SPRING / SUMMER 2017
A BI ANNUAL PUBLI CAT I ON FR OM CHI LD A DVOCAT ES, I N C.
AN ADVOCATE’S PERSISTENCE: A JOURNEY THROUGH 1,068 DAYS IN FOSTER CARE
ONE EVENING OF ROCK GIVES HOPE FROM JALAPEÑOS TO FERRIS WHEELS: 25 YEARS OF THE PULL FOR KIDS CLASSIC
ADVOCATE NEWS
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CEO’S letter Hi everyone, It is safe to say that 2017 has already proven to be a very full year for us. Our board chair, Eddy, rappelled down a 10-story building, we reminisced about our favorite movie moments at the Backspace benefit concert and gave out hundreds of balloons at the McDonald’s Houston Children’s Festival. We also were chosen as one of the recipients for generous donations from the Houston Rockets and the Super Bowl Host Committee, and we recognized ‘Go Blue’ Day for Child Abuse Prevention month by raising nearly $25,000! So far, we have trained more than 120 new advocate volunteers and it feels like we are just getting started. Each of these individuals will be able to make a direct impact in the life of a child who has endured unimaginable circumstances. The work of our advocates is so important, and I am thrilled to see new volunteers getting involved. I can hardly believe we just celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of our Pull for Kids Classic. Nearly 600 people joined us for a fun and casual “State Fair” themed party, and we saw so many familiar faces as well as new friends. It was a walk down memory lane to think of how far we have come over the years. We were thrilled to honor longtime supporters Evelyn & Gary Forbes, Joan & Jim Prentice and Charlene & John Storms. I want to thank everyone who joined us for this silver anniversary event. Be sure to read more about this record-breaking event on the next page. This summer is shaping up to be a busy one for our children. Our Young Professionals for Children is hosting Water Day again. Thanks to sponsors Tenaris and Whataburger, our children will beat the heat with water slides, water balloon fights and plenty of other games. Then in August, we will help the children we serve get ready for school with the Child Advocates Childspree. Both are great opportunities to get involved and bring a smile to a child’s face. PHOTO CREDITS COVER: The Lawson family at Robert and Timothy’s adoption. Backspace performs at their annual benefit concert. Amanda and Jon Weeks at the Pull for Kids Classic. THIS PAGE TOP TO BOTTOM: Grace School presenting a check to Child Advocates from their ‘Over The Edge’ fundraiser. Young boy showing off his sand creation at the McDonald’s Houston Children’s Festival. Sonya and Suzanne McAndrew meeting Les Alexander of the Houston Rockets at the press conference announcing their generous donation.
TABLE of CONTENTS
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CHILD ADVOCATES
I am excited to see what the rest of this year will hold for us, and I’m confident it will include plenty of hope and brighter futures for our children. Thank you for your continued support,
Sonya Galvan, CEO
25 years of the Pull for Kids
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Doing Something
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Young Professionals for Children
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Thanks Donors
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A Closer Look
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Snapshots
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Focus on Friends
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Board Voice
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Donor Honor Roll
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Spotlight On
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Special Thanks
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Upcoming Events
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Heroes Society
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An Advocate’s Persistence
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Thrive 24
FROM JALAPEÑOS TO FERRIS WHEELS:
Twenty-five years of the Pull for Kids Classic. Twenty-five years ago, the Pull for Kids Classic began as a simple outdoor party and a shooting competition. Since then, it has grown into Child Advocates' largest fundraising event, known for its casual atmosphere and the profound impact it makes for Child Advocates and the children we serve. On May 7, we celebrated this silver anniversary milestone of the Pull for Kids by honoring Evelyn & Gary Forbes, Joan & Jim Prentice and Charlene & John Storms, three couples who have supported the Pull for Kids and Child Advocates for decades. They have been instrumental to its growth and success over the years. These remarkable individuals still remember the days of jalapeño eating contests and making homemade auction items, all in an effort to raise funds for the abused and neglected children of Houston. This year’s celebration began with a sporting clays tournament at American Shooting Centers where more than forty teams gathered to compete. Professional shooters
Bobby Fowler and Nadim Nassir, Jr. tied for first place in the individual competition, and held a shootout to determine that Nassir would be the winner. The team from Wyatt Energy took home the first place team prize. It was an exciting morning! That evening, nearly 600 guests grabbed their boots to join us for a casual 'State Fair' themed party. Everyone browsed the incredible auction items and many threw darts at our Wine ‘Pop’ before settling down for a meal of fried chicken and mashed potatoes. They heard from our event chairs, Jeannie & Nolan Lehmann, who shared the importance of Child Advocates’ mission. Faith and Heaven Mireles, two children served by Child Advocates, joined us for the evening as they shared their story with guests. When court appointed advocate Kathi Davis met Faith and Heaven, they were living in a home with seven children, all under the age of ten. Their older sister, who was supposed to be their caretaker, was in a relationship
with a man who was physically abusing the children. They were hungry and scared, and their hair was filled with lice. “I remember getting hit when we would ask for food... we got hit a lot,” recalled Faith. CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE >> PHOTO CREDITS TOP RIGHT: Heaven and Faith Mireles. BOTTOM LEFT TO RIGHT: Event chairs, Nolan and Jeannie Lehmann, with honorees Gary Forbes, Jim and Joan Prentice, John and Charlene Storms
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FROM JALAPEÑOS TO FERRIS WHEELS: TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF THE PULL FOR KIDS CLASSIC (CONTINUED) Through Kathi’s involvement on the case, Faith and Heaven were able to leave their unsafe home to live with their grandmother, allowing them the chance to thrive. Today, they are doing just that! Faith will soon have her driver’s license and is taking classes for college credit with aspirations to one day go to medical school. Heaven, though shy and quiet, loves to swim and spend time with her sister and her friends. Both girls have grown into beautiful young women, thanks to the help of their advocate. Kathi recalled the emotions she felt as she read about the girls’ abuse for the first time, and explained her role as a court appointed advocate, saying, “You just want to grab them, and hold them, and just make everything okay. At least with Child Advocates, I know that part of what I do does that.” Kathi addressed all of the guests after the video finished, with a heartfelt plea for time and donations so that Child Advocates could continue to give a voice to more children like Faith and Heaven. The program concluded as Nolan gave the opportunity to sponsor a child, helping us raise more than $115,000! Before beginning the live auction, Nolan led a game of “Heads or Tails”, where guests could purchase a $25 bandana and try their luck at winning a Yeti cooler full of prizes. Excitement filled the floor as everyone took their guesses, and Cole Smeraldi, the grandson of honoree John Storms, took home the prize. The live auction featured an eight-day sail in the British Virgin Islands and a trophy white tail deer hunt, as well as a sweet nine-week-old rescue puppy named Dora who was stealing hearts all evening. By the end of the night, we had broken our event record by raising more than $803,000! We are so grateful to our amazing team of committee chairs, Jeff Birmingham, Rick Burnett, PHOTO CREDITS LEFT TOP TO BOTTOM Dolly Dawson Thomas, Lysa Elkins, Pamela Fowler, J.R. Rickertsen with his new puppy, Dora. Christine Gabriel, Suzette Kelly, Susan Patterson, Joyce Echols competing in the Sporting Clays tournament. Top two Bernadette Payne and Steven Wyatt for pulling together finalists playing Heads or Tails. such a memorable day, and to Jeannie and Nolan Lehmann for leading the way to RIGHT TOP TO BOTTOM celebrate this silver anniversary event. n Vanessa Sendukas, Kelli Fondren and Kim David at the Wine Pop. Guests dancing to the Royal Dukes Band.
Calling all superheroes! IT’S TIME TO GET YOUR CAPES READY OCTOBER 21, 2017 AT CITYCENTRE HOUSTON REGISTRATION COMING SOON Contact Hayley Jaska at hayley.jaska@childadvocates.org for all sponsorship opportunites. 4
CHILD ADVOCATES
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS for CHILDREN Young Professionals for Children (YPC) is a fun and diverse group of people who are all committed to the same thing: making a profound and positive impact for the children Child Advocates serves. With networking events, fundraising efforts and children’s events, YPC supports our work with Houston’s littlest victims and helps make their futures brighter. YPC is already off to an amazing start for the year! In February, more than 20 YPC members volunteered their Saturday to share the love with more than 60 kids for a Valentine’s Day party. They danced the “cupid shuffle”, made crafts with Play-Doh and one of our volunteers even got sweet hugs from one little guest.
Several YPC members also joined us for Backspace’s annual benefit concert. Member Shannon Young and Joseph Borkhoche came dressed as Danny and Sandy from Grease as the band played songs from our favorite movie moments. In May, when Child Advocates celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Pull for Kids Classic, YPC contributed to making the event a huge success by bringing their energy and enthusiasm as volunteers, helping turn the evening into a true celebration. So far this year, 15 new members have joined the group and there are plenty of opportunities in the next
few months to get further involved. In July, YPC will help kick off summer with its annual Water Day event, followed by a summer pub crawl a few weeks later to raise funds for the group. On August 19, members are invited to help children get ready to go back to school by volunteering for the Child Advocates Childspree. We need plenty of personal shoppers to pick out new clothes and shoes. The kids’ bright smiling faces make the early morning so rewarding. Groups like YPC help Child Advocates not only provide advocate volunteers to Houston’s abused children, but also give kids hope. Their circumstances might be difficult, but with this dynamic group of Houstonians, children can experience glimpses of a childhood full of happy memories, warm hugs and plenty of fun. Whether you’re looking to network with other young professionals, help a child or just learn more about Child Advocates, YPC would love to have you! You can learn more by visiting our website or email christine.howard@childadvocates.org for more details. n
UPCOMING YPC EVENTS June 17
Water Day
July 29
Summer Pub Crawl
August 19
Childspree
September 24
YPC Day at the Ballpark
October 28
Children’s Halloween Party
PHOTO CREDITS TOP TO BOTTOM: Shannon Young and Joseph Borkhoche dressed as Sandy and Danny from Grease at the Backspace benefit concert. YPC member Lenny Esquivel getting hugs from one of our kids. YPC Volunteers at the Children’s Valentine’s Day party.
ADVOCATE NEWS
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a closer look: VALERO & H-E-B More than 105 years old, H-E-B began as a family-owned store in Kerrville, Texas. Over the past century it has grown to be one of the largest food chains in the United States with annual sales of more than $15 billion across 340 stores staffed by more than 100,000 employees throughout Texas and Northern Mexico. The company’s commitment to the communities it serves has never been stronger. Annually, H-E-B awards more than $800,000 in cash prizes to outstanding educators in its Excellence in Education Awards, which was founded in 2002. Child Advocates is fortunate to count H-E-B among our generous partners. For nearly two decades, H-E-B has supported our mission by hosting toy drives to provide gifts for the children we serve, sponsoring the Pull for Kids, donating wine totes to the Wine Pull, providing beautiful floral arrangements at the Angels of Hope luncheon and delivering food and drinks at both the annual sporting clay tournament and the Superhero Run. In February 2015, H-E-B opened its new store on San Felipe and selected Child Advocates as a beneficiary in celebration of its grand opening. Just this past fall, Child Advocates was selected as a charity partner of the H-E-B Tournament of Champions. This annual golf tournament was established in 1986 and raised $38,500 its first year. Over the past 31 years, the tournament has continued to grow and has contributed more than $ 90 million to charities across Texas. H-E-B can always be counted on as a generous partner that is willing to support Child Advocates by any means it can. We appreciate H-E-B for its investment in Houston and its longtime support of Child Advocates. Thank you, H-E-B! Valero Energy Corporation is an international manufacturer of fuels and petrochemical products. With more than 10,000 employees, the Fortune 50 Company is based in San Antonio with refineries across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Named for the mission San Antonio de Valero (the original name of the Alamo!), Valero is committed to being a good company as well as a good neighbor and invests in the communities it serves. Through a combination of financial and volunteer support, Valero has made the list of America’s 50 most community-minded major companies for the third consecutive year. The company focuses its philanthropic investments on basic needs, education, health care, and arts & culture. In 2016, Valero raised $ 10.5 million for children’s charities across the United States through the Valero Texas Open and Benefit for Children, making this the largest charitable contribution on the PGA Tour. In 2002, Valero become the title sponsor of the historic golf tournament, and since that time has raised a total $111.4 million! This is an amazing effort by Valero and its employees to show their support of the communities where they operate, helping to create a network of strong non profits with the means to help thousands of underserved children. Child Advocates is excited to announce we were selected as a beneficiary of the Valero Houston Open last year. It was the first year we received this honor. We appreciate the investment and look forward to a long partnership in service of our community and the abused children we serve!
