Around Town November 2011
Herman Cain was the keynote speaker at the Annual Breakfast of the WorkFaith connection.
HERMAN CAIN VISITS HOUSTON TO SUPPORT LOCAL JOB READINESS PROGRAM. Herman Cain was the keynote speaker at the Annual Breakfast of The WorkFaith Connection, which was attended by 450 people in Houston. The agenda was not political; Cain came to donate his time to this faith-based nonprofit that helps get people back to work. Herman Cain shared his dreams and achievements saying, “My father taught me the values of dreams and goals, but more importantly faith. God gives us equity, sweat equity. We are all blessed with time, talents and treasures that God gave us. We have that responsibility to use our talents to make a difference in our community, to help others and to help our nation.”
The WorkFaith Connection has trained 1,400 people in its first four and a half years, preparing them for transition out of prison, homelessness, drug addiction, or chronic unemployment into a new job and a new life. Their mission of providing a hand-up instead of a handout caught the eye of Cain on a visit to Houston a year ago.
“Cain’s personal story of being raised by a father who worked three jobs to put his boys through school really resonates with The WorkFaith Connection, which is equipping people to find a job, keep it, and take care of their family,” said Sandy Schultz, president and CEO of the WorkFaith Connection.
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(L-R) RE/MAX of Texas CEO and Texas Sentinels Foundation co-founders Richard Filip and Jeanne Filip; The Woodlands Development Company President Tim Welbes; Ryland Homes Division President Tom Jacobs; Christine and Chris Sanford; Post Homes, LTD. Founder John Post; Ryland Homes Sales and Marketing Vice President Jay McManus; RE/MAX The Woodlands and Spring Associates and Carol Knott and Jacci Kilgore.
GROUNDBREAKING FOR WOUNDED VET’S NEW HOME. A groundbreaking ceremony was held in September for a new home being built for Chris Sanford and his wife, Christine. Sanford is a U.S. Army soldier who was severely wounded in Iraq. He suffered a number of traumatic injuries after an IED discharged near his platoon.
The project is being facilitated by the Texas Sentinels Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides mortgage-free homes and a new lease on life to U.S. military personnel who were severely injured in overseas conflicts since the event of Sept. 11.
The Woodlands Texas Sentinels Foundation Team, led by Jacci Kilgore and Carol Knott, was joined by donors, sponsors, area builders and community leaders at the home site, 114 Deer Plain Drive in Creekside Park, The Woodlands.
The Woodlands Development Company is providing the land for the home to be built by Ryland Homes and John Post Custom Homes, with area businesses and individuals supporting the cause through fundraising events and donations at texassentinels.org. The Woodlands team will continue its fundraising efforts throughout the year. The home is expected to be completed in January.
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(L-R) Calleen McFerren, manager of The Homefinder Center; Lorrie Parise, marketing manager for TWDC; Susan Vreeland-Wendt, director of marketing for TWDC; Robin Brand, sales agent for The Woodlands Custom Homes; Sheri Barth, business manager for The Woodlands Custom Homes; and Andrew Whitacre, managing partner/managing broker for Carlton Woods Properties.
SUNSHINE KIDS FOUNDATION RECEIVES DONATION. The Sunshine Kids Foundation received a $2,500 donation from several area businesses. The Woodlands Development Company, The Woodlands Homefinder Center, and Carlton Woods Properties presented a $2,500 donation to Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors® – The Woodlands Custom Homes to donate to its designated charity, The Sunshine Kids Foundation.This nonprofit organization is dedicated to providing free programs and positive group activities for children with cancer.
Donations were raised at “The Stars Are Aligned” Design Build Expo held at The Woodlands Homefinder Center. The Expo featured custom homebuilders in The Woodlands along with information on custom home sites throughout East Shore, the “Garden District” of The Woodlands Town Center, overlooking 200-acre Lake Woodlands; the gated communities of Carlton Woods Creekside and Carlton Woods.
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(L-R, back row) Penny Bradshaw, Donna Wick, Anita Phillips, Sue Watkins, Gypsie Hufnagle, Beth Royall; (front row) Julia Morton, Barbara Fell, Jo Ann Robinson, Mary Lea Kirk and Michele Smith.
MCMW ANNOUNCES 2012 BOARD. The Montgomery County Women’s Council of Organizations selected its new Board of Directors: Jo Ann Robinson, president; Anita Phillips,vice president; Penny Bradshaw, secretary; Mary Lea Kirk, treasurer; and Donna Wick, publicity. The Board of Directors for 2012 are: Barbara Fell, Beth Royall, Gypsie Hufnagle, Julia Morton, Michele Smith and Sue Watkins.
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The Woodlands Township Interfaith Food Donation-m.jpg (L-R) Leslie McPherson, Judith Garcia, Interfaith’s Dr. Ann Snyder, Kelly Dietrich, 10 for Texas mascot Ace the Armadillo, Angel Nicks, Brett McCormick, Lauren Miller and Kathy Rifaat.
INTERFAITH FOOD PANTRY RECEIVES DONATION. The Woodlands Township donated 700 pounds of nonperishable food items to the Interfaith Food Pantry.
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(L-R, back row) Kim Abbati, president of The Woodlands Art League; Nancy Martin, president of The Woodlands Waterway Arts Council; Jenny Wright, festival director; Angela Colton, executive director of The Woodlands Children’s Museum; (front row) Diane Neilson, president of The Pavilion Partners; and Sherry Hartke, Humane Society of Montgomery County.
