Representatives from fifteen Lake Houston area charities were presented with oversized “checks” for nearly $54,000 in grants from the Rotary Club of Lake Houston Area during the club’s 2024-2025 Grants and Sponsors Appreciation Luncheon held November 6th at Humble ISD’s James Eggers Instructional Support Center in Kingwood. Representatives of the non-profits and Rotary sponsors are pictured here after the luncheon. Lake Houston Rotary Club president Dr. Roger Brown is standing on the far right. Pam McNair, Lake Houston Rotary Foundation chair and board director, presented the checks and is pictured in the back row far right.  
 
Monetary grants totaling over $53,000 were presented to fifteen local charities from the Rotary Club of Lake Houston Area Foundation during the club’s 2024-2025 Grants and Sponsors Appreciation Luncheon held November 6th at Humble ISD’s James Eggers Instructional Support Center, 4810 Magnolia Cove Drive in Kingwood.
 
Plaques of appreciation were also presented to local business representatives who supported Lake Houston Rotary’s fundraising events as major donors and/or sponsors.
 
Rotary Club President Dr. Roger Brown began the program by welcoming the audience of approximately 100 people and recognizing Veterans who are and have served our nation. Summer Creek High School Senior and choir member, Gabe Journet, sang the Star-Spangled Banner and God Bless America.
 



 
Dr. Brown thanked Gabe Journet for his performance and also thanked Rotary Club volunteers Eric Gomez, Valerie Copley, Pam McNair and the Summer Creek High School Culinary Arts Program for making the luncheon program possible.
 
He continued by sharing a brief history of Lake Houston Rotary and its goals, accomplishments and plans for the future. 
 
Club President Brown also shared the club’s commitment to giving back to the community as the club has invested nearly $2 million in humanitarian aid during the past 20 years including more than $500,000 to non-profit social service organizations. He went on to say the club has also invested thousands more in FFA, 4H and other scholarships for children.
 

 
Rotary has an additional commitment to children’s education too with over a dozen student scholarships granted annually, plus mentoring students in the Junior Rotarian program. The club also supports 2-3 foreign exchange students every year. 
 
Over 50 local kids have visited other countries as part of the club’s student exchange program and an equal number of foreign students were hosted locally. 
 
Money raised through events like the Cinco de Mayo Golf Tournament at Tour 18 and the Rotary Corvette Raffle goes to support these charitable grants. The raffle is made possible thanks to a partnership with Robbins Chevrolet in Humble.

 

Major Rotary event sponsors were presented with a special “thank you” plaque by former club president Mike Kevlin for helping the club by sponsoring either one or both of our annual club events, the Cinco de Mayo Golf Tournament and/or the Rotary Corvette raffle. The individuals receiving plaques for their companies were: Milan Saunders, Plains State Bank (GOLD level); Cole Robbins, Robins Automotive; Mike Kevlin and Tom Stegner, Edward Jones (SILVER level); Kathy Leman, Stellar Bank; Destry Dokes, San Jacinto College; Kayla Price, Price Financial; Weyman Price, KW Receivables; Jessica Penney, Lake Houston Family YMCA; Gregg Harris, Insperity; and Dr. Kevin Burke (not present), Kevin Burke DDS.
 
 
 
100% of net fundraising revenues are allocated to the Lake Houston Rotary Foundation (a 501c3) and are not used for club operations. Rotary Club members are volunteers and pay monthly dues to fund club operations.

After the club’s sponsors were thanked, Pam McNair, foundation committee chair, proceeded with the oversized check presentation with Club President Brown by introducing representatives from each charity and a brief explanation of how the grant money was going to be used.

 
The 15 grant recipients were:
 

Family Time Crisis Center - $4,500
Family Time Crisis & Counseling Center is a local social service organization that assists victims of domestic & sexual violence.  They provide a safe haven shelter known as The Door for those fleeing unsafe situations as well as counseling services for victims and families. This grant also includes funding for the Fill the Pantry Program to provide food and groceries for the shelter, and The Door - Two months’ worth of food & groceries to cover 3 meals a day for 25 adults/7 children and additional designated funds for purchase of meat for freezers at the shelter.
 