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CHILD ADVOCATES
FOCUS on FRIENDS met the Easter bunny, and enjoyed lunch from Chickfil-A and a beautiful Saturday morning at a local park.
The Friends of Child Advocates kicked off the year with a membership social in March. Graciously hosted by Jane Dabney, guests mingled while enjoying hand-passed hors d’oeuvres and the stunning sunset views from Jane’s high-rise. Court appointed advocate Ashleigh Rickertsen shared a moving story about a case she had recently completed and the essential role she played in guaranteeing a safe, permanent home for the children she served. In April the Friends hosted their annual Easter Egg Hunt! With the largest turn out in history, more than 75 children dyed and hunted eggs, played games,
Now the Friends are gearing up for the annual Angels of Hope Luncheon and Fashion Presentation that will take place on Tuesday, December 5, 2017, at the Royal Sonesta Houston. This year’s luncheon is honoring longtime supporter and Child Advocates board member, Suzie Thomas. The glamorous event will be chaired by Megan Cushing, Hannah McNair, Janice McNair and Amanda Worthy Weeks. More than 600 fashionistas are expected to attend and, as always, several amazing items will be raffled. Winners will be announced at the luncheon with proceeds benefiting the work of Child Advocates throughout the
community. Tables, individual tickets, and raffle tickets are available for purchase. For more information contact, Carlos Blandino at 713-529-1396 or carlos.blandino@childadvocates.org. PHOTO CREDITS TOP LEFT TO RIGHT: Court appointed advocate Ashleigh Rickertsen sharing with Friends members about her volunteer experiences. Children giving hugs to the Easter bunny at the Friends Easter Egg Hunt. BELOW: Megan Cushing, Amanda Worthy Weeks, Suzie Thomas, Janice McNair and Hannah McNair BOTTOM LEFT: Tina Governale, Meredith Beaumont and Stephanie Mortiz at the Friends Membership Social.
Friends Member Spotlight, Meredith Beaumont Born and raised in Houston, Friends member Meredith Beaumont is a proud Houstonian. A graduate of the University of Houston, she is currently the Senior Vice President of Business Banking at Green Bank N.A. – a great bank based here in Houston. She’s been in banking for her entire career and currently manages a portfolio of mid-sized business banking clients and their principals, supporting their lending needs and general banking relationships. While work keeps her busy, she also loves to travel and see the world, but still finds time to dedicate to Child Advocates. Looking for an organization that was based in Houston and focused on helping children, she came across Child Advocates. When asked what drew her to the organization, Meredith said, “I am particularly drawn to causes which provide voices to children who have no one to stand up for them and have the actual power to step in and fundamentally make a positive, long term and lasting impact on a child.” In 2013 she became a Lifetime Friends of Child Advocates member and joined the Friends Governance Council. Meredith fully supports the mission of Child Advocates, and has discovered she really enjoys the Friends members and the Child Advocates team. She and her friends attend the Angels of Hope Luncheon every year, and can also be found at the membership socials and recruiting events. We are proud to have Meredith as part of such a dynamic group!
ADVOCATE NEWS
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donor HONOR ROLL The donors listed below have consecutively given to Child Advocates and our mission. It is with much gratitude that we recognize these companies and individuals for their ongoing support. 25+ YEARS City of Houston The Ellwood Foundation The Junior League of Houston Mr. and Mrs. William R. Livesay, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. John W. Storms The Strake Foundation 20 - 24 YEARS Mr. and Mrs. David L. Baird, Jr. Mrs. Hildegarde Ballard Bank of America Mr. and Mrs. James R. Bratton Chapelwood United Methodist Church Mrs. Kimberly C. David Ms. Sonya M. Galvan Harris County Community Services Department Mr. and Mrs. Nolan Lehmann Mr. and Mrs. James S. Prentice Ms. Belinda Price Ms. Anne C. Rice Dr. and Mrs. Santiago A. Sanchez Mr. and Mrs. Perry Sendukas Spectrum Ms. Geneva D. Statin Texas CASA, Inc. Theta Charity Antiques Show 15 - 19 YEARS Albertson’s Dr. and Mrs. Melvyn Anhalt Mr. and Mrs. Chris Black BP Mr. and Mrs. Craig Brooks
Ms. Anne H. Bushman Harry S. & Isabel C. Cameron Foundation Mr. and Mrs. William H. Caudill The Bob and Cathleen Davis Foundation Mr. Walter C. Ebarb Mr. and Mrs. Jack P. Eckels Ms. Marla S. Endieveri Mr. and Mrs. Michael R. Francisco William E. & Natoma Pyle Harvey Charitable Trust Mr. George J. Klages Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Lieder Mrs. Betsi Longoria Mrs. Audrey T. MacLean John P. McGovern Foundation Ms. Denise Monteleone Mr. and Mrs. Ronald L. Moran Mr. and Mrs. William H. Murphy Mr. and Mrs. David Nathan Mr. and Mrs. Gerald T. O’Keefe Page Parkes Center of Modeling and Acting Mr. and Mrs. Carl N. Roberts Ms. Regina J. Rogers Mr. and Mrs. Thomas H. Scott Silver Eagle Distributors, L.P. Mr. and Mrs. John N. Sion, Jr. Mr. Drew Stackel and Ms. Elizabeth Stein Mr. and Mrs. Jack Sweeney Ms. Suzanne Thomas Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey A. Thomas Mr. and Mrs. Stephen A. Thorington Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Tripodo Mr. and Mrs. Mike Van Hoozer, Jr.
Help leave a lasting legacy. JOIN THE BERNIE POWELL LEGACY SOCIETY. The Bernie Powell Legacy Society honors those supporters who have made a legacy commitment to Child Advocates. By planning a gift as part of your overall estate and financial plans, you will allow us to continue to speak up for abused children who are lost in the system for years to come. With your gift, you’ll also receive substantial tax and financial benefits, and you’ll join a group of outstanding individuals who are making a lasting difference in the fight against child abuse. 8
CHILD ADVOCATES
Victims of Crime Act Mr. Milton H. West, III The Edith & Robert Zinn Foundation 10 - 14 YEARS Mr. and Mrs. Michael S. Amburn Amegy Bank of Texas Anadarko Petroleum Corporation Mr. and Mrs. Joel Androphy Dr. and Mrs. Bruce S. Appelbaum Mr. Marshall Bendalin Mrs. Amelia Binkley Ms. Tiffany Black Mr. and Mrs. David Bock Mr. Adrian Broadway Mr. James D. Brodnax Mr. and Mrs. Rick Burnett Cameron Corporation Mrs. Maria T. Cano Mr. and Mrs. Terry and Julie L. Carius CenterPoint Energy Mr. and Mrs. Gill Cheesman Chevron Mrs. Kathleen H. Cole The Bill and Helen Crowder Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Dabney Mr. and Ms. Peter A. Dayton Mr. and Mrs. Eddy L. De Los Santos Mr. Robert R. Elliott Mr. and Mrs. Chet Erwin Mr. and Mrs. Ned Evans Mr. and Mrs. Tom Farrell
Dr. and Mrs. Jeremy Finkelstein Freeport- McMoRan Oil & Gas Mr. and Mrs. Terrence M. Gee Mr. Kelly Gerland Mrs. Martha Martinez Gomez Dr. Thelma Jean Goodrich Mr. R. Gray Gregory The Gregory Fund Dr. Nellie P. Grose Ms. Vickie Guerin Halliburton Mr. and Mrs. Alan Hassenflu Mr. and Mrs. Craig Hill Mr. and Mrs. Dwayne L. Hyzak Ms. Jamie L. Johnson Harris and Eliza Kempner Fund Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Kerman Mr. and Mrs. Daniel R. Kirschbaum Mr. A. B. Korsakov Ms. Lynda Lighthouse Transier Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Lohman Lucky Tile, Inc. The Lyons Foundation Mr. Bill Magnuson MAXIMUS Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Alan May, Jr. Ms. Bertha McCue Mr. and Mrs. Neal McKim Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church Mr. Jack Steltzer and Ms. Carole R. Minor Mischer Investments, L.P. Mr. and Mrs. Felipe Morales Mrs. Kathy Nevarez Mr. and Mrs. Ron Orsini
Mr. and Mrs. Ed Patterson Mrs. Bernadette Payne Ms. Lynn Pinkerton Mr. and Mrs. Paul Posoli Mr. and Mrs. Michael A. Poujol Mr. and Mrs. David Quackenbush Dr. and Mrs. Trevor Rabie Mr. Rick Repnak Republic Waste Services of Texas Mr. and Mrs. Brad W. Robbins Mr. and Ms. Joseph J. Romano Mrs. Suzanne Ronne Mr. and Mrs. Craig A. Scharton Mr. and Mrs. Charles T. Seay, II Ms. Angie Sherrell Charles B. and Jean G. Smith Family Foundation Vivian L. Smith Foundation Dr. Richard T. Snodgrass and Dr. Merrie Brucks Spark Energy Mr. and Mrs. Christiaan Stevens Mr. Carl S. Stutts and Mrs. Tessa Lesley Texas Mutual Insurance Company Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Mr. and Mrs. Dan Tutcher Mrs. Felisa Walker Mr. and Mrs. Lucius J. Walton Mr. and Mrs. Scott Washburn Mr. and Mrs. Mike Weill Mrs. Linda Weiss Mr. Marshall T. West Mr. and Mrs. Rodney H. Williamson
A heartfelt thanks to our current members… Mrs. Mary E. Ainslie, Mr. and Mrs. David Baird, Mr. Jeffry C. Cotner, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Farrell, Mr. and Mrs. Rex Grey, Mr. and Mrs. Hub Hawthorn, Ms. Betty Joe Haynes, Mrs. Lucile Melcher, Ms. Alice Minatra, Mrs. Alison Comstock Moss, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Powell, Mr. and Mrs. Brad Robbins, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Sloan, Swalm Foundation, Mrs. Nancy Thorington and Ms. Lynda Lighthouse Transier. To learn more about our planned giving program, contact Emily Bhatti at (713) 529-1396 or email emily.bhatti@childadvocates.org.
