CHILDREN’S MUSEUM EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS WITH CARLTON WOODS FUNDRAISER. The Woodlands Children’s Museum exceeded expectations at its recent fundraiser held at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands. The “Wreath Havoc” event, chaired by Anne Dunlap, was hosted at Carlton Woods to an invitation-only crowd. Oversized wreaths were decorated and donated by area merchants for Ralph McIngvale to auction to supportive attendees. There were also additional auction items paired together for exciting events and gift items.

“This was a stellar event and we could not have done it without the creative and talented Anne Dunlap,” said Angela Colton, executive director for The Woodlands Children’s Museum. “Anne has a flair that brought the event to life and everyone had such a great time while supporting the efforts of The Woodlands Children’s Museum.”

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GROUNDBREAKING HELD AT WOMEN’S CENTER SHELTER. An official groundbreaking ceremony was held for the Lois Hurt Annex, an additional building to help ease overcrowding at the Montgomery County Women’s Center shelter.

Hurt was a long-time and beloved community volunteer who was a part of MCWC and participated with the group for years. She passed away July 9, 2011, after a battle with cancer. She was regarded as an extremely community-minded and loving person, continuing to give of herself to others and local organizations while herself courageously facing her own health consequences.

The Women’s Center’s shelter currently has 60 beds for battered women and children, but it is often full. The new Lois Hurt building will feature 1,800 square feet for four bedrooms to relieve the overcrowding and the issues of teenage boys’ as each room would have its own bathroom. The building also could be used to isolate any clients who are ill to prevent others in the shelter from becoming sick.

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WOODFOREST CHARITABLE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS HELPING A HERO. Dedicated to changing lives, one veteran at a time, the nonprofit organization Helping A Hero received a donation of $5,000 from Woodforest Charitable Foundation.

Helping A Hero is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that provides support for military personnel who are severely injured in war. Their principal activity is to provide specially adapted homes for qualifying service members as well as engage the community to provide services and resources for the wounded heroes and their families.

The donation helped to fund a home that was awarded last December to Army SPC Hunter LeVine, a 2007 College Park High School graduate, after he was wounded while conducting combat operations in East Baghdad. The home, located in The Woodlands, was built by Helping A Hero, which has awarded 51 homes for wounded soldiers across 13 states since being founded in 2006. The organization has built two in Montgomery County and is hoping to build a third for Capt. Will Lyles, a double amputee and father of four, who earned three Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts.

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ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY ATTENDS SHOWING OF RED TAILS MOVIE. Members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.®, Omicron Tau Omega (Spring) attended the showing of Red Tails at the Willowbrook Theatre in January. Joining the Omicron Tau Omega Chapter were Martha V. McLeod, mother of soror Kari E. Gray-Smith who is a 1942 graduate of Tuskegee Institute (now named Tuskegee University).

Red Tails is a historic film of the Tuskegee Airmen and the barriers they overcame, as fighter pilots of color. McLeod has fond memories of the Tuskegee Airmen in training at the University while she was enrolled as a student. She said that now is a perfect time for all to know the history of the Tuskegee Airmen, and the impact that they had on the community and society in general.

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DRT MEMBERS HONORED FOR SERVICE. At a recent meeting of The Daughters of the Republic of Texas, The Judge Nathaniel Hart Davis chapter of Montgomery County, three women were honored for their years of service to the DRT. Carol Hicks, president of the DRT chapter, presented 25-year certificates to Suzanne Reese and Margaret Lewis; and a 40-year certificate to Anne Meadows Menefee. Carolyn Walker accepted the award on behalf of her sister, Anne.

In addition to the membership award, a special presentation was made to Lewis when Lady Dalton presented her with a Certificate of Congratulations signed by Gov. Rick Perry and his wife Anita on the occasion of her 96th birthday. The speaker for the meeting was Martha Haydel, who gave an informative presentation on Texas chili.Then members were served chili and all of the trimmings made by Paula Dossett, vice president of the DRT chapter.

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BENTWATER CARES RAISES FUNDS FOR MCUW. Bentwater Cares, a volunteer-led association in the Lake Conroe community of Bentwater, annually raises funds and volunteers for Montgomery County United Way. This year’s goal was $145,000. Pledges from residents, Bentwater employees, and a Bentwater corporate gift totaled $149,401.

