Raise the Boot & Santa Sacks Success

This weekend Communities In Schools Houston (CIS) held its Third Annual "Raise the Boot" Drive with the help of the Community Volunteer Fire Department. The fundraiser took place from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2008 at the intersection of Bellaire Blvd. & Hwy. 6.

With the help of this fundraiser, CIS was able to raise more than $11,000 to provide gifts for over 750 at-risk youth in the Alief ISD area. CIS could not have done it without the help of our volunteers. There were close to 40 fire fighters and nine CIS staff to help with donations. CIS would also like to acknowledge the following for their support: Nicole Broadhurst and the Domino's Pizza on Bellaire for donating 10 pizzas for the VFD lunch, DiMassi's Mediterranean Buffet on Bellaire and Hwy 6 for donating to the VFD Raise the Boot Drive and to all the people passing by that day that donated.

Also thanks to everyone that made a donation to Santa Sacks, CIS was able to make their goal of providing over 2,000 students with at least one gift this holiday season. A special thanks to American Art Resources, Paul Friedman, M.D. and Nancy Flores, Lowes, The Platform Group Gallery, and Pat Sullivan and his group.

by - Heather Martin, Development Associate

Campaign for a White House Office on Children and Youth

The children of today are the future of tomorrow! It is very important that children have someone to guide them and prepare them for life. The mission of Communities In Schools Houston (CIS) is to help kids stay in school and prepare for life. It is time for others to get involved in supporting our nation's young people because their future is your future too.

Last week, Connect for Kids (CFK) had a special edition newsletter that raised the question of what will the transition of the new president mean for children and youth. This edition discussed an effort to ensure that children and youth issues remain a focal point of the new administration. This effort is called a White House Office for Children and Youth.

You can learn more about this initiative by going to http://whitehouseofficeonchildrenandyouth.org/.

by - Heather Martin, Development Associate

Third Annual "Raise the Boot" Drive

This year Communities In Schools Houston (CIS) is teaming up with the Community Volunteer Fire Department (CVFD) for the Third Annual "Raise the Boot" Drive fundraiser. This fundraiser supports CIS' 11th Annual Santa Sacks project, which provides more than 2,000 at-risk CIS students with at least one gift for the holidays.

CIS and CVFD staff will be at the intersection of Highway 6 & Bellaire Blvd taking donations this Saturday, Dec. 13 from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Every year, thousands of children in the Houston area do not receive anything during the holiday season. The goal of the “Raise the Boot” drive is to help reach CIS’ goal of providing over 2,000 students with gifts.

We hope that everyone will come out and support CIS and the kids of Houston!



by - Heather Martin, Development Associate

Holiday Card Winners

This year, Communities In Schools Houston (CIS) decided to host a holiday card contest. The contest was open to elementary, middle and high school CIS students. We picked one elementary, one middle and one high school student as our winners. Winners received a $25 gift card and their art was made into our annual CIS Holiday Card which gets sent out to over 500 partners. The winners can also be found on http://www.cantdoitalone.org/, CIS' MySpace & Facebook pages.

Congratulations to the following winners:

Artwork by Dulce, Edgewood Elementary, Kindergarten

Artwork by Wilbert, M.R. Wood Alternative School, 6th Grade

Artwork by Jeremiah, M.R. Wood Alternative School, 11th Grade

Still Struggling Three Years After Storm

There was an article in The New York Times last week that discussed that there are still a lot of children who are Hurricane Katrina victims that lack stability in their lives. The article discusses how these children are behind in school and really need a lot of help. To view this article, click the following link, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/05/us/05trailer.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&ei=5070&emc=eta1.


In 2006 Communities In Schools Houston (CIS) announced its involvement in Houston's Kids, a project that addresses Houston’s need for quality out-of-school time programs/activities, a need that grew significantly in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, when approximately 20,000 displaced students enrolled in Houston area schools.


CIS provides the summer job/intern program for high school students which trains them in job readiness skills—such as resume writing, job searching and professional etiquette—and provides an internship or job placement that includes above minimum wage salary. CIS staff also coordinates the middle school stipend program, through which students are eligible to participate in an incentive program that provides a stipend for achievement in their summer school coursework and attendance and participation in the programs provided. Elementary and Middle school students participate in YMCA Day Camp, which includes field trips and programming from the Houston Children’s Museum and the Houston Parks and Recreation Department.

CIS Social Service Coordinators, available at each Houston’s Kids summer program site, serve as the referral person at the campus to perform intake with evacuee students and families to assess their basic needs. The Social Service Coordinators assist students and their families with basic and emergency needs, provide referrals to other community resources, and promote community-building activities that involve both evacuees and existing students, in order to support community building.


Are you still working with evacuee students, and how are they doing?


by - Heather Martin, Development Associate

No Place For Hate

Imagine what the world would be like if there wasn't any discrimination. Is it possible to live in a world where hate didn't exist? It would be nice to see children/teens be able to go to school and not be discriminated against because of their race, gender or just because they are a little different.

Because we believe there is no place for hate in this world, Communities In Schools Houston (CIS) is a part of Community of Respect, a No Place for Hate program of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). The Community of Respect program provides the tools and resources to help individuals and organizations fight prejudices, bigotry, discrimination, and engender respect and appreciation for diversity.

By being a part of this program, you have to complete three or more activities that embrace diversity. Today the CIS central office is having a diversity potluck where coworkers bring a dish and some information to share about the origin their families came from. To find out more information on how you can become a Community of Respect, click or go to http://regions.adl.org/southwest/programs/become-a-community-of-respect.html.

Heather Martin

The Holiday of Sharing

With the holiday season here, you find people wanting to share the holiday spirit. This time of year you see people doing nice things for one another and making sure no one goes without.


That's what is so wonderful about this season. It truly is the season of giving and sharing. This year H-E-B is sharing its holiday spirit by hosting the 3rd Annual Feast of Sharing. This event makes it possible for Greater Houston residents to enjoy a free holiday meal and live entertainment. With the help of hundreds of H-E-B and community volunteers, more than 7,000 meals will be prepared.


This event takes place between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2008 at the George R. Brown Convention Center-Hall A. Not only will attendees receive a free meal, but a full evening of fun will be at hand, with a Winter Wonderland, featuring children's activities and crafts; a visit from Santa Claus; and live on-stage entertainment.


What are you doing today to share the holiday spirit with others?