Inspire ND - $3,150
Inspire ND is a local non-profit that offers a fully inclusive community for people with neuro-diversity by utilizing education, engagement and behavioral health strategies to serve the whole individual and their families. Grant for inclusive social enrichment events for students, first responder training to better serve students in distress during emergencies, and laptop computers for staff/clients.
 
Hopeful Hearts Ministry - $2,500
Hopeful Hearts Ministry is a faith-based ministry that supports the long-term recovery of victims of abuse.  Their services help alleviate the suffering and restore the self-worth of survivors.  Grant is provided for a Colorado Mountain Retreat – This grant would help offset the costs of putting on the retreat such as food, lodging, supplies and driving costs for participants.  Participants of these retreats normally do not have to pay, however, due to the distance and location of this retreat they will be asked to contribute to offset costs.
 
Humble ISD Education Foundation - $2,500
The Humble ISD Education Foundation was created to help support projects that fall outside of the normal operating budget of Humble ISD.  Through generous donations of supporters, the Foundation has been able to help fund innovative classroom projects, student scholarships and other worthwhile school projects. This grant provides funds for (PBIS) Positive Behavior, Intervention & Support framework at The Cambridge School, which is part of Humble ISD and serves those with special needs. The Cambridge school comprises the Behavior Support Center, serving elementary and secondary students, and the Mosaic Program who serves students 18-22 transitioning from school to adult life. Funding is also provided for PBIS software purchase, training and licensing. This Program will help educate and promote good behavior and preparedness expectations in students through a reward-based learning program. Funds will also be used for Project Care at AHS. A youth led community partnering with KNK Youth Foundation. This project aims to help students in need by creating a care closet stocked with hygiene products, basic food items, clothing, backpacks and snacks. Led by Youth Chapter President, Samuel Huckabee, the goal is to provide basic core supplies to students in need so they will be able to focus on academic success instead of worrying about essentials.
 
Society of St Stephen - $2,500
SOSS is a church-based ministry that serves the local Kingwood, Humble, New Caney, Splendora and Huffman areas by providing food, clothing and limited financial assistance with utilities and medication to residents at no cost to the client. Funds will support the 17th Annual Back to School program.  Grant will help offset the cost of purchasing the backpacks needed to support the youth in need within Humble ISD.
 
Oaks of Righteousness - $3,000
Oaks of Righteousness is a residential program for women who have recently left the Texas prison system. Oaks offers a secure and supportive environment that assists with counseling and addiction recovery classes. The grant will offset the cost of the electrical work needed on the original resident house for Oaks of Righteousness. It will replace the outdoor panel, sub-panel and increase capacity. It also includes a home surge protection for the system, and will replace outdoor wiring not up to code. Funds will help with the removal and replacement of outdoor fans and changing light fixtures for increased security.
 
Family Promise of Lake Houston - $5,000
Family Promise serves our homeless families by providing in-network transitional housing, food, basic needs and referrals to other support services.  They have a newly completed day center where they provide program space for counseling, educational opportunities, training classes and mentoring. This grant represents the Affordable Housing Pillar of FPLH. The money will help to offset costs on 3 transitional residential houses where clients can either live at zero cost or low cost with their families.  This provides a housing solution to families that are working towards career training certificates or a degree program that will eventually provide higher wages and better opportunities overall. Funds are also designated for the purchase of meat for their freezers.
 
re:MIND Depression & BiPolar Support - $1,000
re:MIND provides free and confidential support groups for individuals living with, and families and friends affected by, depression or bipolar disorders. This grant will offset costs associated with offering hybrid support groups to those in need within the Kingwood, Humble and Atascocita area. 
 