a special THANKS Angels of Hope Luncheon and Fashion Presentation 2016 - Thank you to Hilton Post Oak, Unica Clothing & Accessories, ReVive Skincare, Katy Briscoe Home, Linda J. Messner, Cynthia D. Gerson, Melange Eye Candy, Segreto Finishes, Lesley Ann Jewels, Music with Friends, Joyce Echols, John E. Vick and Bernadine’s Restaurant for donating raffle items and to H-E-B Foods for providing our beautiful centerpieces. Car Pros for Kids - Thank you to Byron Rusk for 25 years of continuous support, GS Marketing and Seebridge for your contributions and to the following local shops for participating in this year’s program: Adolf Hoepfl & Son Garage, Auto Check One, Beckwith’s Car Care, Christian Brothers - Grand Parkway, Cornerstone Automotive - Dairy Ashford, Cornerstone Automotive - Wilcrest, Itzy’s Auto Repair Service, Kacals Auto & Truck, Master Car Care, Ortega Automotive, RMS Auto Care, Inc., Scott’s Auto Repair, Inc., Specialized Auto Repair and Yale Automotive. Children’s Holiday Party 2016 - Thank you to Enterprise, Brandi Maxwell and Whataburger, your gifts to this event helped make the holidays brighter for our children. Friends of Child Advocates - Thank you to Jane Dabney for hosting the Friends’ social and to Ashleigh Rickertsen for sharing your story. A special thanks to Chick-fil-A for providing lunch for our kids at the Easter Egg Hunt. Pull for Kids Classic - Thanks to ABC Home & Commercial Services, Academy Sports & Outdoors, AJ’s Landscaping, Alliance Graphics, Big A Productions, Bud Light / Silver Eagle Distributors, Catchlight Group, Corner Bakery, Kim David, Demeris Bar-B-Q, Enterprise, French Country Wines, H-E-B Foods, Houston Wine Merchant, Island Candy Company, Kagan Cellars, Mike Lonchambon, Susan H. Patterson, Pico’s Mex-Mex, Randall’s, Vanessa Sendukas, Dolly and Jeff Thomas, Total Wine and More, Emily Trout & Mark Ellenberger and Whataburger for all your contributions to our silver anniversary event. Santa’s Wish List - Thank you to Jon Deal for donating the warehouse space, Spectrum for providing tables and chairs, Lakes of Parkway and the National Charity League for your donation of stockings and stocking stuffers and to all who sponsored a child. Thanks to the Houston Hotel and Lodging Association and Stewart Title for donating bikes for our kids. Spring Luncheon - Thanks Café Natalie and Stage Directions for support and contributions. YPC - Thank you to Whataburger for the donation of food and to the Tellepsen Family Downtown YMCA for the donation of space for the Valentine’s Day Party for our kids. We would like to send a special thank you to Allstate Insurance, Manu Asthana, Direct Energy, Paul Grabowski, HITS Theatre, Bill Livesay, Mattress Firm, Brandi Maxwell, Post Oak National Charity League, Roy Marsh, Judith Peterson, Catherine Than and Walker’s Mark for your gifts. You helped our children have brighter days.
Make an impression. JOIN THE CAPACITY CAMPAIGN BY ADDING YOUR NAME TO THE ADVOCATE DONOR WALL. For a minimium donation of $100 to the Child Advocates Capacity Campaign you can have your name on the Advocate Donor wall. This wall has been designated for only current and former court appointed advocates. To sign up or for more information, please contact Suzanne McAndrew at (713) 529-1396 or email suzanne.mcandrew@childadvocates.org
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heroes society
MEMBERS The Heroes Society is comprised of those donors who make an unrestricted financial commitment to the Child Advocates annual campaign, allowing the organization to provide court appointed advocate volunteers to more abused and neglected children. The campaign is intended to help us serve more children, grow our program and further distinguish Child Advocates from other organizations with 100% participation from volunteers, board members and staff, as well as, increase awareness about the importance of annual gifts to our mission and continue to build Child Advocates’ legacy.
Mr. and Mrs. Philip Abrams Mr. and Mrs. Kurt Adkins Ms. Mary E. Ainslie Mr. and Mrs. James R. Ainsworth Mr. and Mrs. Guy F. Aldrich Mr. and Ms. Rishad Alikhan Mr. Seth S. Allen Dr. Melanie J. Alo, M.D. Mr. and Mrs. Michael S. Amburn Mr. Vivek Bansal and Mrs. Roopal Amin Dr. and Mrs. Melvyn Anhalt Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Antes Dr. and Mrs. Bruce S. Appelbaum Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Ardell Mrs. Jennifer N. Arizpe Mr. and Mrs. Reed Armstrong Ms. Susana Arredondo Mr. and Mrs. Manu Asthana Mr. and Mrs. Howard T. Ayers, Jr. Mrs. Lauren Bair Mr. and Mrs. David L. Baird, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Walter Baker Mrs. Hildegarde Ballard Mr. Fred Bandini Mrs. Mary Barone Mr. Eric V. Bartz Ms. Ariel Bass Mr. and Mrs. Stephen S. Baumgardner Mrs. Sara E. Beckmann Mr. and Mrs. Dave Belanger Mr. Marshall Bendalin Dr. and Mrs. Robert S. Benjamin Ms. Paige Bennett Ms. Chanelle Benz Mr. and Mrs. Don Berkemeyer Mr. and Mrs. Joe Berno Best Grinding and Machining, Inc. Mrs. Emily Bhatti Mrs. Amelia Binkley Mr. and Mrs. John Bisbee Mr. and Mrs. Chris Black Ms. Braelyn Blair Mr. Carlos Blandino Ms. Judith Blissard
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Mr. and Mrs. David Bock Mrs. Hannah Bookout Dr. Sharon Boutwell Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bowden Mr. and Mrs. Bryan B. Boyer Mrs. Meredith Bradley Ms. Kimberly D. Bramlett Mr. and Mrs. Eric Brigger Ms. Paula Britton Mr. Adrian Broadway Ms. Ashley Brockette Mr. James D. Brodnax Mr. and Mrs. Craig Brooks Ms. Rachel Broussard Ms. Lindsay Buckenham Buckeye Partners, L.P. Mrs. Janis Burke Mr. and Mrs. Vince Burkett Mr. and Mrs. Ben Burleson Mr. and Mrs. Rick Burnett Mr. David Bush Mrs. Melissa Byers Ms. Beth Calhoun Mrs. Maria T. Cano Mr. and Mrs. Charles Caristan Mr. and Mrs. Terry Carius Mr. and Mrs. Daniel K. Carlson Ms. Paula Carrillo Ms. Avery Carson Ms. Kimberly K. Carter Mrs. Melanie Cashat Mr. and Mrs. John T. Cater Mr. and Mrs. William H. Caudill Mr. and Mrs. Samuel M. Chase, III Ms. Cindy Y. Chen Mr. Marcus D. Chery Ms. Claudia Christin Mr. Andrew W. Chu Ms. Hollis Clark Ms. Janet Clark Mrs. Victoria Clifford Mr. and Mrs. Joseph P. Colaco Mrs. Kathleen H. Cole Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Cole Mrs. KeShawna Cole-Clark Ms. Catherine E. Coleman Mr. Phillip Coleman Ms. Bonnie J. Colhour Communities In SchoolsBay Area
CHILD ADVOCATES
Mrs. Tiffanie Conchola Ms. Linda Conley Ms. Cindy Cooke Mr. and Mrs. David W. Cooney Ms. Cindy Cooper Ms. Stephanie Coutinho Mrs. Jennifer Covey Ms. Janet Covington Mr. and Mrs. Bill Cox Mr. Ralph Cox Mr. and Mrs. Michael R. Cragin Ms. Joanna Cramer Ms. Kathryn Crowder Ms. Dee Crowell Mr. and Mrs. Harry H. Cullen, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. John M. Cummings Mr. and Mrs. George Cunningham Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Dabney Mr. and Mrs. Thomas W. Dabney Mr. George A. Davenport Ms. Barbara J. Davis Mr. and Mrs. Bob Davis Mr. and Mrs. Clayton Davis Mr. and Mrs. Richard L. Davis Ms. Ricki Davis Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Davis The Bob and Cathleen Davis Foundation Ms. Cynthia Day Mr. and Ms. Peter A. Dayton DDI Executive Recruiting Mr. and Mrs. Eddy L. De Los Santos Mr. and Mrs. Henry C. Dean Mr. and Mrs. Michael T. Deavers Ms. Amber Demerson Ms. Cynthia A. Diller Mr. Robert Dixon Mrs. Kristin Doherty Mr. and Mrs. Scot G. Dollinger Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Dompier Mrs. Cynthia Dopjera Ms. Diane Dover Mr. Brandon Drake Mr. and Mrs. Stephen P. Droughton Mr. and Mrs. Ronald O. Durant Mr. and Mrs. Robert Dussler Ms. Emerald Ealy
Mrs. Kelli Eberhart Mr. and Mrs. Jack P. Eckels Mr. Robert R. Elliott Mr. and Mrs. Darren Ercolani Ms. Patricia Escalona Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Eschbach Mr. and Mrs. Eleazar Espinoza Mrs. Guadalupe Z. Faal Mr. and Mrs. Tom Farrell Ms. Mary Lynn Faulk Ms. Sara J. Fielder Mr. and Mrs. Darrell Fields Dr. and Mrs. Jeremy Finkelstein Mr. James E. Fischer Dr. and Mrs. Ronald P. Fischer Mr. Will Fitts Mr. and Mrs. John Florence Mr. and Mrs. Michael R. Francisco Ms. Renette Franklin Mr. Ralph Frankowski Mrs. Vesta Frommer Mr. Boby Fussell Ms. Sonya M. Galvan Mr. Henry Garcia Mr. Kenneth A. Garrison Mr. and Mrs. Terrence M. Gee Ms. Suzi Gerstenhaber Mr. and Mrs. Russell Gips Mrs. Kelly Goff Mr. and Ms. Andrew D. Gold Mr. Javier Gonzalez Mr. Jorge Gonzalez Dr. and Mrs. Anthony Gorry Mr. and Mrs. John E. Granahan Mr. and Mrs. Robert Greenstone Mr. and Mrs. Mark E. Gregg Mrs. Barbra Grimmer Dr. Nellie P. Grose Ms. Vickie Guerin Mr. and Mrs. Keith A. Guerrini Ms. Prathima Guniganti Ms. Sarah Hall Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hamilton Mrs. Tara Hannan Mr. John Martinez and Ms. Paula B. Hansen Ms. Sandra Hardilek Ms. Margaret Harlan Mr. and Mrs. Quinton O. Harp
Ms. Lisa Harris Miss Cherry Hartig Mr. and Mrs. Alan Hassenflu Mr. Kelly Hawkins Mrs. Maxine Heath Mr. Robert Heine Mr. and Mrs. Michael Hemmi Mrs. Patsy A. Hendricks Mrs. Carrie Hendricks-Helm Ms. Christina Henriquez Ms. Carla Henry Mr. Nicholas Hiemstra Ms. Susan L. Hill Ms. Angela Holmes Ms. Grace B. Holmes Mr. and Mrs. Alton Honeycutt Dr. and Mrs. C. R. Hoopingarner Mrs. Christine Howard Mrs. Kerry J. Humphrey Ms. Gwendolyn A. Huskey Mr. Shane Hutchison Mr. and Mrs. Dwayne L. Hyzak Mrs. Rita Irani Ms. Trudy Jacobs Ms. Bertha Jamison Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Jaska Ms. Hayley Jaska Mr. Edwin J. Jennings, III Ms. Elizabeth D. Jones Ms. Mary E. Jones Mr. and Mrs. Scott L. Jones JP Design JPMorgan Chase Foundation Mr. George W. Kaleh and Ms. Lisa Folloder Ms. MaryAnne Kannard Rabbi and Mrs. Samuel E. Karff Mr. and Mrs. Itzy Kariv Ms. Christine Keating Mrs. Ethiopia Keleta Mr. Cameron Kelman Mrs. Divyashree Kenche Mr. and Mrs. William A. Kennedy Ms. Erin Kenney Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Kerman Mr. Duane C. King and Mrs. Carmen Delgado Mr. and Mrs. Samuel M. King Mr. and Mrs. Daniel R. Kirschbaum Ms. Mary C. Knapp
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Mr. and Mrs. Neal McKim Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. McMahan Mr. and Mrs. John D. McMillan Mr. John McWilliams Ms. Dawn Meade Ms. Peggy Sue Menchaca Mrs. Madison Middlebrook Mr. and Mrs. Brian Miller Mr. Jack Stelzer and Ms. Carole R. Minor Mr. and Mrs. Richard W. Mithoff MLD Pathology Ms. Marion F. Monsen Mr. and Mrs. Felipe Morales Mr. and Mrs. Ronald L. Moran Mr. Don Moser Ms. Susan Moss Mr. and Mrs. William H. Murphy Mr. and Mrs. David Nathan Ms. Laura Beth Nelson Mrs. Kathy Nevarez Mrs. Sheila Newell Mr. Trinh K. Ngo Mr. and Miss Bang G. Nguyen Mr. and Mrs. Paul M. Nick Mr. and Mrs. Denis Nolan Mrs. Bernice Norris Ms. Anita Nunez Mr. and Mrs. Peter O’Brien Mr. and Mrs. Bradley W. O’Halla Mr. and Mrs. Gerald T. O’Keefe Mr. and Mrs. Ron Orsini Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon I. Oster Ms. Linda Paine Ms. Imogen S. Papadopoulos Mr. Scott Patterson Ms. Teresa Patterson Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Peden Mr. and Mrs. Elliott Pew, Jr. Phillips 66 Ms. Etta Pickett Ms. Patricia Pipitone Dr. Richard A. Plessala Ms. Laura Pollard Dr. and Mrs. James L. Pool Ms. Crystal Pope
