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.
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Kathryn Lott, Guy Hagstette and Barry Mandel
EVERY TWO YEARS, some of Houston's best-known names and most generous patrons descend upon Downtown's Discovery Green park for a night of dinner, dancing and art-admiring.
This year, the Kinders, Tudors and several former or current mayors joined the crowd of 500-plus at the butterfly-themed event, which took flight with an al fresco cocktail hour on the Brown Promenade. The signature Monarch Margaritas were a hit, and were especially enjoyable under the wings of Atlas by Jen Lewin, the park's winter art installation.
The party continued under a glam tent erected on the lush lawn. Illuminated butterflies fluttered gracefully above, and Encore Strings along with harpist Alex Martinez provided a dreamy soundtrack as the black-tie-clad galagoers filtered into the space.
Emcee Derrick Shore kept things lively, and current Discovery Green president Kathryn Lott gave a meaningful tribute to a past president, Guy Hagstette, who was the night's honoree. “The gala is a celebration of the metamorphosis that transformed a parking lot into a gorgeous outdoor cultural center and green space,” said Lott. “The evening is also a celebration of transformations that take place over generations with the new president honoring the first president alongside the children and grandchildren of the park’s founders.”
Chaired by sisters-in-law Kara Kinder Vidal and Maria Vidal Morales, the night also included tunes by Skyrocket! and a live painting moment by Taft McWhorter; his work was among many of the coveted auction items that contributed to the evening's total till, which topped $1 million. Talk about flying high!
Anat and Jay Zeidman
Tommy Pepper, Kathryn Lott
Cody and Kusum Patel
Thomas Kent, Lauren Griffith
Curtis Flowers, Andrea Ashford
Taft McWhorter
Derrick Shore, Brandon Bourque
Skyrocket
Laura Murillo, Sandra Smith-Cooper
Scott and Judy Nyquist
Eduardo Morales, Maria Vidal Morales, Kara Kinder Vidal, Ulises Vidal
Roxann Neumann, Kara Neumann, Tim Neumann
Jaime Loera, George Johnston
Jay and Allie Fields
Portia and Chris Hopkins
Joe and Bri Martin
Phoebe and Bobby Tudor
Paula and David Law
Michael and Ellie Francisco
Nancy and Rich Kinder
Mark Sullivan, Greg Fourticq, Patsy Fourticq
Melanie Camp, Anthony Yanez, Rebecca Yanez, Nicole Jones, Nick Jones
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- At Chic Gala Under a Chandeliered Tent, a Surprise $2 Mil Donation Was Discovery Green's 15th Birthday Gift ›
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Brasserie 19
THE RODEO OFFICIALLY opens on March 4, but Houston restaurants have already started saddling up with specials! So boot-scoot on over to one of these restaurants to savor the Texas tradition.
Bayou Heights Bier Garten
To celebrate its two-year anniversary, Bayou Heights Bier Garten is throwing a good ol’ country hoe down on February 22! The party begins at 5pm and festivities include a raffle for Rodeo tickets, a custom cowboy hat pop-up, line dancing and two-stepping lessons, a live performance by Good Time Muffin, and a mechanical bull.
The Pit Room
On Go Texan Day, next Friday, Feb. 28, both the Montrose and the Memorial locations of the Michelin-recognized smokehouse will have live music, petting zoos, a crawfish boil and, for a little taste of the Rodeo carnival, cotton candy!
Eunice
This Upper Kirby Cajun haunt isserving a hearty Cowboy Ribeye for Go Texan Day. It’s topped with crawfish butter, wild mushrooms and potatoes that blends both Texas and Louisiana flavors.
Plume
Want to keep the party going after Go Texan Day? Kick off Rodeo season with a high-energy brunch at the hip Heights cocktail lounge! On March 2, Plume hosts a Western brunch with a DJ and brand new brunch offerings.
Brasserie 19
The always scene-y happy hour at Brasserie 19 is going western for Rodeo! From March 4-23, find new offerings like smoked-turkey-leg croquettes, and venison sloppy Joe sliders. Plus, sip on seasonal offerings like the Gold Rush, Rodeo Mule and Aqua de Vaquer. It’s a perfect spot to pre-game the Rodeo because Brasserie 19 has partnered with Alto to offer 15 percent off rides to and from B19 — just use code BRASSERIE19.
Relish Restaurant & Bar
Enjoy carnival food without trekking to NRG! The River Oaks and Town & Country locations are offering new menu items like mini corn dogs, pulled park sandwich and the rodeo burger with house-ground beef, cheddar, shoestring onions and Relish BBQ sauce. Take a long lunch and enjoy the new beverages like Space City Cowboy with bourbon, blackberry, mint, lemon and maple; or the Rodeo Rita with Mezcal, tequila, lime, blood orange and bitters. These specials are available daily, 11am-5:30pm, from March 4-23.
Pier 6
During Rodeo season, there’s more than seafood at this coastal kitchen! In honor of HLSR, Executive Chef Joe Cervantez is serving up 16-ounce Prime bone-in ribeye with blue crab au gratin potatoes, grilled asparagus salad and bearnaise sauce.
Emma Jane
The normally proper tea house is getting a month-long country makeover. Every Thursday from Feb. 27-March 23, Emma Jane is hosting a special menu for tea service with fried chicken and caviar. Who could resist?
Kolache Shoppe
Need more brisket? Kolache Shoppe is stuffing its pastry confections with the smoked meat from Pinkerton’s and Killen’s BBQ. The result is the brisket-egg-cheddar-jalapeño kolache, available all of March!
Molina’s Cantina
March 2-23, all locations are firing up Jalapeño Chicken Fried Steak for the rodeo! Think top round steak, flavored with taco seasoning, that’s fried until extra crispy and covered with spicy gravy. Yee-haw!
Kazzan Ramen & Bar
Yes, even ramen is getting in the cowboy spirit! The Heights-area ramen shop is offering 10 percent off March 4 through March 23 to guests who arrive in Western attire.
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