 
Humble Area Assistance Ministries - $6,500
HAAM is a local non-profit that provides assistance with, and connections to, social services. By partnering with churches, schools and other service providers HAAM is able to consolidate efforts and better serve individuals and families within our community. Grant will support its unsheltered program in our area.  HAAM will offset funding of laundry vouchers, transportation assistance, sack lunch items for one year. Funds are also provided for the purchase of meat for their freezers.
 
Mission Northeast - $6,000
Mission Northeast is a social service provider that covers 800 sq miles and 11 zip codes.  They have a food pantry, offer job training and adult educational classes, Feed my Lambs program as well as Safe Haven Ministries.  Grant will provide utility assistance for the Needy program. Rotary’s grant would go towards offsetting the costs of helping with electricity, natural gas and propane, which has a budget line item of more than $32k.  Funds are also provided for the purchase of meat for their freezers.
 
WINGS Ministry - $2,000
WINGS Ministries exists to offer marginalized women HOPE for a transformed life by equipping them with employment-readiness, life skills, and a clear understanding of their identity in Christ. Volunteers serve in transitional living programs, post-incarceration release facilities, and lock-down facilities primarily in the greater Houston area. Women who might be struggling with addiction, have been or are currently incarcerated, are part of a court-mandated rehabilitation program, have given birth while incarcerated, are homeless, or may be victims of human trafficking. Grant is for the “Hope & a Future Scholarship” program.  This grant would help offset funding of a scholarship for existing graduates.  This scholarship will help them get an education, and therefore hopefully higher wages, and help break the cycle of poverty and violence.    
 
Boots for Troops - $3,000
Uplifting the morale of deployed service members. Our mission Is to uplift and empower the overall morale and mental well-being of our active-duty military, veterans, and spouses. Grant will help fund the “Jimmy Rogers Military Spouse Scholarship” program.  The grant would fully fund one scholarship for 1 military spouse to continue their education towards a bachelor’s degree.
 
Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) - $5,000
The Houston Chapter of SHP has built, delivered and set-up over 5,000 beds for children who have been sleeping on the floor.  Their motto is “No kid sleeps on the floor in our town” and through partnerships within our community like Rotary, they will continue to meet the needs of children in need, one bed at a time. Rotary grant will sponsor a “build day” for beds at SHP. Grant will provide material funds to build 20 beds including construction, bedding and delivery. (Cost of $250 each per completed bed.)
 
The Village Centers - $3,000
The Village Centers create inclusive opportunities, and discover the abilities of, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities within our community.  Their primary goal is to help families gain the assistance they need in raising their child or relative with a developmental disability and to aid the individual to reach their greatest level of competency. This grant will support the Day program of community outings & activities. Grant would go towards offsetting the cost of fees and admission costs of outings such as movies, bowling, zoo, parks, arcades, aquariums and other activities.  It will also cover creative art supplies, computer classes & culinary cooking classes.
 
Lake Houston Family YMCA - $4,000
The purpose of the YMCA is to strengthen our community.  They do this in many ways, such as youth programs, day camps, after school care, health programs for seniors, and adaptive sports programs such as the Miracle League.  Grant funds will help with the expansion of the Adaptive Programming.  This might be a 2nd miracle league season, or a launch of a new Adaptive Camp.  Maybe adaptive basketball program option or adaptive swim opportunities.  The grant will help offset costs involved in the expansion of the adaptive programs offered at the Lake Houston Family YMCA. 

Rotary Club of Lake Houston Area members and guests meet at 11:45 a.m. most Wednesdays for their weekly lunch meeting at the Lake Houston Family YMCA, 2420 West Lake Houston Pkwy. in Kingwood. Visitors wishing to learn more about Rotary are welcome.

The Summer Creek Satellite Rotary Club meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month at 8:30 a.m., at Generation Park 3rd floor Nimble Office Suite, 250 Assay St., Houston.

For more information about Rotary or membership, visit www.LHARotary.com or search for our Facebook page @LakeHoustonAreaRotary.

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