Ms. LaToya Porter Mr. and Mrs. Paul Posoli Mr. and Mrs. Ed Powell Ms. Leslie Powell Mr. and Mrs. James S. Prentice Ms. Louise L. Price Mr. and Mrs. Kevin M. Prunty Mr. and Mrs. David Quackenbush Ms. Gloria Quackenbush Mr. and Mrs. David B. Rae Mr. and Mrs. John C. Ramey Mrs. Norma Ramirez Mr. and Mrs. Clinton Rappole Ms. Lara Rasco Mr. Edward B. Reeves Mr. and Mrs. Donald Reid Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Reid Ms. Jo-Ann B. Reilly Ms. Claudia Reyes Mr. Daniel Reyes Ms. Anne C. Rice Mr. and Mrs. Craig M. Dingler Mr. and Mrs. James R. Riley Mr. and Mrs. Connor Riseden Mr. and Mrs. Susan F. Roach Mr. and Mrs. Brad W. Robbins Mr. and Mrs. Carl N. Roberts Ms. Jacquelyne M. Rocan Ms. Dawn Romagnoli Mrs. Suzanne Ronne Ms. Katy Rothfelder Mr. Michael Rowe Mr. Peter Ruddy Mr. Ellis Rudy Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Ruhlin Mr. Robert D. Ulrich and Ms. June R. Russell Mr. Robert Saltiel Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Sanborn Dr. and Mrs. Santiago A. Sanchez Ms. Theresa Sandoval Ms. Peggie Sarubbi Ms. Priscilla P. Saunders Mrs. Ashley Scheele Mr. and Mrs. Lester E. Schmaltz Mrs. Jane C. Schmitt
www.childadvocates.org
Mr. and Mrs. Charles T. Seay, II Mr. Matthew Seinsheimer Ms. Bernadette L. Session Shell Oil Company Mr. Claude Sherman Ms. Angelya Sherrell Mrs. Ann M. Shirley Mr. Travis Shoemake Mr. and Mrs. John N. Sion, Jr. Mrs. Alisa Slack Mr. Gifford Small Mr. and Mrs. Mark W. Smith Mrs. Quana Smith Ms. Sydney Smith Mr. and Mrs. Terrance M. Smith Mr. and Mrs. Thomas S. Smith Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Sonnier Mr. and Mrs. Mark B. Sossaman Ms. Janet C. Southern Mr. Stephen K. Hanrahan and Mrs. Susan A. Speert Mr. James H. Spencer Mr. Clay Robinson and Mrs. Barbara S. Springer Mr. Drew Stackel and Ms. Elizabeth Stein Ms. Aleisha Stamps Ms. Geneva D. Statin Mr. and Mrs. Charles M. Steen Mrs. Dominique Stephenson Mr. and Mrs. Ron Sterlekar Mr. and Mrs. Christiaan Stevens Mr. and Mrs. Scott Stevenson Mrs. Alexandra Stewart Mrs. Margaret Stone Mrs. Lisa Strauser Ms. Janet D. Strauss Mr. Carl S. Stutts and Mrs. Tessa Lesley Ms. Brittany Swain Mr. and Mrs. Ronald E. Swantkowski Mr. and Mrs. Jack Sweeney Mr. and Mrs. Michael Sweet Mr. David R. Swenson Mr. James Switzer Mrs. Cris Tamez- Sugar
Laura Wilkinson, diver and Olympic gold medalist
Ms. Karen Taylor Mr. and Mrs. Walker Taylor Ms. Welela Tereffe Texas Instruments Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey A. Thomas Ms. Lucinda Thomas Ms. Suzanne Thomas Mr. Kenneth F. Thompson Mr. and Mrs. Stephen A. Thorington Mr. and Mrs. Eric Tietz Mr. Bruce W. Toig Mr. George Torres Ms. Huong P. Tran Ms. Rebecca Tripathy Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Tripodo Mr. and Mrs. David Troiano Mr. and Mrs. Phil Trotter Mrs. Kelly O. Turner Mr. Glen Baugess and Ms. Martha F. Turner Ms. Anne S. Twitchell Universal Home Experts Mr. and Mrs. Herman Vacca Mr. and Mrs. Mike Van Hoozer, Jr. Ms. Esmeralda Vargas Dr. Melissa Vargheese and Dr. Ajay Vargheese Ms. Victoria A. Varner Ms. Amanda Verell Mr. Alex P. Verraires Mrs. Suzy Wager Mrs. Jennifer Waggoner Mrs. Felisa Walker Mr. Johnny B. Walker Mrs. Margaret S. Walker Mr. Joseph T. Wall Mr. Lloyd Warner Ms. Janice Warren Mr. and Mrs. Jerry R. Warring Mr. and Mrs. Scott Washburn Ms. Ruby Washington Ms. Kimberly Watson Mr. and Mrs. Gerald B. Weeden Mr. and Mrs. Eric S. Wehner Dr. and Mrs. Phillip Weinstein Mr. and Mrs. D. C. Weiss Dr. and Mrs. Norman Weiss Ms. Denise West Mr. Marshall T. West Ms. Mary Lee L. Wilkens Mr. and Mrs. Lacy H. Williams, II Ms. Wanda M. Williams The Williams Companies, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Rodney H. Williamson Mr. and Mrs. David W. Winn Mr. and Ms. Warren Winters Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Wirzberg Mr. and Mrs. Mark Wise Mr. and Mrs. Gene Witter Mr. and Mrs. Don Wood Mr. and Mrs. John P. Wright Mr. Robbie Wright Ms. Phyllis A. Zendejas Mr. Michael Galvan and Ms. Janell M. Zeug Ms. Rebecca Zimdars
ADVOCATE NEWS
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AN ADVOCATE’S PERSISTENCE:
a journey through 1,068 days in foster care. Robert* had just celebrated his first birthday when brother Timothy* was born. When their mother went into labor, the hospital tests showed that she had marijuana in her system. Additionally, she had a known history of drug abuse with cocaine and methamphetamines. That day, both boys began a journey through the foster care system that would continue with twists and turns for the next three years of their young lives. Robert and Timothy were placed in the home of foster parents Beverly and Charles Lawson*, and shortly after, Wanda Williams was appointed by the court to be their advocate volunteer. While at home with the Lawsons, the boys thrived. Timothy was growing and developing just as a baby should, and Robert was learning and growing through his Mother’s Day Out program. Though they were young, the boys began to recognize Wanda from among the many caseworkers, therapists and attorneys the boys met during their time in foster care. Charles and Beverly deeply cared for and loved both boys, and faithfully gave of themselves to take care of every need. In their care, Timothy and Robert were given the safe childhood they deserved. When the boys first entered foster care, their father, Brandon*, asked the courts for custody of his sons, but there were concerns about his home being the best place for them. Brandon had struggled with his own drug abuse, and while he very much loved his boys, his home situation was not yet stable. As is often the case, the court created for Brandon a Family Plan of Service, giving him specific tasks to complete before he could regain custody of Robert and Timothy. Throughout the course of the next year, Brandon worked to complete his court-ordered services, but things moved slowly. He would find stable housing, only to move a few months later. His drug test would occasionally show he had been using drugs again and the court would schedule a follow-up test. The boys visited their dad twice a month, and it was clear that Robert was very attached to Brandon. ”He seemed to be following all the guidelines and doing everything he was supposed to do,” Beverly said. “They were not going to have a luxurious life with him, but they would obviously be very well loved and taken care of to the best of his abilities.” Wanda visited the children regularly, and she also spent time observing their father and paternal grandfather, whom the boys spent time with. Wanda had already been an advocate volunteer for many years and she had the training and experience to know what to look for when evaluating a potential home situation. On paper everything appeared as though Brandon was turning his life around. However, Wanda had well-founded concerns. “CPS [Child Protective Services] wanted the kids to go home, and that really blindsided me,” Wanda recalled. “Their dad finished a lot of his services. CPS would do random drug tests when he would come to court, and he would pass all of those, so it didn’t seem there was any way to keep the kids from going home, but I just didn’t see that happening. Brandon knew he had to get himself cleaned up to get his kids back. It seemed like that was the only reason for doing the services. It wasn’t as if he’d actually made a change in his life, and I still felt that he had a problem with his addiction.” 12
CHILD ADVOCATES
Fifteen months after they first came into foster care, Robert and Timothy went home to live with their father, his girlfriend and their other children. Wanda and Child Advocates requested to monitor the boys in their new environment for three months to ensure that living with their dad was the best thing for them. As soon as the boys went to live with Brandon, he stopped responding to Wanda and to CPS. It was often difficult to get hold of him, and he rarely returned phone calls. He intentionally moved further outside of town, making it difficult for CPS caseworkers to monitor Robert and Timothy. Wanda continued to feel uneasy about their new placement, noticing even more red flags. While Robert and Timothy had been thriving in a stable, a loving home with the Lawsons, things began to unravel once they went to live with their dad. Timothy was behind on his immunizations, and Robert was an active toddler for whom careful guidance and safe rules were now nearly nonexistent. Wanda observed on one visit that the boys were dirty and unkempt. In those three months, Wanda and her advocacy coordinator, KeShawna, would often make an hour-long drive to visit the boys. They would arrive only to discover that Brandon had been evicted, or that he had a new address nobody was notified of. Every single month, the boys were living in a new location. It was a chaotic and dramatically different situation than stable life they had known for a year with the Lawsons. The evening before the final scheduled CPS hearing, KeShawna made the trip to visit Robert and Timothy. When she arrived, the boys and Brandon were nowhere to be found. CPS had visited them earlier that day and everything looked fine, but KeShawna witnessed a different situation. Brandon’s girlfriend admitted that they had been in a fight and Brandon had been using drugs. That evening, he was arrested for possession of marijuana, methamphetamines and drug paraphernalia. When Wanda heard the news, she began making phone calls to locate the boys. She suspected they might be with their grandfather, Brandon’s father, who also had a history of drug abuse. While the grandfather would not answer phone calls from anyone else, he answered Wanda’s call and revealed that the boys were with him. Wanda, leaning on a relationship she had already built, convinced him to return the boys to the care of CPS, and that night Beverly and Charles brought them back home. CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE >>
PHOTO CREDITS LEFT TOP TO BOTTOM: Robert and Timothy on their first day of Pre-K and Mother’s Day Out. Court appointed advocate, Wanda Williams. The boys enjoy a treat with the Lawsons. RIGHT TOP TO BOTTOM: Robert and Timothy reading together. The Lawsons with Robert and Timothy.
