched, and what is your core mission? AIDS Foundation Houston, Inc. launched in 1982 with a mission to end the HIV epidemic in the Greater Houston area.

What has been your impact in the community? AIDS Foundation Houston, Inc. (AFH), is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that was the first AIDS Service Organization in Texas and remains a national leader in HIV/STD programming. With the goal of creating a community where HIV is stigmafree and rare, and people have equitable access to care, AFH works toward the mission of ending the HIV epidemic in the Houston area.

What services do you offer? AFH services include prevention education, PrEP Care, nPEP, HIV Testing and Rapid Start Treatment, STI Testing and Treatment, outreach in Texas prisons, supportive housing, food assistance, a summer camp for children, and supportive services to all persons affected by or at risk for HIV. We are so excited to be celebrating 40 years or service to the greater Houston community. For more information, please visit www.AFHouston.org

Your big event is coming up soon. Give us the details. The World AIDS Day Houston Luncheon 2022, Celebrating 40 Years of Serving the Community, takes place on Friday, December 2, 2022, and the Ballroom at Bayou Place (500 Texas Ave.). The luncheon goes 11:30am-1pm, with VIP reception from 1:30pm-3pm.

“WITH THE GOAL OF CREATING A COMMUNITY WHERE HIV IS STIGMA-FREE AND RARE ... AFH WORKS TOWARD THE MISSION OF ENDING THE HIV EPIDEMIC IN THE HOUSTON AREA.”

BARBARA BUSH HOUSTON LITERACY FOUNDATION

BUSHHOUSTONLITERACY.ORG

What year was your organization launched, and what is your mission? We launched in 2013, and our mission is to help more children and adults learn how to read.

Why did you start the organization? The Bush family formed the Foundation to advance former First Lady Barbara Bush’s literacy legacy and make Houston a model city for others by increasing literacy rates and breaking the intergenerational cycle of low literacy.

What are you most proud of? We are most proud of elevating literacy as a key priority for our city, harnessing resources to invest in high-quality literacy programs, and mobilizing the community as volunteers. We are particularly proud of commissioning the development of our city’s first strategic plan to improve literacy rates, called Houston’s Literacy Crisis: A Blueprint for Community Action, and a first-of-its-kind, dedicated citywide plan, called Houston’s Adult Literacy Blueprint aimed at addressing the systemic problem of low adult literacy rates.

How have you impacted the community? We have raised awareness of the pervasive problem of low-literacy rates and its link to individual, family, and community outcomes, as well as invested millions of dollars in high-quality literacy programs and resources in our city’s most challenged schools and within community-based nonprofits and libraries in high-need neighborhoods.

Tell us about your big event. Our signature fundraiser, hosted by the Bush family, is A Celebration of Reading. The event will be held on Thursday, April 20, 2023, at the Hobby Center for Performing Arts, and entail a unique program featuring bestselling authors and entertainment followed by dinner. We

anticipate 1,300 guests will be in attendance and our goal is to raise $2 million.

How many employees and volunteers work with your organization? We employ 12 full-time staff and have mobilized dozens of active volunteers through our two auxiliary groups, Ladies for Literacy Guild and Young Professionals Group, as well as our corporate partners.

How much have you raised since you launched? More than $30 million has been raised to fund literacy programs across Harris County.

What are your major challenges? Low literacy rates among children and adults are extremely pervasive in Houston. The vast number of people affected makes providing solutions at such a large scale a major challenge. To compound this, our city lacks a comprehensive system of services and supports for families and a system of high-quality early education programs to ensure that more children are reading-ready by kindergarten. Likewise, Houston lacks an adequate system to educate and train the tens of thousands of adults who are functionally illiterate. We must unite to address these major challenges in assuring for the overall health and vitality of Houston and the quality of life for everyone who calls Houston “home.”

NUTCRACKER MARKET

HOUSTONBALLET.ORG |

What year was your organization launched? In 1981, the first Market chairmen, Mineth Ellis and Barbara Patton, tested the scene with a low-budget, two-day sale at St. Philip’s Presbyterian Church. First Lady Barbara Bush cut the ribbon at the Preview Party, then came back to shop on Saturday. Local merchants set up shop in booths built and decorated by long-time Houston Ballet supporter Preston Frazier. The two-day sale raised about $28,000.