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WOODFOREST CHARITABLE FOUNDATION GIFTS THE ROSE WITH DONATION. The signature hot pink mobile mammography van from The Rose — Houston’s leading nonprofit breast cancer organization — traveled north to a Conroe branch of Woodforest National Bank where representatives received $3,000 from the Woodforest Charitable Foundation.

“We are so thankful for Woodforest Charitable Foundation and Woodforest National Bank,” said Dorothy Gibbons, CEO and co-founder of The Rose. “We are very fortunate to have their support, especially now that we have extended services to more and more community partners and clinics located in Montgomery County.”

The Rose’s Mobile Mammography program provides services at corporate sites, doctors’ offices, community centers and other locations throughout Harris County and 15 surrounding counties, including providing 232 women with mammograms at sites within Montgomery County last year.

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A “GRAND” OPENING FOR VEGGIE VILLAGE. With more than 500 people in attendance, Interfaith of The Woodlands, the Veggie Village Committee, and community supporters celebrated the official Grand Opening of Veggie Village. At the event, The Woodlands’ mascot Puffy the Pine Cone cut the green ribbon as he welcomed the community to enjoy the garden. Becky Carlson, dressed as Mrs. McGregor, read the story Peter Rabbit, and Gene LeRoy, acting as Mr. McGregor, helped children plant vegetables in the garden.

Additionally, students from the Buckalew Elementary Choir performed. Children participated in activities including a worm farm, tossed salad game, face painting and more.

The Veggie Village Donation Garden is a special project of Interfaith of The Woodlands that provides fresh produce for the Interfaith of The Woodlands food pantry.

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WOODFOREST CHARITABLE FOUNDATION GIVES TO WOMEN’S CENTER. The Montgomery County Women’s Center recently received a donation of $10,000 from the Woodforest Charitable Foundation.

“We truly appreciate the continued support from Woodforest Charitable Foundation as it has made an incredible difference in lives of those we serve over the years,” said Sarah Raleigh, executive director of MCWC.

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MUSEUM HOSTS BIGGEST LOSER COUPLE. The Woodlands Children’s Museum hosted Phil and Amy Parham, who appeared on the NBC-TV showThe Biggest Loser as part of the museum’s “Get Fit” month.

The museum is part of First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” initiative against childhood obesity and offered a variety of programs in February for parents and their children to enjoy.

“We are proud to be the community site for We Can! as well as a part of museum’s on the Move and Good to Grow healthy initiatives,” said Angela Colton, executive director for The Woodlands Children’s Museum.

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PANERA BREAD AT COLLEGE PARK DONATES TO “GOOD SHEPHERD FUND.” Panera Bread in The Woodlands on College Park Drive donated $4,150 through its Operation Dough-nation program to St. Luke’s The Woodlands Hospital’s Good Shepherd Fund. The money was raised through Panera Bread’s Operation Dough-nation Grand Opening Fundraiser the week of Dec. 12-16, 2011, as the new café was introduced to The Woodlands community.

Founded by the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, the Good Shepherd Fund was created to provide modest support to patients and family members in need, allowing hospital patients to focus on healing. Donations from the fund can help patients fill in the gaps that medical insurance cannot cover, often times filling very basic needs such as meals, lodging, child care, and medical equipment not covered by insurance.

“We chose to donate to St. Luke’s The Woodlands Hospital during our grand opening not only because they are so established as a caring organization that gives back to the local community, but also due to the wonderful service that their Good Shepherd Fund provides to those who are need at a difficult time,” said Panera owners Andria and Chuck Cain.

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ICE RINK AT TOWN CENTER SETS ATTENDANCE RECORD. The Ice Rink at The Woodlands Town Center had a new all-time record-setting number of skaters following the completion of its 13th season.

The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau announced that a record-breaking 48,335 paid ice skaters visited the rink since the special preview weekend on Nov. 12-13, and the grand opening on Nov. 19. The rink closed for the season on Jan. 16.

“We continue to see an increase in the demand for The Ice Rink during the holidays,” said Nick Wolda, president of The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau. “The Ice Rink is a favorite for residents and visitors to The Woodlands during the holiday season and works well with the eight million square feet of shopping, dining, hospitality and entertainment venues in The Woodlands.”