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Fall Philanthropy Report: Easter Seals of Greater Houston ‘Impacts Where People Need Us the Most’
Oct. 8, 2024
What year was your organization launched? Founded in Houston in 1947, as the Cerebral Palsy Treatment Center, the organization provided services to individuals with disabilities living in Houston and Harris County. In 1989, the organization changed its name and greatly expanded its services to meet the needs of its clientele. Today as Easter Seals Greater Houston, the organization provides multiple outstanding service programs to children, adults, veterans, and service members with all types of disabilities and their families in Harris and sixteen surrounding counties.
What is your mission? Easter Seals Greater Houston is the only organization in the greater Houston area providing comprehensive services to individuals with all types of disabilities, veterans and their families. We impact where people need us the most – school, work, home, and in the community. Enhancing education, advancing health, expanding employment, and elevating the community.
Why did you launch the organization? Easter Seals was originally launched as the school district location for children with disabilities before the ADA was passed in the 70’s. Once ADA legislation was passed, the agency evolved into life changing services and programs serving babies, children and adults with all types of disabilities and their families, regardless of their ability to pay.
What are you most proud of? Easter Seals’ services focus on improving the physical, educational, cognitive, mental and financial health of our clients so they can live as fully participating members of our community. Even though we are very efficient, with over $.91 of every dollar used for direct client assistance, we have still been able to consistently expand services to fill gaps in services for an underserved population.
How have you impacted the community? Each year, we serve close to 15,000 families in Harris and surrounding counties, most living below poverty simply due to medical bills and caregiving issues; our programs not only address our direct client’s need for therapy, school, camps and more; but those of the family through respite, financial education, mental health services and emergency assistance.
Tell us about your big event. Easter Seals is excited to announce our 14th annual “Walk With Me Houston” Family fun walk on April 12, 2025, at the Houston Zoo presented by Prosperity Bank and attended by over 4,000 donors, sponsors, volunteers and clients. Following the walk, is an after-party with children’s activities, music, food, drinks and more. WalkWithMeHouston.org
How many employees and volunteers work with your organization? 250 and more than 200.
How much have you raised since you launched? In the past 20 years, Easter Seals has grown an average of 7% a year-in spite of economic downturns, government funding cuts and the fact that less than 3% of all charitable giving goes to organizations serving people with disabilities. That growth came through a combination of community support-from government funding, the United Way, individual donors, foundations and corporations so that our babies, children and adults receive the services they desperately need without worrying about the cost or their lack of insurance.
What are your major challenges? In spite of medical advancements and the power of technology to improve the lives of veterans and people with disabilities, the need for our services continues to grow-and with that the challenge of raising the funds necessary to support those expanded services grows.
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CITIZENS FOR ANIMAL Protection (CAP) is having a very merry holiday season, having raised a record-breaking $1 million at its annual gala in November.
With a theme of "Best in Snow," a seasonal play on the funny flick Best in Show, the glam gala took place at The Post Oak Hotel, where animal lovers (and their furry friends!) reveled in sparkling holiday decor. Event co-chairs Angela Hernandez and Carson Brown were thrilled with the turnout, which topped 700.
Guests were welcomed with espresso martinis from the ice bar, sponsored by Sire Spirits and Branson Cognac and Le Chemin du Roi, and spent plenty of time perusing the Bourbon and Bubbles pull (more than 100 bottles!) and the silent auction. Once inside the blue-and-white-hued ballroom, the crowd cheered on the evening's honorees, who strutted their stuff alongside their pets. Andy Cerota and his pup Maxwell were crowned as the 2024 Celebrity Pets of the Year, with Dana and Blake Fertitta and their dogs Belle and Zoe were first runners-up.
Galagoers were also moved by the story of CAP’s Celebrity Canine Hero Award recipient, Bram Kohlhausen and his service dog Chip. And emcee Frank Billingsley was joined by Brittany Franklin during the "Paws Up" portion of the evening as well as the live auction.
