Fall Philanthropy Report: Children’s Assessment Center Touts ‘Healing’ for Child Abuse Victims
Oct. 8, 2024
What is your mission? The Children’s Assessment Center (The CAC) provides healing services to over 6,300 child sexual abuse victims and their families each year. We offer forensic interviewing, family advocacy, mental health services, medical care, and court services at no cost. We facilitate community outreach and prevention training to raise awareness about child abuse in our community and how to keep children safe. Last year, we provided prevention training to over 35,000 community members, including 23,500 children in schools.
Why did you launch the organization? The CAC is the only child advocacy center in Harris County and one of the largest nationwide. Sadly, before the implementation of advocacy centers, there was not a streamlined process for children. Victims of sexual abuse were often interviewed multiple times by various law enforcement, medical professionals, and mental health clinicians. Here at The CAC, we know that having to recount abuse several times can be retraumatizing, and we sought to find a solution to make a trauma-informed process.
The goal of The CAC is to provide all the services, partners, and resources families need in one place. We collaborate with hundreds of professionals from 60 Partner Agencies (e.g., law enforcement, medical and mental health professionals, nonprofits, and governmental investigative entities) to coordinate investigations, provide services, and protect children. Our hope is that our process will give children the tools necessary to empower them on their healing journey.
How have you impacted the community? Our work is guided by the belief that all children in our community deserve to grow up safe, happy, and healthy. We work to empower children’s healing journeys, restore hope in families, and provide support to avoid long-term trauma. The CAC exists to help our community become a better, safer place for each child of Harris County.
Tell us about your big event. We will host our annual Spirit of Spring Gala to celebrate The Children’s Assessment Center Foundation’s 30th anniversary. We are thrilled to invite community members who have helped us make a lasting impact on child sexual abuse survivors, their families, and our community. We look forward to commemorating the 30th year on April 11, 2025, at The Houstonian Hotel.
How can I help? As adults, it is our responsibility to keep children safe. Your generosity can help empower families on their healing journey and protect vulnerable children. Please consider how you can be part of the solution to end child sexual abuse. Go to our website, cachouston.org, to learn how to donate, volunteer, and protect children in our community.
We exist to protect children, heal families, and prevent child sexual abuse and child sex trafficking in our community.
Keep Reading
Show less
Encore! Beloved Gala for Avenue 360’s Omega House Hospice Triumphantly Returns to Center Stage
Daniel Ortiz
Nov. 13, 2024
ONE OF HOUSTON'S most beloved charitable galas made a comeback, as the newly renamed “Voices for Hope” in support of Avenue 360 Health and Wellness and its nearly 40-year-old Omega House hospice for HIV patients bowed at River Oaks Country Club.
Formerly called Sing for Hope and launched by Avenue antecedent organization Bering Omega, the music-savvy gala has been on hiatus for nearly a decade. With dynamic chairs Alicia Smith and Brigitte Kalai, and with Amerapex as presenting sponsor, the event came roaring back — under the twinkling chandeliers of the country club’s ballroom. A crowd of about 200, many of them boldface names from the society set, helped raise $215,000 for Omega House.
An rep for event organizers called Omega House “a pioneering residential hospice providing compassionate care to terminally ill AIDS patients since its founding in 1986 as Texas’ first such haven,” adding that “many dedicated Omega House volunteers and supporters joined in the celebration, underscoring the community’s ongoing commitment to Avenue 360’s mission.”
Musical performances included those by the HSPVA choir, handsome blues crooner Luke Whitney and powerhouse America’s Got Talent semifinalist (and registered nurse!) Christina Wells, who belted out crowd pleasers like “Natural Woman.” Emcee Deborah Duncan of TV, also a singer, joined Wells in a rousing “We Are Family” rendition.
Lovely soaring florals by H-E-B and table linens by Kirksey Gregg filled every table, but the most beautiful moment of the evening might have been when famous PaperCity society scribe Shelby Hodge gave the staycation she’d won at the raffle to performer Wells as a surprise gift. Wells will enjoy a weekend driving a Porshe and luxuriating in style, thanks to Porshe River Oaks, Porshe West Houston and The Post Oak Hotel.
Other raffle prizes included dazzling earrings by Nini Jewels, a custom necklace by Wayne Smith Jewels donated by co-chair Kalai, and a shopping spree at Tootsie’s. Nearly as delicious as the luxurious raffle, dinner was a rich surf and turf of steak and seabass with the country club’s famous pecan balls — ice cream rolled in chopped nuts and doused in sauces of chocolate and caramel — for dessert.
Ken Bohan, longtime board member and generous donor, was presented with the Harmony of the Heart award. “Omega House Medical Director Gus Krucke, Director of Dental Services Mark Nichols and Omega House Director Sandy Stacy were honored with the Symphony of Service Award,” noted the Avenue rep, “with Stacy receiving a standing ovation for her 30 years of service.”