ADVOCATE NEWS
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AN ADVOCATE’S PERSISTANCE: A JOURNEY THROUGH 1,068 DAYS IN FOSTER CARE (CONTINUED) During the period of time the Lawsons now call , the “100 day gap”, they maintained a relationship with Robert and Timothy, calling often to check on them. Even when they began fostering a newborn set of twins, they knew there was a possibility the boys could come back home with them and worked with the county to save room in their home for Robert and Timothy. Robert and Timothy soon settled back into their foster home, the most consistent home they had ever known. After their time with their dad, they had nightmares and their behavior reflected a need for reassurance. Wanda continued to check on them, and said, “It took weeks after that for them to sleep well, to adjust and realize nobody was coming to get them again.” At the follow-up court hearing, Brandon’s parental rights were terminated, along with the rights of Robert and Timothy’s mother, whom no one had seen since Timothy’s birth. Beverly and Charles started making plans to adopt Robert and Timothy and give them a permanent, stable home. But just two months later, Brandon’s mother and stepfather from Ohio came forward requesting custody of the boys. Wanda felt that moving the boys yet again during such a formative time in their lives was not in their best interest. Having experienced so much instability in their first few years of life, another change could have been very detrimental to the boys’ development, and she had concerns about the grandparents’ ability to raise two very active and bubbly toddlers. CPS and Child Advocates were not in agreement, and one month later a mediation hearing was held. Robert and Timothy’s foster parents and paternal grandparents met, along with their attorneys, to decide where the boys would live permanently. Both parties made their case, and then turned to Wanda. She shared her concerns and insights, having been with Robert and Timothy from the very beginning. Ultimately, the grandparents agreed with Wanda, and at the end of 2014, they announced that they would drop their case to adopt the boys, allowing them to stay with Beverly and Charles permanently. The entire case lasted nearly three years. During a crucial developmental time in their lives, Robert and Timothy lived in five different homes and encountered more than a dozen different adults through the court system, all as a result of the abuse and neglect they suffered. Through it all, their advocate, Wanda, stood by them. She faithfully visited them and offered support. She attended court hearings and birthday parties, brought gifts during the holidays, and when the time came, Wanda was able to know for certain where the boys would thrive. Without Wanda’s intuition and relational involvement in this case, it’s likely that Robert and Timothy would have continued to be moved around by a broken and overburdened court system. Wanda leaned on her experience as a volunteer and was able to identify vital information that went far beyond what official paperwork alone could ever have hoped to capture. Her tenacity, persistence and thorough testimony guided two young boys to a safe, permanent and loving home. Today, Robert is six years old, and adores his five-year-old brother Timothy. They both love the beach, spend hours playing in their big back yard and have smiles that could melt any heart. You’ll often find them together, playing with their transformers or riding their bikes. They always want to know where the other is and both of them tell everyone that their “brudda” is their best friend.
PHOTO CREDITS TOP TO BOTTOM: The Lawson family at Robert and Timothy’s adoption. Robert and Timothy with their twin siblings on Easter Sunday.
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CHILD ADVOCATES
Thanks to the dedication of their advocate, Robert and Timothy have the chance to grow up in a stable, warm and safe home. While they are loved by their birth father, they don’t have to worry about where they will sleep at night or whether their basic needs will be met. Because of Wanda’s help, Robert and Timothy will always know for sure where home is. n written by Lauren Bair *In some instances, names were changed to help protect parties of the story.
doing SOMETHING
BACKSPACE
CALPINE
OVER THE EDGE
Backspace is a band of like-minded professionals who love music and raising money for good causes. Formed in 2007, this rock ‘n roll group’s annual show is a themed onetime-only performance. All proceeds from ticket sales are donated to one charity each year. Family friendly and tons of fun, “Backspace Goes to the Movies” took place in March in the newly renovated White Oak Music Hall. The talented group dressed to match the theme and played well-known songs from the silver screen while the audience danced and sang along. Child Advocates was fortunate to be chosen as the beneficiary two years in a row! We’re doubly lucky! A huge thanks to the members of Backspace for your partnership and generosity!
Headquartered in Houston, Calpine is the largest generator of electricity from natural gas and geothermal resources with operations in key power markets around the country. Using clean fuel and renewable resources means Calpine also ranks among the cleanest power generators in the US. Calpine has been in operation for more than three decades using advanced technologies to generate power in an efficient, cost-effective and environmentally responsible manner. Child Advocates has been fortunate to count Calpine among our generous community partners. Their involvement began two years ago when employees began holding toy drives to provide presents to children through our Santa’s Wish List. This past January, Calpine selected four charities to raise funds for in the Houston Marathon Run for a Reason. Nineteen employees chose Child Advocates and raised over $ 16,000! Thank you to Krystle Agan, Erica Akerman, Michael Dumas, Derek Furstenwerth, Priscilla Garza, Joshua Inocencio, Greg McAuley, Sharon McFarland, Amir Mehra, Krishna Naredla, Stacey Peterson, Kyle Peterson, Mark Thomas, Todd Thornton, James Tinsley, Tu Tran, Mai Tran, Nathan Vajdos and the entire Calpine team for generously supporting Child Advocates!
Grace School in west Houston invited Child Advocates to go Over the Edge this past March. The unique event allowed participants of both organizations to rappel down the side of Westchase Park Plaza, a 10-story building, with the assistance of experts. As dozens of adventurous and brave volunteers from Grace School and Child Advocates rappelled down the building, they were cheered on by friends and family who waited on the ground below! Eddy De Los Santos, Child Advocates board chair, and Kimberly Bramlett, an advocacy coordinator, overcame their fear of heights and embraced the adventure! The two-day event was a fun and exciting way to raise money to support the essential programs of both organizations. Thank you to Grace School for your partnership and for the experts at Over the Edge for your guidance and encouragement! PHOTO CREDITS THIS PAGE LEFT TO RIGHT: The crowd enjoying the Backspace benefit concert. Eddy De Los Santos rappelling down the side of a 10-story building.
ADVOCATE NEWS
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thanks DONORS The donors listed contributed to Child Advocates, Inc. between November 1, 2016 through April 30, 2017. Since we are not a United Way agency, we rely on gifts made by individuals and non-government groups for more than 75% of our budget each year. Thank you for your help, it is truly appreciated. 50+ CHILDREN FOR A YEAR Leslie Alexander & The Houston Rockets Texas CASA, Inc. Victims of Crime Act The Wyatt Foundation 29 - 49 CHILDREN FOR A YEAR The Brown Foundation The Medallion Foundation, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. James Taylor 14 - 28 CHILDREN FOR A YEAR Child Advocates Endowment, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Terrence M. Gee In Honor of Child Advocates Volunteers The Lyons Foundation Touchdown Houston 5 - 13 CHILDREN FOR A YEAR The Stanford & Joan Alexander Foundation Atwood Oceanics, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. James R. Bratton Calpine Corporation Deacons of Deadwood Enterprise Holdings Foundation Grace School The Gregory Fund The Hamill Foundation George & Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Alan Hassenflu Mr. George W. Kaleh and Ms. Lisa Folloder M.D. Anderson Foundation Ms. Brandi Maxwell Trini and O. C. Mendenhall Foundation Robert R. and Kay M. Onstead Foundation Palmetto Partners, Ltd. Ms. Leslie Powell Reuhl Family Foundation Silver Eagle Distributors, L.P. The Simmons Foundation Charles B. and Jean G. Smith Family Foundation Vivian L. Smith Foundation St. Martin’s Episcopal Church Mr. and Mrs. John W. Storms Swalm Foundation Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Vacations To Go Valero Services, Inc. Robert L. and Barbara Zorich Family Foundation
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3 - 4 CHILDREN FOR A YEAR The Gordon A.Cain Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Chet Erwin Mr. and Mrs. Gary L. Forbes The Junior League of Houston Mrs. Linda F. Kuhnen Mr. and Mrs. Nolan Lehmann Mr. Mark R. Livesay John P. McGovern Foundation Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP Mr. and Mrs. James S. Prentice The Charlotte B. Proehl Foundation Mr. Robert L. Roberts Mr. and Mrs. Jack Sweeney Theta Charity Antiques Show Ms. Suzanne Thomas Twin Eagle Yumiko Sato Estate The Edith & Robert Zinn Foundation 1 - 2 CHILDREN FOR A YEAR Mr. and Mrs. David Aaronson Mr. Warner Abel Anadarko Petroleum Corporation Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Armadillo Financial Partners, LLC Bacco Lounge Mr. and Mrs. David L. Baird, Jr. Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC Mr. and Mrs. Kenny Baldwin Bank of America Becks Prime Restaurants Dr. Sherman Yu and Ms. Meredith Beaumont BP Mr. and Mrs. Rick Burnett Business Women in PetroleumCrude Committee CB Richard Ellis CenterPoint Energy Mr. Norman Chambers Chapelwood United Methodist Church Chevron City of Houston Mr. and Mrs. Joe Cleary Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Cokinos Community Bank of Texas The Crump Foundation Cutsinger Foundation CVR Energy, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Dabney Mr. and Mrs. Carl Dalio Mrs. Kimberly C. David The Charles and Melissa Davis Foundation