Andy Cordes and Dawsel White
Steve and Daphne Savva with Jenga
Brenda and Bob Wempe, Paige Fertitta
Sandi Mercado, Jackie Clark
Carson Brown, Bram Kohlhausen and his service dog Chip, and Angela Hernandez
Robert Tijerina, Patrick Lancton
Champagne parade for live-auction winner
Patricia and Sig Cornelius
Chris and Kendall Hanno
Nick and Allison Boulle with Belle
Daniel Irion and Kirk Kveton
Marcellus Upshaw, Sandra Cooper Smith
David and Kirby Lodholz with Chucky
Liz and Peter Carragher
Dean Putterman and Ed Finger
Lisa Helfman and Lee Haverman
Ember Strand, Frankie Demeris
Gloria and Frank Meszaros
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Always Farm Fresh and Fabulous, Recipe for Success’ ‘Delicious Alchemy’ Delights Foodie Guests
Nov. 27, 2024
AL FRESCO DINNERS with food prepared by buzzy chefs may be trendy these days, but Gracie Cavnar’s Recipe for Success was way ahead of the curve, with her annual Delicious Alchemy banquet coming ’round for the 19th time this fall.
The event, held this year at the nonprofit’s Hope Farms near Downtown, featured for the first time an all-female roster of 10 chefs each producing a different course for the fabulous outdoor festivities. Many dishes featured produce from the farm, which aims to provide healthy food in a “food desert” and provide educational opportunities for kids.
Even the décor came from the land. “Shimmering white blooms plucked from fields of the co-located Flower Child micro flower farm seemed to levitate from a stunning black tabletop design,” noted a rep for Recipe, “making a spectacular display against the pastoral vibe of the barn.”
The menu included Tony’s Chef Kate McLean duck cones with scallion pudding, Savor+Sweat Chef Erin O’Leary Stewart’s black trumpet mushroom crisps with herbed cashew cheese, Culinaire Chef Barbara McKnight’s chilled cucumber-scallion borscht with dill bubble bread, and Cochinito & Co Chef Victoria Elizondo’a passion fruit ceviche with Habanada peppers.
Later courses included Chef Suu Khin’s turnip coconut cream soup with turmeric, Jane Wild Studio Chef Jane Wild’s handmade gnocchi with pepper sauce and mascarpone, Street to Kitchen Chef Benchawan Painter’s crispy chicken with coconut
kombucha squash and pumpkin curry sauce, and Camellia Monday Hospitality Chef Jessica Timmons’ braised Iberico pork cheek with sauce piquant, collard pecan Grits, and vinegared okra. For dessert: Recipe for Success Foundation Culinary Director Alyssa Dole’s olive oil cake with whipped beet mascarpone and carrot cake pompote — and The Bake Happening Chef Andrea De Gortari’s chocolate beet cookies and spiced sweet potato cookies, which were served to go.
Each course touted expert wine or spirits pairings for a thoroughly elevated dining experience. VIPs spotted among the 50 guests at the intimate, breezy affair included Bob Cavnar, Ford Hubbard, Renea Abbott, Sherree and Norman Frede, Aashish and Erin Parekh, Jessica Rossman, and Karen and Murry Penner.
Recipe for Success Foundation is “dedicated to combating childhood obesity by transforming how children and families understand and engage with food,” per its mission statement. “Through its pioneering programs, the foundation has empowered over 50,000 youth to make lifelong healthy eating decisions.”
Ford Hubbard, Renea Abbott and Thomas Hunt (photo by Daniel Ortiz)
Gracie Cavnar (photo by Daniel Ortiz)
Karen and Murry Penner (photo by Daniel Ortiz)
Chef Alyssa Dole (photo by Daniel Ortiz)
Milton Townsend, Bob Cavnar and Mark Sullivan (photo by Michelle Watson)
Javier Lopez and Jennifer Herrera (photo by Daniel Lopez)
Bow-tied servers and guests as Delicious Alchemy (photo by Daniel Ortiz)
Gayla Gardner (photo by Daniel Ortiz)
Aashish and Erin Parehk and Rudy Guerra (photo by Michelle Watson)
Norman & Sheree Frede (photo by Daniel Ortiz)
Kate McLean (photo by Michelle Watson)
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