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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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Dog Days of Rodeo! 'Wags and Whiskers' Lunch Unites Lassos, Leashes and Animal-Lovers for a Cause
Michael Costilla and Dalton DeHart
Feb. 25, 2025
Fashion show winner Buttercup
IT DOESN'T GET any cuter than a bulldog in a tiny cowboy hat, does it?! At least that's what supporters of Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston sure think after its successful annual Wags and Whiskers bash at Hotel ZaZa.
The 12th annual event — a luncheon and fashion show starring fabulous furry friends — had a theme of "Lassos and Leashes," and attendees dressed in rodeo-chic westernwear for the occasion. Co-chairs Kristin Guthrie and Roberta Konicki welcomed guests, including honoree Frank Billingsley, a famously animal-loving media personality and author.
Emcee Casey Curry, IM Board Chair Saied Alavi, and past Board Chair Kathy Flanagan all spoke, shedding light on IM's missions. Animeals is is program that provides pet food, toys and vet care supplies to more than 1,300 pets of homebound senior Meals on Wheels participants. There was also a silent auction featuring tons of jewelry, trips, spa treatments and other experiences.
Finally, the main event: a pet fashion show, produced by Todd Ramos with hair and makeup by Edward Sanchez. Judges included magazine editors MichelleMantor, Lara Bell, Suzanne Schakett, and CityBook's own Jeff Gremillion. The winner was Buttercup, pictured above, and her owner Brittanny Diller.
In all, more than $130,000 was raised for IM's Animeals program.
Angela Hernandez, Frank Billingsley, Kevin Gilliard, and Kamisha Mickey
Susanne and Randall Evans
Azher Kantawala, Ali Al Sudani, and Sheroo Mukhtiar
Stephanie Gaytor, Susan Boggio, Todd Ramos
Britta Christensen and Stephanie Pancioli
Ava Khademi Deljou
Tonia Whilden
Casey Curry, Roberta Konicki, and Kristin Guthrie
Kathy Flanagan and Philomena Baird
Karen Harberg, Nadia Tajalli, and Jay Harberg
Kevin Gilliard, Nick Batesole, Leonel Limonte, and Frank Billingsley
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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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