CHILD ADVOCATES
Mr. Joe Davis Davis Days Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Eschbach Fayez Sarofim & Company Dr. and Ms. Jeremy Finkelstein Mr. and Mrs. Robert Frappier Mr. and Mrs. Michael Garner Grant Thornton LLP Mr. and Mrs. Buddy Gray Green Bank Mr. R. Gray Gregory Mr. and Mrs. Mike L. Grove Harris County Treasurer HEB Tournament of Champions Mr. and Mrs. Duane P. Heckmann Mr. Robert Heine Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hermis Mr. and Mrs. Craig Hill Mr. Tony Houck and Mrs. Chastiti N. Horne Horne Rota Moos, LLP Houston Junior Woman’s Club Mr. Charles S. Iupe Jackson Walker, L.L.P. Mr. and Mrs. Roy F. Johnson Jones Industrial Holdings, Inc. Katy Students Run Ms. Anne L. Kinder Ms. Margaret E. Kirby Mrs. Florence Langford Legge, Farrow, Kimmitt, McGrath, & Brown L.L.P. Jack H. & William M. Light Charitable Trust Ms. Lynda Lighthouse Transier Living Earth Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. McNair Medical Elite, LLC Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church Mischer Investments, L.P. Ms. Denise Monteleone W.T. and Louise J. Moran Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Bill Morgan MRE Consulting, Ltd. Ms. Linda C. Murray The O’Hern Family Foundation Mrs. Jodi Oliver Mr. and Mrs. Ron Orsini Mr. Charles Ott Mrs. Bernadette Payne Mr. Gary R. Petersen Phillips 66 Mr. and Mrs. Paul Posoli Mr. and Mrs. David Quackenbush Quanta Services, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Donald Rickertsen Salners Family Foundation Mr. Don Sanders Shell Oil Company
Mr. and Mrs. Mark W. Smith St. Michael’s Catholic Church Target TD International The Strake Foundation The Williams Companies, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Stephen A. Thorington Ticket to Dream Foundation Mr. Bruce W. Toig USD Foundation Vinson & Elkins, L.L.P. Mrs. Shelley Washburn Wells Fargo Westside Lexus Mr. and Mrs. Scott Y. Wood
Mr. Ershel Redd Schulte Charitable Foundation Ms. Kelly Scoggins Ms. Lenora A. Smith Ms. Lori A. Stewart Superwash Co. Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey A. Thomas Mr. and Mrs. Howe Q. Wallace, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Mike Weill Mr. Milton H. West, III Whataburger Winstead PC Wright & Close, LLP Mr. Michael Galvan and Ms. Janell M. Zeug
1 CHILD FOR 6 MONTHS TO A YEAR American Shooting Centers Amusement Repair Dr. and Mrs. Melvyn Anhalt Apex Heritage Group Ms. Ericka Bagwell Benevity Community Impact Fund The Bill and Helen Crowder Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Dan Borgen Ms. Deborah Cooper-Newland Expressworks International, LLC ExxonMobil Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Tom Farrell First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston Fleckman & McGlynn, PLLC Mr. and Mrs. Bob Fowler Mr. and Mrs. Michael R. Francisco Ms. Christine Gabriel Mr. and Mrs. James Godwin Goldman, Sachs & Company Ms. Georgina A. Goodnight Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Grimmer Mr. and Mrs. Hunt Harper Hein & Associates, LLP JP Morgan Chase Foundation Ms. Sarah V. Kerrigan Mr. Duane C. King and Mrs. Carmen Delgado Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Kirk Mr. and Mrs. Livingston Kosberg Ms. Michelle Lilie Luchsinger Family Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Tom McCaffrey Mr. William McDonald C. Wayne and Patricia J. Miller Foundation Mrs. Mary Mischer Mr. and Mrs. Peter O’Brien Ms. Lisa O’Bryant PalletOne, Inc. Paulea Family Foundation
1 CHILD FOR 3-6 MONTHS Aetna Foundation, Inc. Ms. Joann Agee Audi Central Houston Mr. Warren Augenstein Mr. and Mrs. Tim Austin Mrs. April Bailey Mrs. Hildegarde Ballard Mr. Michael Barrett Ms. Roxanne Barton Mr. James E. Bobbitt Mr. James D. Brodnax Dr. Shonte Byrd Ms. Becky Chmielewski Ms. Jonique Colbert Cornerstone Automotive - Dairy Ashford Cornerstone Automotive - Wilcrest Mr. Jeff J. Cotner Ms. Nancy J. Critz Ms. Eileen Curling Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Davis Ms. Erika de la Garza Mr. Jeffrey W. Edwards Ms. Kaija Emmons Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Facciponte Mr. Casey A. Fletcher, C.P.A. Mr. and Mrs. Gary Gerson Mr. Harit Ghelani Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Goff Mr. and Ms. Andrew D. Gold Mr. Paul Grabowski Mr. and Mrs. Joe Gulley Halliburton Mr. Jim M. Harbison, Jr. Mr. Wesley Hart Mr. and Mrs. Tom and Connie Herald Ms. Lisa Higgins Ms. Susan Hill Mr. Floyd Holder Mr. and Mrs. Will Holder The Holthouse Foundation for Kids Houston Marathon Committee
thanks DONORS Mrs. Jane Hutchens Mr. Shane Hutchison Mr. D. G Jeu Mrs. Sheryl Jimerson Mr. and Mrs. Buz Jochetz Mr. and Mrs. Cameron Kelman Mrs. Lora Kenyon Knights of Columbus Mr. Jeff Kubin Mr. and Mrs. William S. Lamb Mr. and Mrs. Christopher LaPorte Mr. Daniel Lathen Lillian Kaiser Lewis Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Madden Marathon Oil Company Mrs. Andy Marlatt Mr. and Mrs. George Martinez Dr. Miguel Miro-Quesada Mrs. Pinki Moore Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated Ms. Kathy D. Patrick Mr. Bernard Pieper Mr. and Mrs. Michael A. Poujol Mr. and Mrs. Ed Powell Mr. and Ms. J. H. Price Marni and Morris Propp II Family Foundation QRI LLC Ms. Devina Rankin Mr. and Mrs. Clinton Rappole Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Rhoads Mr. Frank B. Rynd Mr. and Mrs. Perry Sendukas Seyfarth Shaw LLP Ms. Angie Sherrell Mr. and Mrs. Reginald Smith Mrs. and Mrs. Jim Spring Mr. and Mrs. Stephen G. Sweet Mr. and Mrs. Michael Taetz Texas Instruments Foundation The Thread Alliance Mr. and Mrs. Kevin F. Tiernan Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Tucker Mr. Sonny Turner Mr. and Mrs. Ron Walkoviak Mr. and Mrs. Richard Weekley Mrs. Annette Weiser Mrs. Tonya R. West Mr. and Mrs. Lacy H. Williams, II Ms. Kay H. Williamson Mr. and Mrs. David W. Winn Ms. Barbara A. Woolhandler
Mrs. Cheryl Byington The Clifford Group, Inc. Mrs. Sandra Clunn Ms. Hannah Cole Mr. and Mrs. James H. Current Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Davis Ms. Cynthia Day Mr. and Mrs. Thomas L. Elsenbrook Exelon Corporation Mr. and Mrs. Chris W. Faught First Imperial Mortgage, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Jim Greer Ms. Elizabeth Hanks Mr. and Mrs. Jeffery Hildebrand INEOS Oligomers Mr. and Mrs. John Kafka Mr. and Mrs. Walter Kase Ms. Terry Kenyon Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Komnick LEM Construction Company, Inc. Mr. and Ms. Joe Maida Mr. and Mrs. Bryce Mannen Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth C. Margolis Ms. Cecilia McCann Mr. and Mrs. Neal McKim Mr. and Mrs. Oniel Mendenhall Metropolitan Cares Mrs. Jennifer Minnis Mr. Michael Minnis Mr. and Mrs. Ben Morris Mr. Samir Nassar Partners in Building, L.P. Mr. Don Peterson Pfizer Foundation Matching Gifts Program Mr. Thomas Prince R & S Steel Mr. and Mrs. Magnus Rayos Ms. Diane Rifai Mr. and Mrs. David Ronn Mr. and Mrs. Stephen E. Slater Ms. Kristi A. Sorrels Mr. Brian Spack Mr. and Mrs. Tom Stewart Ms. Jean Stout Mr. and Mrs. William F. Taber Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Tripodo TRUiST Ms. Karen Whittlesey Mr. and Mrs. Ronald W. Woliver Mr. Jonathan Worbington
1 CHILD FOR 2 MONTHS AbbVie Mr. Mike Absmeier Mr. and Mrs. Richard Alabaster Mr. Rodrigo Amare AmazonSmile Foundation Atascocita Presbyterian Church Mr. and Mrs. Brian Becker Mr. and Mrs. Brad Beitler Mrs. Cindy Bravo The Brodsky Foundation
1 CHILD FOR 1 MONTH 5 Star Event Services Ms. Sarah E. Aarsen Ms. Annsy Abaza Mr. and Mrs. James R. Ainsworth Mr. and Mrs. Thurmon Andress Mr. and Mrs. Gerald A. Anhalt Mr. Todd Balfour Mrs. Rebecca Barclay Prewitt Ms. Leslie Barnett
Ms. Sandra Barrett Mr. and Mrs. Michael T. Bass Mr. and Mrs. Glen Bassett Mr. Brian Wozniak and Ms. Francesca J. Beaumont Bellaire Dermatology Associates Ms. Erin Bennett Mr. Yossi Benzra and Ms. Michaela Benzra Mr. and Mrs. Mark S. Berg Ms. Elisabeth W. Bickham Ms. Lisa Bisceglia Ms. Jenn Bolton Ms. Chandra Bonine Ms. Patricia Bourlon Ms. Laurie Boyer Mr. Jason Bragg Ms. Anne Kari Britton Mrs. Martha Britton Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Britton Mr. Andy Brown Mr. and Ms. Richard Brown Mr. Peter Browne Mrs. Jennifer Bruton Mr. Ronald Bryski Mr. and Mrs. Robert Burnett Mr. Dale C. Butler Ms. Kristen Carter Mrs. Melanie Cashat Mrs. Martha Ceballos Ms. Kay Champiomont Ms. Ariana Nizza Chapman Mr. and Mrs. Gill Cheesman Ms. Anyta Chen Ms. Mathilda Cochran Mrs. Diane Cook Ms. Ashley Coolidge Ms. Donna Cooper Mr. Rufus Cormier and Dr. Yvonne C. Cormier Mr. and Mrs. James Crownover Mr. and Mrs Wayne Culver Ms. Grace Curry Mrs. Megan Cushing Mr. and Ms. Jai Daggett Ms. Barbara J. Davis Mrs. Emily Davis Ms. Lesley Davis Ms. Dorothy C. Davisson Ms. Sharon De Lorenzo Ms. Katherine Delaune Mr. and Mrs. David G. Dunlap Ms. Susan Edwards Ms. Lysa Elkins EP Energy Mr. Salvador Escalona Mr. Billy Fendley Mr. Chris Ferrari FKP Architects, Inc. Ms. Karen Flowers Mr. and Mrs. Tom W. Fogelsong Ms. Jami Fowler Mr. Leslie Fox Ms. Lisa Freeman Ms. Monica Fulton Ms. Lynne Galarneau
Mrs. Rebecca B. Gayle Ms. Anu George Mr. and Mrs. Barry A. Glickman Dr. Thelma Jean Goodrich Ms. Paige Goodwin Ms. Regina C. Goydan Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Graybeal Mr. and Mrs. Robert Greenstone Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Gregory Mrs. Marsha Haas Ms. Rachel Hanks Ms. Carla Henry Ms. Karen Henry Ms. Sherry Hibbert Ms. Carol Hill Ms. Maureen Hirsch Ms. Grace B. Holmes Ms. Lori Hood Ms. Susan Horne Mr. Geordie Hrdlicca Ms. Rebecca Hunt Ms. Gwendolyn A. Huskey Ms. Joyce Imparato Dr. and Mrs. Mark Jacobs Ms. Bridget L. Jensen Mr. Taylor Jeude Ms. Jamie L. Johnson Mrs. Becky Joy Mr. Breck Juneau Ms. Grace Justin Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Kaim Mr. and Mrs. Jay J. Karkowsky Ms. Shannon Keefe Mr. and Mrs. David Kelley Ms. Lisa Kelley Mrs. Karen H. King Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence K. King Ms. Michelle King Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Kornhauser Ms. Kate Kutchins Ms. Linda C. Lambert Ms. Patty Larason Mrs. Barbara LaVigne Mr. Theis Clarke and Ms. Catherine Lee Mr. Daniel Levitt Mr. and Mrs. Robin Lindley Mr. and Mrs. Edward D. Lupo Mr. and Mrs. Scot Luther LyondellBasell Ms. Danielle Magdol Mrs. Ann S. Malcolm Mr. Travis Marshall Mr. and Mrs. David G. Massin Ms. Victoria Matthews Mr. and Mrs. Mark B. McAdams Ms. Bertha McCue Ms. Christen McFerrin Ms. Jean McGowan Mr. Ken McKay Ms. Christine M. McMillan Ms. Anna McNair Ms. Kate McNair Mr. and Mrs. D. Bradley McWilliams
