Announcements
Texas Tornadoes Take 1st Place
Inter-Faith's "Texas Tornadoes" team once again participated in Houston Apartment Associations' annual softball tournament. There were a total of 35 teams competing in this year's event. Congratulations go out to the Texas Tornadoes who were able to hurdle themselves into 1st place this year and win the coveted industry title. This year's team consisted of: Annette D., Gregory D., Thomas D., Laura P., Israel D., Lucy D. and Adolofo C. Great job guys!
Simmons Foundation
Inter-Faith received a $10,000 grant from the Simmons Foundation for project support of the 2009-2010 Art After School program. This program is a collaboration with City ArtWorks and is being offered at 14 Houston-area sites. It consists of (2) nine-week programs that are offered one hour per week for the spring and fall semesters to coincide with the students' school year. Classes are offered at the apartments' community centers after children return from school. Participants are between the ages of 8-12 and must reside in the apartment community. The classes can hold up to 15 students each, therefore allowing this program to potentially impact up to 420 low-income children.
Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church
Inter-Faith has again been the recipient of another generous grant from Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church. A donation in the amount of $10,000 was granted in May of 2009 in support of the 2009 Good Neighbor Program at Brompton Square Apartments. Their support has taken this program to incredible levels and allows us to serve a multitude of individuals with a large variety of offerings. On average, we are able to provide ~150 hours/month and have an average of 35 students participate in after school programs daily. For the summer lunch program, there was attendance of 100-150 youth who were residents of the apartments or members of the surrounding community. In addition to their generous financial gifts, MDPC provides youth volunteers who are always actively involved with this property and donate countless hours for festival days and events as well as for planning and administering special events such as spaghetti dinner deliveries, Easter Egg-stravaganza and school supply fairs. We are able to do what we do because of their most generous support year after year.
United Way Community Building Grant
We are pleased to announce that Inter-Faith was chosen as one of the award recipients of the 2009 United Way Community Building Grant. We received a $5,000 grant to support the creation of an exercise and recreational "Garden Project" area at our 155 unit, low-income senior housing community, Beall Village Apartments. The project includes a gated park area with an exercise walking path, recreational gazebo and a garden area with flower beds. The project will be built with professionals and volunteer youth groups and will be maintained by staff, residents and volunteer youth from the African American Chamber of Commerce youth group, B'nai B'rith youth group and University of Houston Inter-fraternity Council. The purpose of the project is to create and expand a sense of community between these seniors and the youth groups in the area, as well as to encourage safe exercise for the seniors close to home coupled with new and innovative socialization areas for the residents. We are so appreciative of this award and look forward to sharing our Ribbon Cutting Ceremony date later in the year.
Chapelwood United Methodist Church
Inter-Faith has been awarded a generous donation of $5,000 from Chapelwood United Methodist Church - Serving Ministry Core Team to provide funds to purchase new computers and software for the youth computer lab at Brompton Square Apartments. With the help of our computer consultants/technicians, we were able to purchase (12) Dell computers, (12) 19" LCD flatpanel monitors, a networked printer and all necessary set-up and software. We are so thankful for the support from CUMC and the kids are so excited for the most needed upgrade to our community center at Brompton.
Epiphany of the Lord Catholic Community Outreach Ministry
Pastor, Fr. Jack Dinkins and the Epiphany of the Lord BINGO members presented Inter-Faith's "Good Neighbor Program" with a check of $500 to support the work at Lancaster Apartments in Katy, Texas. Congratulations to Ms. Walker for all the great work she performs at this location and many thanks for the continued support from the community.
Spirit of Giving
The 2008 Spirit of Giving campaign proved to be a very successful one. Though the economy and everyone's pocket books were strained, we were blessed again with many people who provided financial support of this worthwhile project. This year's theme was a good old "Comfort Basket," which included a Whole Foods earth-friendly shopping bag; flannel lap blanket; canned tuna, chicken and Spam; fruit juice 3-pack; pinwheels & snack cakes; 1 box of saltine crackers; holiday soup bowl; deck of large-print playing cards; large-print word search book; and a candy cane. We reached our goal and raised ~$3600, and were able to provide 273 baskets to all of our low-income senior residents living at 800 Heights, Beall Village and Pleasant Village. Thanks go out to all of the people who continue to support this project year after year...it just keeps getting better.
Operation Back 2 School
2008 was our first ever Operation Back 2 School event and it was a hit. The event was organized so that a portion of the families living in the Houston area properties we serve had an opportunity to receive at least the basic school supplies - the most expensive of those being the backpack. We were successful in receiving over $2,900 in financial contributions and $280 worth of new backpack donations from many generous donors and supporters of our mission. The project was completed in a three-week time frame. On such short notice, our supporters and contributors did not disappoint! A grand total of 466 backpacks were distributed during the last week in August. With the great success of our inaugural year, we hope to expand this program to encompass even more Houston-area properties.
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