THE WOODLANDS WATERWAY ARTS COUNCIL PRESENTS DONATIONS TO CHARITY
PARTNERS. The Woodlands Waterway Arts Council presented checks to the 2011 Charity Partners for The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival including The Woodlands Children’s Museum, The Woodlands Art League and The Pavilion Partners. The Charity Beneficiary is the Humane Society of Montgomery County. A total of $34,500 was given to these nonprofit organizations.
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(L-R) Debbie Tompkins (with her son) is congratulated by Sarah Raleigh, MCWC executive director.
COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED TO BATTERED WOMEN. Fifteen women were awarded college scholarships by the Montgomery County Women’s Center during the MCWC’s annual Scholarship Awards & Dinner Ceremony held at Lone Star College – Montgomery. Many scholarship recipients took a moment to share their story and express gratitude to the center.
Scholarship recipients have been or currently are clients of the Montgomery County Women’s Center’s emergency shelter, and several are living at the two-year transitional housing program Reaching Pines or have since graduated from it, and are successfully living independently.
“We feel strongly that providing scholarships to help these women gain the education and skills necessary to earn a decent living for independence is the crucial step in the big picture of what we do,” said Sarah Raleigh, executive director of Montgomery County Women’s Center. “This is the key to breaking the cycle of abuse through the generations.”
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The Gurinn family enjoys Hula Hoop Games at Worldwide Day of Play at The Woodlands Children’s Museum.
CHILDREN’S MUSEUM HOSTS WORLDWIDE DAY OF PLAY. The Woodlands Children’s Museum hosted imaginative events as part of the Worldwide Day of Play, an annual event designed to encourage kids and parents to turn off the television and play.
The yearly event officially began on all U.S. Nickelodeon channels in 2004, and now influences kids worldwide to be active by getting schools and educational organizations to host events that encourage play.
“As a partner with Let’s Move, the White House initiative addressing childhood obesity, Worldwide Day of Play is something that the museum wanted to get behind,” said Angela Colton, executive director for The Woodlands Children’s Museum.
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Neonatologist Richard Rivas, M.D.; John Wolf (holding Max); Paige Wolf (holding Remi); and Elizabeth Kutchback, R.N., BSN.
LOCAL GOLF TOURNAMENT RAISES FUNDS FOR NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands was presented with a check for $10,000, raised as a result of the fifth annual Jack Wolf, IV Memorial Golf Tournament. The tournament is held in memoriam of Jack Wolf who passed away from osteogenesis imperfecta. Funds raised each year benefit other families with babies in the NICU. The tournament has raised more than $50,000 for the NICU since its inception.
“We are all touched by the continuing generosity of the Wolf Family,” says Director of Children’s Services Elizabeth Kutchback, R.N., BSN. “The monies raised have been used to further enhance the environment and comfort of the NICU for our parents who spend many, many hours here bonding and interacting with their little miracles.”
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photo by Derrick Bryant
SERVICE OF REMEMBRANCE HELD AT TOWN GREEN PARK. The Woodlands Township and The Woodlands Fire Department held a Service of Remembrance on Sept. 11 at Town Green Park to recognize the 10th anniversary of the terror attacks and to honor those who lost their lives and those who gave their all to save lives on that tragic day.
The Woodlands Township placed 2,977 flags in Town Green Park in special remembrance of the innocent victims. Bruce Tough, The Woodlands Township chairman, welcomed participants to the ceremony while Alan B. Benson, The Woodlands fire chief, read a special proclamation honoring first responders. U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady also spoke at the ceremony.
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(L-R, back row) Phil Vance; Sheila Zea; MG Tindall; Dr. David Gottlieb; Sondra Himmer; Sarahbeth Melton; Leah Bhaskar; Olivia Sanders; Vicki Southerland; Rebecca Daniel; (front row) Linda Darnall; Lauren, PCI Ranch client; Carry Clement; Kim Marling; and David Darnall, founder and executive director of PCI Ranch.
PANTHER CREEK INSPIRATION RANCH RECEIVES CONTRIBUTION. Woodforest Charitable Foundation presented a $2,500 contribution to Panther Creek Inspiration Ranch, a nonprofit therapeutic equestrian center in The Woodlands that uses horses to transform lives and strengthen children and families coping with mental, emotional or physical disabilities. Riding horses improves muscle tone, balance, posture, motor coordination, concentration, self-confidence and self-esteem.
“Panther Creek Inspiration Ranch is diligently working to provide hope and inspiration for special-needs children and adults through their equine-assisted therapy,” said Kim Marling, executive director and vice President of Woodforest Charitable Foundation. “It is truly amazing to witness their work and to hear about the impact that their unique therapy has made for so many of their clients.”
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Families from Crossroads Baptist Church with food collected for Interfaith Food Pantry.
CROSSROADS BAPTIST CHURCH BENEFITS INTERFAITH FOOD PANTRY. Crossroads Baptist Church hosted a neighborhood food drive for the Interfaith of The Woodlands Food Pantry. Families dropped off needs lists and flyers in their neighborhoods, asking people to fill and place bags with donations on their porches for pick up. More than 1,900 pounds of nonperishable food was collected.
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(L-R) Heritage Trails DAR members Pat Williams, Lauren Jones and Pat Michel with (second from right) T. Gerald Treece, B.A., J.D., who was the keynote speaker at the recent Houston Area Regent's Council Constitution Day luncheon.
DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION CELEBRATE CHAPTER ANNIVERSARY. The Heritage Trails chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, celebrated its fifth anniversary in October. The chapter was organized with 62 members, and now boasts a membership of 174 women dedicated to serving God, Home and Country.
The objectives of the Daughters of the American Revolution is to perpetuate the memory of the men and women who achieved American independence; promote the development of an enlightened public; and to foster patriotic citizenship.