What is your mission? Nutcracker Market is a fundraiser that allows shoppers to give back to their community. Proceeds from admission tickets plus 11 percent of merchandise sales stay right here in Houston supporting Houston Ballet Foundation, its Academy and scholarship programs.

Why did you launch the organization? In 1981, Frazier approached the Guild Board with an idea for a new way to raise needed scholarship funds for the Houston Ballet Academy. His suggestion, a holiday market, was inspired by the tradition of European or Latin American street markets. From its humble beginnings in a church-bazaar setting to the four-day shopping extravaganza which now fills NRG Center, Nutcracker Market has secured its role as a much-anticipated tradition.

What are you most proud of? For more than four decades, Nutcracker Market has helped support and build awareness of the amazing performing arts in our community, specifically, Houston Ballet. We have created an event that has allowed thousands of unique small businesses to find an audience, grow, and thrive. We bring generations together to celebrate

NUTCRACKERMARKET.COM

this magical and iconic tradition and are the official kickoff to the holiday season in Houston. Our thoughtfully curated merchant list blends long-running fan favorites alongside exciting new shops for an experience which is both familiar and fun!

How much have you raised since you launched? Since our inception in 1981, Nutcracker Market, along with Nutcracker Market SPRING, which launched in 2019, have grossed over $100 million and contributed over $80 million to Houston Ballet Foundation. Our merchants generated over $189 million in sales from over two million enthusiastic shoppers.

How many employees and volunteers work with your organization? Nutcracker Market employs three full-time and one part-time staff and has over 1,000 incredible volunteers.

Tell us about this year’s Market. With its signature ruby red carpet and larger-than-life Nutcrackers setting the scene, Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market returns once again this Nov. 10-13. Celebrate as one of Houston’s favorite traditions transforms NRG Center into a shopper’s paradise. This year’s beloved four-day event will host more than 270 merchants from across the country, including more than 40 new merchants, showcasing a curated collection of unique holiday items, gourmet food, apparel, jewelry, accessories, home décor, gifts, toys, and more. Some say “It’s the greatest show on earth. It’s not just shopping. It’s an experience.” We say, “Texas. It’s a whole other country. The Nutcracker Market. It’s a whole other world!”

KIDS MEALS

KIDSMEALSINC.ORG

What is your mission? Launched in 2006, Kids’ Meals’ mission is to end childhood hunger in Houston by delivering free healthy meals year-round to the doorsteps of Houston’s hungriest preschool-aged children and through collaboration provide their families with resources to end the cycle of poverty.

Why did you launch the organization? More than 50,000 children in our city are going to bed hungry, living in food deserts and living food-insecure. Children who are ages 5 and under suffer most from lack of nutrition because their brains and bodies are in the most formative years and are not yet old enough to receive free meals through the school system. In response, the Kids’ Meals program launched to help end childhood hunger in our city.

What are you most proud of? Since inception, Kids’ Meals has prepared and delivered more than 10.5 million free meals to food insecure children in 46 zip codes in Harris County and Montgomery County. What started as a small grassroots organization, delivering a few hundred meals per day, now delivers an annual daily average of more than 6,000 meals. By ensuring children have basic daily nutrition, we are changing not only their mealtimes, but their entire lifetimes.

What’s been your impact in the community? Kids’ Meals is a first responder to impoverished children. In addition to nutritious daily meals, we deliver weekly grocery bags of fresh produce and non-perishable staples. We leverage our daily access to connect families with vital

wrap-around service information such as early childhood education, adult and child literacy, medical/dental care, ESL classes, financial planning, mental health and job skills training. Our average all-in cost per meal delivered is only $2 per child.