Ms. Liz Mettetal Midway Foundation Mrs. Sherry Miller Ms. Robin Mitchell Mr. Wright Moody Ms. Terry Morales Mr. and Mrs. Corey Mordacz Ms. Stephanie P. Moritz Mr. Peter Morris Mr. Gary Moss Mr. and Mrs. James Mouton Mrs. Rosalyn D. Myers National Association of Professional Mortgage Women Ms. Jennifer Nelson Ms. Cassie C. Neumann Mr. Mark A. Oathout Mr. Ray Obregon Mr. John O’Leary Ms. Anita O’Shaughnessy Dr. Judith Owens Mr. Robert L. Parker Paul Ortega Services, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Douglas J. Pferdehirt Ms. Thomas Pierce Ms. Lynn Pinkerton Mr. and Mrs. Matt Pomroy Mr. Matthew Powell Mrs. Cathy C. Poye Ms. Kathy Prather Ms. Terry Prather PricewaterhouseCoopers Mrs. Kelly Ranucci Ms. Shelley Reeves Mrs. Mary A. Regan Ms. Jo-Ann B. Reilly Mr. and Mrs. Jason Reimers Ms. Joann Rethlake Mr. and Mrs. Howard Robinson Ms. Jacquelyne M. Rocan Ms. Vicky Rocher Mr. Eric Rodriguez Mr. Tracey Rogan Mr. and Ms. Joseph J. Romano Ms. Julia Romero Peter Ms. Susan G. Rosenbaum Mr. and Mrs. Richard Rothfelder Mrs. Peta Rubenstein Mr. and Ms. Timothy Rueter Mrs. Laura Ryan Mr. Ben Saldana Mr. and Mrs. James Schwartz Mrs. Sue Schwartz Ms. Katie Scott Mr. Mark Scott Mrs. Lou Shapiro Ms. Brooke Shaver Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Simpson Ms. Patricia Smith Mrs. Ruth M. Smith Ms. Sabra Smith Mr. and Mrs. Steve Solcher SpectraSensors Ms. Judy Stanley
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thanks DONORS Mrs. Kimberly Sterling Mr. Robert K. Street Mr. and Mrs. Steven Streller Ms. Karen Taylor The Sunshine Fund Ms. Katherine Thompson Dr. and Mrs. Peter K. Thompson Mrs. Constance Tran-Tsakiris Ms. Cathy Trask Ms. Sunni Turner Ms. Terri Turner Mr. and Mrs. Dan Tutcher Ms. Marie Vanderhider Mrs. Ann D. Vaughn VMware Foundation Ms. Gayle Waldman Ms. Courtney Walker Dr. Maria Walker Ms. Janice Warren Mr. and Mrs. Howard Webster Ms. Renee Webster Mr. and Mrs. Jon Weeks Wells Fargo - Community Support Campaign Mr. Lawrence J. West Western Horticultural Services Ms. Genevieve Whitworth Ms. Gretchen Wright 1 CHILD FOR 1 TO 30 DAYS Mrs. and Mrs. Jeffrey Aaron Mrs. Melissa Abel Ms. Madeleine Acosta-Morales Ms. Natasha Ahuja Albertson’s Albright Middle School Mr. Seth S. Allen, Esq. Ms. Dion Alley Allstate The Giving Campaign Ms. Ruth Alpert Mrs. Holly Alvis Ms. Christine Anderson Ms. Tori L. Anderson Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Antes Mr. and Mrs. Larry Aptekar Ms. Lindsay Arbour Mr. Marc Arguijo Mr. Jason Armstrong Mr. and Mrs. John Arnoldy Mrs. Joy M. Arrington Ms. Paloma Arrigunaga AT&T Ms. Lynda A. Aycock Mr. David Bailey Mrs. Melissa Baldwin Ms. Vera Balliet Ms. Marilu Ballina Ms. Joni Ballis Ms. Wendy Bantle Mr. Jesse Barge Mr. and Mrs. Rick Barnard Mr. Jose Barreda Ms. Julianne Bartlein Mr. Eric V. Bartz Ms. Adrienne Bash Ms. Nini Bekhradi Ms. Diana Bell
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Ms. Mary J Benson Ms. Andrea Berkman Ms. Karla Bermudez Ms. Lori Bethancourt Ms. Elissa R. Bird Ms. Joanna Bird Ms. Latreca Black Ms. Tiffany Black Ms. Kristin Blomquist Ms. Sheila Bodin Ms. Christine A. Boles Mrs. Blanca E. Bollom Ms. Christine Borvett Bracewell & Giuliani, L.L.P. Mr. Charles Brant Ms. Patricia R. Brice Ms. Diana Bridger Ms. Mavie Briones Ms. Marissa Britton Ms. Paula Britton Ms. Cathy Brock Ms. Sarah Brock Ms. Kathie Brooks Ms. Dana Brown Mrs. Farrah Brown Mr. Laurence R. Brown Mr. and Mrs. John Bryant Mr. Ken Burke Ms. Elisha Buster Mr. and Mrs. David Cabello Ms. Libby Cagle Mr. and Mrs. Rod Canion Ms. Carol Cantrell Ms. Cheryl Carbonara Ms. Molly Carnes Ms. Karen Case Mr. and Mrs. James M. Casey Mrs. Dolores Cavatore Ms. Tanya Chaney Mr. Walter Chavez Chipotle Ms. Andrea Christman Mrs. Mickie Clark Ms. Kaleigh Clunn Mrs. Mary Beth Cody Ms. Jessica Cohen Ms. Dawn Cole Mr. Rory Colgin ConocoPhillips Company Mr. and Mrs. John Cooper Mr. Russell Corgey Ms. Theresa Corgey Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Cotter Mr. and Mrs. M. H. Cron Ms. Linda Crosson Crown Castle International Corp. Ms. Michelle Cunningham Mr. and Mrs. Kirk Czirr Ms. Laura Daley Mr. William Daly Ms. Linda Dangerfield Mr. and Mrs. Marc Danile Mr. and Mrs. Arthlur Daum Ms. Melinda Davila Ms. Ashley Davis Mr. Josh Day
CHILD ADVOCATES
Ms. Karen De Geurin Ms. Mariella De Jong Ms. Gaby De Lara Mr. and Mrs. Eddy L. De Los Santos Mr. Carlo Dechiro Ms. Gabriela DeLaTorre Ms. Donna Denny Ms. Christin Dietze Ms. Kiki Dikmen Mr. and Mrs. Jack Dinerstein Mr. Farnaz Dini Ms. Elisha Divinity Mr. William D. Dodson Mr. and Mrs. William Dore Ms. Kirsty Downing Mr. and Mrs. Alan Drain Mrs. Missy Drinnen Pacha Mr. and Mrs. Stephen P. Droughton Dugey Insurance Agency, LLC Mr. and Mrs. Robert Dussler Mr. Walter C. Ebarb Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Eigler Ms. Eileen N. Elfezouaty Dr. Michael V. Epstein and Ms. Janice Poplack Ms. Carolina Escalona Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Eschbach Ms. Claudia Esquivel Etheria Salon & Spa Ms. Tracy Everist Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Evert Ms. Stephanie Facompre Ms. Maribel Farish Ms. Ashley N. Feldt Mr. Brian Fenn Ms. Tara Ferguson Mrs. Audrey Fersten Jerry and Nanette Finger Foundation Ms. Taylor FitzGerrell Ms. Lauren Fleming Ms. Linda Flesher Mr. Ryan Fletcher Mrs. Aimee Flood Ms. Ligia Flores Mrs. and Mrs. Marcos Flores Ms. Melissa Foster Mr. John Framel Mr. Ralph Frankowski Ms. Kendall Friday Ms. Kara Frost Mr. Ricardo Gaby Mr. Edmund Gaither Ms. Sandra Galvan Ms. Sonya M. Galvan Mr. and Mrs. Michael Gamson Mr. Henry Garcia Mr. Daniel L. Garrett Ms. Laura Garrett Ms. Lauren Geary Mr. and Mrs. Terrence Gee Mr. and Mrs. Pablo Geralnik Ms. Amber Giannoni Ms. Quanda H. Gill
Mr. Todd D. Gill Ms. Kristi Gillian Ms. Amy Glass Ms. Rachel Glass Ms. Robin Godfrey Mr. and Mrs. Kurt Goedecke Ms. Ruth E. Goldberg Mr. Andres Gonzalez Ms. Marcela Gonzalez Ms. Sharon Goodwin Mr. Shen Gorden Ms. Sherri Gordon Ms. Allison Gorsuch Mr. and Mrs. Mark Gottesman Ms. Whitney Gowan Mr. and Mrs. Michael G. Green Gregg & Valbly, LLP Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Gregory Mr. Charles Gregory Ms. Liz Gregoy Mr. and Mrs. David L. Gressett, Jr. Ms. Lauren Grossbard Mrs. Jennifer Grosvenor The Hon. Diane M. Guariglia Mrs. Dee Dee Guggenheim Mr. and Mrs. Narciso Gutierrez Ms. Lindsay Hagans Mr. and Mrs. Denny Hager Ms. Jacquelyne Hall Ms. Judy C. Hall Ms. Ann O. Halloran Ms. Erin P. Hamilton Mrs. Kendra Hammick Ms. Beka Hanawalt Ms. Lauren Hanks Mrs. Tara Hannan Mr. John Martinez and Ms. Paula B. Hansen Mrs. Megan Harkins Ms. Katie Harrington Harris County Community Services Department Ms. Beth Harrison Ms. Rhianna Hart Ms. Sherilyn S. Hartgrove Mr. and Mrs. Darrell Hartman Mr. Frank E. Hartung Dr. Madeira Hatcher Ms. Leslie Hattig Ms. Kay Hazelwood H-E-B Foods Ms. Holly Hebert Ms. Sara Heckel Mr. and Mrs Bretton Hern Mrs. Melissa M. Hernandez Mr. Troy Herrera Ms. Amber Hibbard Hilder and Associates Ms. Laura Hipps Mr. and Mrs. Richard Hite Ms. Haley Hollis Ms. Shannon Honer Mr. Daryl F. Hoover Ms. Beth Howard Mrs. Christine Howard Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Howell
Mrs. Katie Howell Mr. Georgie M. Hrdlicka Mrs. Shelia Hulme Huntsville Hospital Women’s & Children’s CRNA’s Mr. W. B. Huthnance Ms. Nancy Inbody J.C. Penney Company, Inc. Mr. Robin C. Jacobs Ms. Martha Jaimes Ms. Renee Janik JC Penney Ms. Kelli Jenks Ms. Melissa Jimenez Mr. Evan Johansen John Daugherty Realtors Mr. Buddy Johnson Mr. and Ms. Gary Johnson Ms. Kelly Johnson Mr. Jerome C. Jones Ms. Linda Jones Ms. Shelley Jones Mrs. Desiree Jones Urrutia Mrs. Vicsandra Jones Ms. Jennifer A. Jordan Dr. Amber Joseph Mr. and Mrs. Richard Josephson JP Morgan Chase Bank Ms. Melanie Juneau Ms. Brandee Jungers Mr. Edward A. Kampf Ms. Molly Ann Kaplan Mr. Matthew Katz Ms. Kelly Keeney Keller Williams Metropolitan Ms. Janice L. Kelly Mr. and Mrs. Scott Kelly Harris and Eliza Kempner Fund Mrs. Divyashree Kenche Mrs. Emma Kendrick Mr. and Mrs. John L. Keplinger Ms. Annabeth Kerlee Ms. Kathryn Keyzer Mrs. Susan Killman Mr. and Mrs. Dong Kim Mr. Edmund W. King Mr. and Mrs. James U. King, Jr. Ms. Keri King Ms. Trish King Ms. Jen Kirkpatrick Kiwanis Club of CyFair, Houston Ms. Katherine Koinis Mrs. and Mrs. Kenny Kolkhorst Mr. and Mrs. Craig Koontz Mr. A. B. Korsakov Miss Alina Kravchenko Kroger Food Stores Ms. Natalie J. Kurz Mr. and Mrs. John Ladd Ms. Cynthia Lam Ms. Tammy Lamp Ms. Loretta W. Lau Mr. and Mrs. Jim Lavine Ms. Coby Lazarine Ms. Alicia Lee
thanks DONORS Ms. Jane Lee Ms. Judy Lee Mr. and Mrs. William Leffler Ms. Tiffany Ley Mr. and Mrs. Mark Leyerle Ms. Judie Liles Mr. and Mrs. Henry H. Lindner Ms. Lauren Lindsay Mr. Tracy Llamado Mr. and Mrs. James R. Lloyd Ms Rachel Lochridge Lucky Tile, Inc. Ms. Kim Luong Mr. and Mrs. Kemp Maer, Jr. Ms. Carole MaFrige Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Magers Mr. and Mrs. Milton Magness Mr. Brian Mandell Ms. Pavithra Mani Ms. Debra Marfin Maria Segura Insurance Agency, LLC Ms. Anna Marquardt Mr. Jason Marsack Ms. Jacqueline S. Martin Mr. and Mrs. Ray Martin Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Martin Ms. Wendy Martin Mr. and Mrs. Ken Mathis Ms. Sally Matoke Mrs. Bridgett M. Matthes Mr. Ronnie Matthews Ms. Rebecca McCourt Ms. Lee Anne McGaha Ms. Margaret M. McGrane McKesson Foundation Ms. Lisa McLaughlin Ms. Stacy McNair Ms. Nishta Mehra Mr. and Mrs. Marcel Meijer Ms. Tisha Mesa Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Metcalf Mr. JT Mettetal Ms. Brenda Michalik Ms. Leticia L. Mijes Mr. Shay Mikeska Ms. Karen Miles Ms. Marcela Millan Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Miller Mr. and Mrs. Russell Miller Ms. Tracy Miller Ms. Stephanie Milne Mr. Jack Steltzer and Ms. Carole R. Minor
Ms. Angela Miranda-Clark Ms. Toni Ann Mistretta Dr. Romy Mitchell Ms. Carol C. Moffett Ms. Michelle H. Mondelli Mr. Sachiko Monge Mrs. Claire W. Montesino Mrs. Sandy Monzingo Ms. Janine Moore Mr. and Mrs. John Mooring Ms. Nikki Morris Ms. Michele Moss Ms. Ann Mossey Ms. Barbara M. Mourglia Ms. Judy Mousa Ms. Anne V. Mroksmith Miss Mia Mundy Ms. Jennifer Munoz Mr. Herbert Murcia Ms. Cheryl Murray Ms. Myra Muse Ms. Laura Nally Mr. and Mrs. David Nathan NextEra Energy Mr. Joseph Nguyen Ms. Julie Nickell Mr. Austin Northcutt Ms. Blair Nutting Ms. Mary Catherine Ogilvie Ms. Margaret Ortega Mr. Bruce Padilla Ms. Jodi Park Mr. Zack Parrish Ms. Kari Parsons Mr. and Mrs. John Pate Ms. Payal Patel Ms. Jennifer C. Patton Ms. Jill Pavlas Ms. Julie Peak Mr. Matt Peebles Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Perkins Ms. Judy Perrigin Ms. Debbie Perrin Mr. and Mrs. Henry Peterman Mr. and Ms. Gary R. Petersen Ms. Mai Phan Ms. Lisa Phillips Mr. Will Pickering Mrs Jessica Pierce Pierpont Communications, Inc. Ms. Suzanne Pittman Ms. Caroline Poarch Ms. Vanessa Polotzola Mr. Thomas Pool