Organization President and CEO Charlene Flash, who drew comparisons to Tina Turner in her chic, leggy cobalt mini dress, remarked: “This year’s Voices for Hope event enables us to continue the essential work of Omega House, ensuring that those facing terminal illness find comfort and dignity in their final days.”
Spotted in the crowd: Lance Smith, Bashar Kalai, Fady Armanious, Beth Wolff, Tony Bradfield, Leisa Holland Nelson, Farida Abjani, Omar and Maria Moncada Alaoui, Steve Spencer, Jody Merritt, Christine Johnson, Michele Till, Anna Reger, Mandy Kao, Mark Folkes, Christopher Johnston, Brandon Weinbrenner, Mitchell Greco, Sonny Garza, Todd Ramos, Scott Evans, Aaron Matthews, and, just days ahead of their Mexican destination wedding, Hallie Vanderhider and Bobby Dees.
Hallie Vanderhider and Bobby Dees
Omar and Maria Moncada Alaoui
Fady Armanious and Tony Bradfield
Luke Whitney
Kristen Cannon, Beth Muecke and Kelly Anzilotti
Alex Kalai, Bashar Kalai, Brigitte Kalai and Remy Kalai
Shelby Hodge surprises crowd in gifting staycation package she'd won in the raffle to singer Christina Wells.
Mark Folkes, Christopher Johnston, Mitchell Greco and Brandon Weinbrenner
Mandy Kao and Ana Reger
Deborah Duncan, Brigitte Kalai, Dr. Charlene Flash and Alicia Smith
Scott Evans, Leisa Holland Nelson and Aaron Matthews
Nini Hale and Sylvia Forsythe
Rusty and Sue Burnett, Ken Bohan and Ann Deaton
Ashley Tse, Stephanie Nielsen, Michele Till, Alex Blair and Sandra Smith-Cooper
Brent and Lara Bell
Ghada Ali, Steve Spencer and Jody Merritt and Christine Johnson
Todd Ramos, Omar Alaoui, Lance Smith and Jeff Gremillion
From Your Site Articles
Related Articles Around the Web
Keep Reading
Show less
Cowboy Cool: Crime Stoppers’ Texas-Themed Gala Raises $2 Mil for Safer Streets in Houston
Nov. 13, 2024
WITH A COWBOY theme and terrific country band — think big hats and big hearts, said organizers — the Crime Stoppers gala was a huge hit and moving evening.
“The lavish celebration united over 400 generous supporters, community advocates, elected officials, and law enforcement from across the state for a lively Texas-themed party which kicked off with an energetic happy hour, offering guests opportunities to support the night’s exciting silent auction and raffle,” noted a rep for the nonprofit of the elaborate celebration at The Revaire that raised more than $2 million.
The band Nobody’s Fool was terrific playing all the best country covers, and even providing a soundtrack for a rowdy silent auction that found auctioneer Johnny Bravo jumping on tables!
Chairs for the evening were Elizabeth McIngvale-Mackey and Matt Mackey and jewelers Michelle and Jonathan Zadok. Stirring remarks were made by notables including Mayor John Whitmire, UH President Renu Khator, Jim ‘Mattress Mack’ McIngvale and Vanessa Ames and Jordan Seff, generous donors credited with helping set organization’s strategy and inspiring others to give. The steak dinner was provided by Ben Berg of B&B Butchers and other top restaurants.
VIP guests included a slew of dignitaries and officials such as U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, District Attorney Kim Ogg, County Commissioner Tom Ramsey, City Council Member Willie Davis, Police Chief Noe Diaz and Constable Alan Rosen. Private citizens from the society set were also on hand, including Brigitte Kalai, Alicia Smith, Susan Boggio, Sheridan and John Eddie Williams, Hallie Vanderhider, Bobby Dees and many members of the fame Zadok family of jewelers.
Fady Armanious, Brigitte Kalai AND Alicia Smit (photo by Priscilla Dickson)
Marge Lundquist, Tama Lundquist (photo by Priscilla Dickson)
Renu Khator (photo by Jacob Power)
John Eddie and Sheridan Williams (photo by Jacob Power)
Ben Berg and Morgan Skiba (photo by Priscilla Dickson)
Auctioneer Johnny Bravo (photo by Jacob Power)
Eric Elder (photo by Priscilla Dickson)
Seven Shamir Francis (photo by Jacob Power)
From Your Site Articles
- Whiskey, Custom Cowgirl Boots and Diamonds: These Fundraising Ladies Are in a League of Their Own ›
- Mira Sorvino, Crime-Fighters Unite Against Human Trafficking, Bring in $1M at Glam Downtown Gala ›
- Houston 'Stands Up and Shows Up,' Crime Stoppers’ Gala Garners More than a Million ›
- Mattress Mack and Jim Crane Give Surprise Gifts at Crime Stoppers’ Homerun Gala at Minute Maid ›
Keep Reading
Show less