Tell us about your big event. On Friday, Nov. 11, 2022 at The Marriott Marquis Houston, the 14th Annual Kids’ Meals Annual Harvest Luncheon will bring together over 1,400 attendees from corporations, foundations and Houstonians interested in delivering hope to the future of our great city by investing in the next generation. Our luncheon offers a VIP experience, Mimosas & Market, a curated group of incredible vendors offering a collection of unique items to kick off your holiday shopping, and a spectacular silent auction crowned by an outstanding program. Sponsorships and tickets are our website.

How many employees and volunteers work with your organization? Forty employees work at Kids’ Meals, with most staff delivering direct program services to children. Kids’ Meals employees are committed and passionate about their work. In fact, our drivers are our “Hope Providers” because Kids’ Meals provides so much more than just a meal; we provide hope on a daily basis.

What are your major challenges? In 2018, Feeding America reported that Harris County had the highest percentage of children living with food insecurity among highly populated counties nationwide. More recent studies from Children at Risk and Northwestern University indicate the pandemic created a long-term economic impact that will affect low-income families for years. With an estimated 50,000 children under six facing food insecurity in Houston, Kids’ Meals primary goal is to serve at least half of them by 2031 and to continue building the infrastructure to keep growing. To accomplish this goal, we need Houstonians to partner with us as volunteers and donors to build a better city for our children and families.

“BY ENSURING CHILDREN HAVE BASIC DAILY NUTRITION, WE ARE CHANGING NOT ONLY THEIR MEALTIMES, BUT THEIR ENTIRE LIFETIMES.”

LONE STAR FLIGHT MUSEUM

LONESTARFLIGHT.ORG

The Lone Star Flight Museum is a 501c3 aviation museum with a mission to celebrate flight and achievements in Texas aviation as well as educate and engage our youth through science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). In addition to the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame, the 130,000-square-foot museum is home to a flying collection of rare and historic commercial, general aviation and military aircraft. Maintaining the rich history of the museum when it began in Galveston in 1991, the museum was reimagined into a state-of-the-art entertainment and education destination when it opened in 2017 at Ellington Airport.

The Lone Star Flight Museum members and visitors will encounter rich content and intriguing displays featuring aviation history and the science of flight. The Heritage and Waltrip Hangars house more than two dozen historic, military and commercial aircraft. Museum programming includes The Texas Aviation Heritage Gallery, Texas Aviation Hall of Fame, the Flight Academy, and our popular flight simulators, all curated to interest Houston-area aviation enthusiasts, history connoisseurs, and life-long learners of all ages. The museum’s calendar features special events throughout the year that enhance visitor’s learning and experience through hands-on activities, in-depth discussion on aviation and historical events, and flight experiences, among many others. Youth-oriented special events, arts and crafts, and educational opportunities keep multi-generational families engaged. The museum’s education services have experienced unprecedented growth during the 2021-2022 school year, engaging thousands of students through field trips, scout programming, and student volunteerism.

With renowned facilities and engaging public programming, the Lone Star Flight Museum has established itself as a well-respected and valued contributor to the Houston-area community, preserving aviation history and inspiring future generations of scientists, aviators, and life-long learners.

To continue these programs and events, The Lone Star Flight Museum, with support from Houston’s philanthropic community led by the James C. and Teresa K. Day Foundation, will celebrate the golden age of travel and the jet-setter heyday of the 1960s, at the museum’s annual fundraising gala, The Jetsetters Ball.

To be held on Saturday, November 12, Co-Chairs Mary and David Novelli and Kim and Brett Williams will welcome guests to this mod-inspired celebration within the impressive hangars and exhibits at the Lone Star Flight Museum.

The creative black-tie event that will feature fabulous experiences including, a seated dinner provided by City Kitchen, dessert stations throughout the museum and specialty themed cocktails. Exciting travel and entertainment packages via big board and live auction, wine pull and an eclectic musical mix of ’60s hits and current dance tunes will make for an amazing event. Underwriting opportunities and table and ticket sales can be found on the museum website.

The Jet Setters Ball will benefit the museum’s STEM education programs, aircraft collection, and the support the preservation of Texas aviation history.