Ms. Michelle Posey Ms. Dena Prasher Ms. Phyllis Prince Mr. David Proch Mr. Roliff Purrington Mrs. Kelly Pyle Mr. K Quackenbush Mrs. Nancy Quigg-Young Ms. Danielle Raibon Mr. Vishnu Rainigari Mr. and Mrs. Alan Ratterree Mr. James Reese Mr. Marshall Reid Mr. Rick Repnak Ms. Anna Reppert Mr. and Mrs. Davis B. Richardson Mr. and Mrs. Scot Richter Mr. and Mrs. William Rickert Mrs. Ellen W. Rienstra Ms. Heather Ringman Mr. and Mrs. Carl N. Roberts Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Robertson Ms. Gracemarie Rodden Mr. Desiderio Rodriguez Ms. Franelle Rogers Ms. Melissa Rootes Ms. Katherine Rose Ms. Shakeyra Ross Mr. and Mrs. Richard H. Rowe Mr. Kurt Rowley Mr. and Mrs. Michael Rubenstein Ms. Phoenix Rutherford Ms. Teresa Salinardo Mr. Hugo Sanchez Ms. Nicole Scanlin Mr. and Mrs. Craig A. Scharton Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Scherr Mr. and Mrs. John Schiller Ms. Courtney Schilling Mr. and Mrs. Brian P. Schultz Mr. and Mrs. Herb E. Schulze, Jr. Mr. David Schwan Mr. and Mrs. Michael Schwartzberg Mr. and Mrs. William M. Schwarz Mrs. Rebecca E. Schwinger Mr. Carroll Scott Ms. Audrey Selber Ms. Alexa Sendukas
Ms. Susan Serbin Ms. Familia Serna Service King Ms. Ana Shah Mr. and Mrs. Kirby Shanks Mr. and Mrs. Feisal Shariff Ms. Jessica Sharp Ms. Felisa Shead Mr. Jason Sheehan Dr. Sumor Sheppard Mr. Scott Shuman Ms. Sue E. Silvestri Mr. Jack Skagerberg Mrs. Angela Slaughter Mr. and Mrs. Todd Slobin Ms. Alana Smith Ms. Susan E. Smith-Snider Mrs. Lisa Smolen Ms. Stephanie Smucker Mr. Louis J. Smyth, III Ms. Sonia Soto Mr. Alfred Southerland St. Anne Catholic Church St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church Ms. Beth Stanley Ms. Tamara Steele Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Stiles Ms. Nancy Stillwell Mrs. Margaret Stone Ms. Sarah Streng Ms. Liz Strong Mr. Tom Lawerence and Ms. Theresa M. Strong Ms. Tanya Strum Ms. Jennise Stubbs Ms. Amy Suchadoll Dr. Mary Nell Suell Mr. and Mrs. Douglas W. Sullivan Mrs. Sarah E. Sutton Ms. Donna Swartwout Ms. Elizabeth Swift Mrs. Jamie A. Taft-Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Tal Ms. Germaine Tanner Mr. Andrew Taylor Mr. Grant Taylor Ms. Stephanie Taylor Ms. Lori Teague Ms. Katerina Tehlioran Ms. Mary Jo Terrell Ms. Sarah Terry Mr. and Mrs. James Thompson
Mr. and Mrs. Justin Thompson Ms. Karen Thompson Mr. Kenneth F. Thompson Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Thompson Ms. Jackie Tingle Mr. and Mrs. Frank Torma Ms. Antonia Torres Ms. Sanjuana Torres Mr. and Mrs. John Trimble Ms. Nancy Troxel Ms. Vancy Truong Mr. Javiera Tudela Mr. and Mrs. Jesse B. Tutor United Way of Central Ohio Mr. and Mrs. F. J. Ussery, Jr. Mrs. and Mr. Cathy Van Denover Mr. Ricky Vazquez Ms. Maria A. Verleg Ms. Marcia Vilas Mr. Orlando Villatoro Mrs. Robin Vitucci Miss Julie Voss Ms. Amanda Wait Ms. Stephanie Wales Mr. Daniel Walker Ms. Kate Walker Ms. Kathleen Walker Ms. Alison Watts Ms. Karen Weinberg Mr. and Mrs. Barry Weinberger Mr. Joshua Weiner Ms. Marissa Welch Mrs Cayla Welsh Mr. and Mrs. Travis West Wilkenfeld Speech Language And Learning Ms. Stacie-Marie Wilkins Ms. Raquel Williams Mr. and Mrs. Norman Wilson Mrs. Stacy Winkler Winograd Apps, LLC Mrs. Catherine Wintz Ms. Diana Wisdom Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Womack Ms. Sandy Wotz Ms. Jessica Wray Mr. Steve Wright Mrs. Cindy Wylie Mr. Rodney Yee Mr. John Zamadics Ms. Tammy Zarychta Mr. Steven Ziegler Mr. Alfred Zustovich
DOUBLE OR EVEN TRIPLE YOUR GIFT! Many companies participate in gift matching programs. Some companies will even match gifts made by retirees and spouses of employees. To find out if your company has a company matching gift policy, please visit: www.matchinggifts.com/childadvocates. For more information or for further questions, please contact Kelly at kelly.goff@childadvocates.org.
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board VOICE: Steven Wyatt Family man, oil executive, loyal Houstonian and go-getter could all be used to describe Steven Wyatt. Add to that list fierce Child Advocates supporter and board member. Steven is the father of two children, Ford and Catherine, who he considers the apples of his eye. His friends would call him a compassionate father with a huge heart. He believes wholeheartedly that children are our future and truly wants to help make the world a better place. Steven returned to the Bayou City just three years ago after working in the oil industry in Europe for nearly three decades. His love for Houston and the opportunities here runs deep. “I’m really proud to be a Houstonian and to carry on my family legacy here,” he said. “That’s why when I moved back I wanted to get more involved in the community, so I wanted to pick certain foundations or charities that I really believed in.” Steven learned about Child Advocates through his friend Keith Neal, whose wife, Kristi volunteers as a court appointed advocate. He became fascinated with the case she was working on and followed the story for months, always asking how the young child was doing. Finally, he asked to meet with Child Advocates. “In that first meeting we could tell how big of a heart Steve had,” Development Director Kelly Goff said. “He cares deeply about the work we are doing for the youth in our community and I think it really struck a chord for him that day, knowing that we were helping so many young children during a formative time in their lives. He’s been passionate about our mission ever since! He wants to help in any way he can, and he will. We are so fortunate to say we can always count on Steve.” Since joining our board of directors, Steven has served as a member of the Pull for Kids committee as our Pull for Kids shoot chair, and helped pave the way for expansion through our capacity campaign. Any new challenge that comes our way, he is ready to tackle it. As a Heroes Society member and a major sponsor for several of our large fundraising events, the generosity of Steven and his family’s foundation has positioned us to continue to grow, and to give a voice to the abused and neglected children in this city he loves so much. “Whenever you can create a smile, or happiness in a child’s life… it’s a great feeling. Child Advocates is the most favorite board I’ve ever served on,” he said.
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CHILD ADVOCATES
It is evident that Steven is excited to see what further impact he can make as a dedicated board member. His enthusiasm for Child Advocates is helping us get one step closer to our mission of breaking the cycle of child abuse. n written by Lauren Bair
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2017 ROYAL SONESTA HOUSTON GALLERIA For tickets and sponsorship information, contact Carlos Blandino at 713-529-1396
goals UPDATE CHILDREN SERVED
VOLUNTEERS TRAINED
1470 SERVED | GOAL: 2350 AS OF 05/17/2017
125 TRAINED | GOAL: 300 AS OF 05/17/2017
DOLLARS RAISED
1,290,649 RAISED | GOAL: $5,104,510 AS OF 04/30/2017
$
upcoming EVENTS July 15 YPC Water Day 29 YPC Summer Pub Crawl August 9 Advocacy University 19 Child Advocates Childspree
September TBD Chevron Houston Marathon ‘Run for a Reason’ Kick-off 6 Advocacy University October 4 Advocacy University 21 Superhero Run 28 Children’s Halloween Party
November 1 Advocacy University 19 Children’s Holiday Party December 5 - 13 Santa’s Wish List 5 Angels of Hope Luncheon & Fashion Presentation
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Advocate News is published twice annually by Child Advocates, Inc., Ashley Brockette, Editor. This newsletter is designed and published by Child Advocates, Inc. Houston, Texas 77098. All rights reserved. Any use of materials herein in any form including, but not limited to photocopying, transcribing, excerpting or any print or electronic reproduction for any purpose for any reason without prior written consent of the publisher is strictly prohibited. ©2016
thrive Four-year-old Amanda* and her older sister Alyssa* first met their advocate volunteer after CPS discovered that their mother was abusing drugs. The girls’ mom looked malnourished, and Alyssa mentioned that their home often lacked food. Both girls were placed with their paternal grandmother, and quickly settled in to a loving and comfortable home. Each month, Amanda and Alyssa would welcome a visit from their advocate volunteer, Kerry. He would bring toys to them and play games while he checked to make sure they were healthy and happy. Even though they missed their mom, and their living situation had changed, Amanda and Alyssa looked forward to seeing Kerry. Often Amanda could be found waiting at the door for him to arrive and Alyssa repeatedly invited him to eat lunch with her at school. Today, Amanda and Alyssa’s grandmother has full custody of them. They are picking out decorations for their bedrooms and never go to bed hungry. Thanks in part to Kerry and his dedication, Amanda and Alyssa are receiving the counseling and support they need to grow into beautiful young girls. *In some instances, names were changed to help protect parties of the story.
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CHILD ADVOCATES
Suzie Thomas TREASURER / FINANCE CHAIR
Mark Smith EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
David Baird Paul Grabowski Brad Robbins Frank Rynd Angie Sherrell David Winn
BOARD MEMBERS
Manu Asthana James Brodnax Rick Burnett Gill Cheesman Jane Dabney David Davis Phil Dyson K.K. Eschbach Caroline Finkelstein Terrence Gee Cherie Hassenflu Grace Holmes Dwayne Hyzak Florence Langford Brian Mandell Dana O’Brien Ron Orsini Joy Posoli Leslie Powell David Quackenbush Ellie Sweeney Dolly Dawson Thomas Nancy Thorington Shelly Washburn Milton West Steven Wyatt
Child Advocates mobilizes court appointed volunteers to break the vicious cycle of child abuse. We speak up for abused children who are lost in the system and guide them into safe environments where they can thrive.