MAKE-A-WISH

WISH.ORG/TEXGULF

Wishes are powerful. Christopher Greicius was only five years old when he was diagnosed with Stage 4 leukemia. Despite the challenges caused by the illness, Chris devoted his time to pursuing his number one wish: to become a police officer. As a friend of the Greicius family, Tommy Austin, a U.S. Customs Special Agent, knew well the details of Chris’ journey. With his counterparts in local and state agencies around Phoenix, where Chris lived, Tommy created a plan to grant Chris’ wish.

On April 29, 1980, having been told that Chris was near the end of his journey, Tommy and his colleagues brought his wish to life, as he became the first — and only — honorary Trooper in the history of the Arizona State Police. Wearing his official ASP uniform, Trooper Greicius rode in a police helicopter, patrolled his neighborhood, and even drove a police motorcycle. Shortly after, Chris passed away. He was seven years old.

Chris’ journey became what is now the Make-A-Wish Foundation, turning one wish into an international movement that has transformed millions of lives.

We all have wishes. We wish to be, to go, to have … and these wishes motivate us every day. For a child battling a critical illness, wishes offer hope, strength, and joy during the most difficult time of their life.

At Make-A-Wish, we grant life-changing wishes for local kids. A common misconception is that we only grant “last wishes” for terminally ill children. However, aided by the experience of having their wish granted, more than 70 percent of wish kids live into adulthood, most beating their illness completely.

Wishes are local. We are a community-based organization, serving families in 47 counties in Texas and the entire state of Louisiana. Your friends and colleagues volunteer and donate to Make-A-Wish; you talk to wish kids at the store and wave to them in your neighborhood.

Since the inception of Make-A-Wish Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana, we have granted nearly 10,000 wishes to local children, and, this year, we granted 572 wishes— the most in our history!

Wishes are proven. In 2022, Make-A-Wish conducted a scientific study of more than 3,400 wish kids, their families, and their medical providers, finding the following: 100 percent of medical providers said the wish experience improves a child’s emotional wellbeing. 98 percent of medical providers said the wish experience improves a child’s physical well-being. 92 percent of wish kids said their wish brought their family closer together. 91 percent of wish parents said the wish experience gave their child a better chance of surviving their critical illness.

Wishes are bold. By 2025, Make-A-Wish will double the number of wishes granted annually, bringing to life more than 1,000 wishes each year — nearly three per day! This vision is not only about granting more wishes, but also giving each child a magical wish experience that changes their life forever.

PINK BOWS FOUNDATION

PINKBOWSFOUNDATION.ORG

What year was your organization launched? Pink Bows Foundation was founded in May of 2022 following the tragic loss of Madison Alexis Dubiski, who lost her life while attending Travis Scott’s Astroworld Music Festival at the age of 23, on November 5, 2021 in Houston, Texas.

What is your mission? Pink Bows Foundation promotes stronger safety protocols to be consistently implemented at entertainment venues while encouraging safe spaces and protecting attendees to prevent avoidable injuries or death.

Why did you launch the organization? Ten people were killed when certain companies and people prioritized profits and notoriety over safety. The families of the 10 individuals will never be the same. Consider also, the physical and emotional harm to countless others and the lifetime of emotional pain and agony for the families and friends who lost a loved one. Pink Bows Foundation is determined to lead the efforts to improve safety protocols at concerts, festivals, and events to ensure that more lives are not needlessly lost.

Tell us about your big give. Pink Bows Foundation’s big give is to fund multiple mechanisms that support training, design and facilitate safety protocols, and create specialized safety plans via task forces specific to outdoor music festivals to help mitigate future tragedies and keep patrons safe. We will rely heavily on the support of groups working with local and state agencies to implement an “Amber Alert” or “Crime Stoppers” type of initiative, which would allow a thirdparty, independent decision-maker to stop an event when mandatory regulations and safety protocols have been breached, to ensure safety at concerts, festivals, and other large gatherings.

What are you most proud of? Pink Bows Foundation is most proud of the quick action by community members to form a 501c3 to formalize the action needed to create measures so that no family would have to deal with the pain of losing a child in such a senseless manner. Within a very short period, we have not only formed an official nonprofit organization, elected a board of directors, and raised money to help support the mission, but we have garnered tremendous support from the community which will help bring this necessary conversation to the front of the line. Pink Bows Foundation isn’t just about losing one amazing young woman, but what she represents. Pink Bows Foundation will make a significant difference in how people will enjoy attending events and go home safely at the end of the night.

“THE

BOWS

ISN’T JUST ABOUT LOSING ONE AMAZING YOUNG WOMAN, BUT WHAT SHE REPRESENTS.”

I recommend Bayou City Event Center to everyone! We keep coming back because there is nothing that we do not love. The space is flexible and versatile. The staff are great and fast on their feet. It is always so easy!

AIR ALLIANCE HOUSTON

AIRALLIANCEHOUSTON.ORG

What year was your organization launched? In 2008, Galveston-Houston Association for Smog Prevention (1988) and Mothers for Clean Air (1996) became GHASP/MfCA. In January 2010, they rebranded as Air Alliance Houston (AAH).

What is your mission? To reduce the public health impacts from air pollution through applied research, education, and advocacy. Because air pollution does not occur equitably in all neighborhoods, we also take a strong stand against environmental injustice, advocating for communities that are historically overburdened by pollution.

Why did you launch the organization? GHASP formed as concerned residents joined forces to prevent and eliminate smog in the Houston region while MfCA came together with the purpose of providing community-based outreach and advocacy. Today, AAH sits at the intersection of research, education, and advocacy to do both: reduce air pollution and empower community members. We are also now connecting the dots between air pollution, public health, and the conditions causing climate change.

What are you most proud of? Our community engagement and leadership. We have rallied with and led partners and community members to speak in front of state regulators and legislators. This includes the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the Texas Transportation Commission, and others during the general legislative sessions.

How have you impacted the community? For over 25 years, AAH has worked to improve air quality,

advance environmental justice, and promote the health of Houstonians. We work with communities to create transparency and understanding around environmental decision-making, especially air quality issues and governmental processes.

What’s your big event? In 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, we created #SamplingTheCity, an air quality monitoring bike ride! We partner with residents as they ride bikes through their community learning about air pollution sources. We provide air monitors and our expertise to give communities real-time data about the quality of their air.

Tell us about the people in your organization. We have 13 full-time staff, with three open positions and over 1,000 subscribers to our newsletter.

Who supports you? Our supporters have been extremely generous, which has allowed us to grow our team and reach. We receive funds from individuals concerned about clean air, as well as foundations who want to make improvements on key issues such as industry pollution, transportation, and climate.

What are your major challenges? Bandwidth, especially in our industrial opposition work due to the number of polluters in our region and to sustain the advocacy efforts necessary for long-term change. For example, we cannot respond to every local “bad actor” who pollutes the air simply due to lack of staffing, community advocates, and time.

Community Air Monitoring Program Manager Juan Flores gives a tour of the Houston Ship Channel to Public Health Watch Documentarians.

ROCO ROCO.ORG

When ROCO launched in 2005, Founder and Artistic Director Alecia Lawyer saw a need for personal connection through music. Building audiences through a human-first approach, ROCO’s mission is to shape and revolutionize the future of classical music by energizing, modernizing, and personalizing the concert experience. Since its inception, ROCO has raised over $14 million in support of its mission.

Now in its 18th season, ROCO is established as a dynamic and innovative professional music ensemble that flexes from 1 to 40 players from all over the U.S. and Canada, with guest conductors from around the world. Performing intimate concerts in dozens of venues, ROCO’s musicians do not just give concerts — they challenge preconceptions, create extraordinary experiences, and foster new relationships with audiences through the language of music.

Access makes the heart grow fonder. ROCO embraces the power of technology for the purpose of connection with free worldwide concert livestreams. Since 2013, it has been a priority to present concerts on multiple digital platforms, believing that greater access is crucial to making classical music relevant and approachable. Weaving music through Houston via QR code technology linking to curated playlists, ROCO on the Go launched in 2020, meeting audiences where they are by bringing recordings from ROCO’s past 17 years of performances directly to over two-dozen partner organizations that serve a variety of demographics within our community.

Boldness through unique and fun programming. A recent study from the Institute for Composer Diversity found

that ROCO was the number one ensemble in the U.S. for performing the works of women and number two for composers of color. ROCO is committed to adventurous and bold programming that sparks curiosity, creativity, and innovation. As a leader in commissioning works by living composers, ROCO has premiered 127 new pieces and is the third-highest commissioning orchestra in the United States.

Connection to artists, audiences, and the community. ROCO is committed to achieving impactful and inviting relationships with the community through an inclusive and welcoming engagement philosophy. ROCO fans love what’s called “Take Five” during concerts when the musicians leave their chairs and come out into the audience to mingle, bringing a whole new level of connection between the audience and the artist.

Experience ROCO! Listen, learn, and explore performances at ROCO.org.

BE AN ANGEL

BEANANGEL.ORG

What year was your organization launched? 1986 by Tina Coleco.

What is your mission? It is our mission to improve the quality of life for children with multiple disabilities or profound deafness by providing needed adaptive equipment and select services.

Why did you launch the organization? We believe that children are the heart and soul of humanity, that they represent all that is good within us, and that we can help children with special needs experience life at their fullest potential.

What are you most proud of? The speed with which we are able to get a child approved for the benefits, versus the 3-to-4-year waiting time period by governmental agencies. All with an administrative staff of four dedicated employees

and hundreds of volunteers. Additionally, Be An Angel is now available in Dallas and Fort Worth.

What’s been your impact in the community? Be An Angel has provided adaptive equipment and select services to over 7,500 special needs children from birth to age 22, per year for the last 12 years. These children generally come from limited to low-income families.

Tell us about your big event. Our Spring Gala called the Angel awards, raising $625,000 plus per year.

How many employees and volunteers work with your organization? 4.5 employees and hundreds of volunteers each year

What are your major challenges? Getting the word out to more families through mass media and social media.

URBAN HARVEST

URBANHARVEST.ORG

Urban Harvest was founded in 1994 by individuals with the belief people could feed themselves and revitalize their communities by growing healthy food. This core belief led to the creation of community gardens to address vital issues such as hunger, nutrition, community development, and ecological land management. We introduced an alternate vision for the city, revealing that sustainable fruits and vegetables can flourish in Houston’s unique climate, and locally-grown, healthy food can revitalize and empower our region.

Community is our Mission

Urban Harvest cultivates thriving communities through gardening and access to healthy, local food. Our vision is of a healthier city where everyone has access to fresh, nutritious food harvested from sustainable community gardens and farms.

A Sustainable Impact

It all started with our Community Gardens Program which has grown into one of the largest networks of edible gardens in the country. Urban Harvest now supports more than 170 gardens with resources and education.

Each year, our Youth Education program teaches handson gardening to over 5,000 Houston-area students, and, through our Edible Academy teacher training program, that number — and impact — doubles. We offer advice,

gardening classes, and services to provide parents, teachers, and administrators with information to build and maintain a successful and sustainable school garden program in Houston.

Beyond the Farmers Market

Urban Harvest’s Saturday Farmers Market has grown from just seven vendors to one of the largest direct-producer markets in the Gulf Coast region with 100 small businesses. These local farms, ranches, gardeners, and food artisans provide affordable and convenient healthy food choices to low-income families through our SNAP incentive program, Double Up Houston. Our new Mobile Market offers over 70 varieties of local food staples and sells roughly 16,000 pounds of high-quality fruits and veggies at cost each year.

Gathering Together

Our events embody our programs and mission in unique, educational, dining experiences. Local farmers, ranchers, fishermen and chefs collaborate to create extraordinary meals at our signature dinners — Sunday Supper and Secret Supper Clubs. Bartenders source ingredients from our vendors and gardens for our Cultivated Cocktails events. Women farmers engage in a one-day educational event at our Women in Agriculture Conference. Individuals from diverse backgrounds become a thriving community when they learn, grow and dine together. Visit www.urbanharvest. events to learn more.