to read the DePelchin Spring Newsletter!

SPRING 2016
DePelchin Children’s Center
Texas-Sized Love for the Texas Bowl
For the past ten years, DePelchin Children’s Center has been honored to be the official
charitable beneficiary of the AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl. Every December, as two teams from
the Big 12 and SEC meet at NRG Stadium to compete in the Texas Bowl, DePelchin gets a
front row seat to the action with player meet and greets and tickets to the big game. Since
its inception, the Bowl has donated more than $850,000 in financial support to DePelchin
with a record-breaking donation of $150,000 in 2014.
Meet and Greet With Players
DePelchin families are the big winners of the
Texas Bowl, getting the opportunity not only
to enjoy complimentary tickets to the game
but also to meet the players during team visits.
As part of their busy bowl week activities this
year, players from LSU and Texas Tech met up
with our children and families at the Children’s
Museum on December 27 for an afternoon of
autographs and picture-taking fun. New this
year was a scavenger hunt that teamed up our
children with players from each team to explore
the Children’s Museum together.
Just seeing the look on the kids’ faces
was amazing. Thank you! - W. Fitch
So much fun!
A big thank you
to all involved for
making this day special
for the kids.
You all made the kids feel like superstars!
They treasure their gifts, pictures, and most
importantly the memories you gave them. – N. Kelly
– H. Covington
inside
2 From the President
3 Saturday Night Lights
4 Family Portrait Day
5 New Year, New Name
5125th Anniversary Spotlight
6 Comerica Thanksgiving Art Contest Winners
6 Tie a Blue Ribbon and Prevent Child Abuse
7 Join Friends of DePelchin
7 Helping Parents Through HEAL Grant
2 | today
From the President
2016
kicked off an exciting new year at DePelchin Children’s Center as we completed our merger with Caring Family Network. The DePelchin name has now officially expanded state-wide to
Austin, San Antonio, Lubbock and Brownwood. Kezia DePelchin would be proud today to see the humble
orphanage she started in 1892 now meeting the needs of children and families across the state of Texas.
2015
was another year for the record books, and I would be remiss if I didn’t reflect on last year’s success, particularly during the month of December. On December 29, we were a part of the
record-breaking sell-out AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl featuring a match-up between the LSU Tigers and the Texas
Tech Red Raiders. As you saw on the cover and below, every year our families have the wonderful opportunity to
meet the players as well as attend the big game with more than 600 tickets being given to families and staff this
year. We continue to be thankful for this great partnership and the memories made at the Texas Bowl every year.
Another wonderful program that seems to grow larger each year is our annual Holiday Project. 13 days of Holiday Project brought smiles to the
faces of 1,235 children whose holiday wish lists were fulfilled. Many volunteers donated their time sorting and wrapping gifts, and more than
300 individuals, foundations and corporations participated in sponsoring children!
Over the course of 2015, we provided services to thousands of children and families across Texas. Because of your continued support, you helped
us finalize 83 adoptions in Houston and 76 adoptions state-wide, a record number for DePelchin. We hope to make 2016 another record breaking
year for finding forever families and turning lives around across the state of Texas.
We have come a long way from the day Kezia DePelchin took in three orphaned infant boys who needed a home, however we still must rely on
friends in our community to take care of these children. Thank you for continuing to support us and turn lives around every day.
Sincerely,
Jenifer Jarriel, MBA
President and CEO
Tickets to the Action
Thanks to donated tickets from the Bowl Backer
program, parents and children, many of whom
had never been to NRG stadium, experienced a
memorable evening of football fun!
Here is a photo of my little family at the
Texas bowl doing “guns up”. We had a great
time even though Texas Tech didn’t win!
- S. Williams
The whole event was a real class act. Thank you so much for
such wonderful experiences for our family. - K. Garcia
We all had a blast and most of all enjoyed some
much needed time together. Thank you!
– J. Lester
DEPELCHIN CHILDREN’S CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Officers of the Board
John C. Bass, Chairman Pam Brasseux, Chairman-elect Steve Cherek, Secretary Charles D. Powell,
Past Chairman
Board Members
Laura Bellows Efrain Bleiberg, M.D. Sean G. Boutros, M.D. Nancy I. Cook, Ph.D. Sue Nan Cutsinger Susan Distefano Anne S. Duncan
Stephen Dyer Henry S. Florsheim Kay Forbes Terry Gebert Gerald Gehm M. James Henderson Pam Holm
Debbi M. Johnstone
Pamela Lovett
Robbie Lowrey
Connelly McGreevy
Hannah McNair
John S. Moody, Jr.
Stewart Pisecco, Ph.D.
Carolyn Pope
Ben Raimer, M.D.
Lisa Stone
Tim Surratt
H. Richard Walton
W. Temple Webber III
Janeana White-Lewis, M.D.
Geraldina Interiano Wise
Don M. Woo
FOUNDATION AND TRUST
FOR DEPELCHIN
CHILDREN’S CENTER BOARD
Bob Paddock, Chairman
Charles Szalkowski, Vice Chair
Karey Dye
Russell Hawkins
Malcolm Lovett, Jr.
Flo McGee
Rahul Mehta
John E. Stokes
Harper B. Trammell
DEPELCHIN PSYCHIATRIC
SERVICES BOARD
Lindy Upton McGee, M.D., Chairman
Efrain Bleiberg, M.D.
Matthew Brams, M.D.
James S. Ezelle, Jr., M.D.
Sanjay J. Mathew, M.D.
spring 2016 | 3
Wins Big for DePelchin
DePelchin Children’s Center scored another winning touchdown at Houston Methodist Training Center/Texans
Practice Bubble on Saturday, November 21, for the third annual “Saturday Night Lights event.” Event honorees,
Jamey and Melissa Rootes, alongside more than 450 guests, enjoyed a night of football-themed fun, including
competing in the big board and live auction and dancing with the Houston Texans Cheerleaders. Gail and Willie
Richardson, who have fostered more than 50 children with DePelchin, were presented with DePelchin’s first-ever
Foster Parents of the Year award presented by the AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl. With more than $375,000 raised
to support DePelchin’s mental health, foster care and adoption services, event Co-Chairs Lindley and Jason
Arnoldy and Valerie and Tracy Dieterich were thrilled with the evening’s success!
4 | today
Family Portrait Day
November is National Adoption Month, and DePelchin was proud to have finalized 159 adoptions across the state of Texas in
2015. To celebrate adoption month, we honored these families at our first annual DePelchin Family Portrait Day, sponsored by
our friends at the Texas Bowl. In addition to enjoying refreshments, kid’s crafts and autographs from Gridiron Legends football
players, a local photographer, Dave Clements, generously donated his time to take each family’s portrait!
mily
can Fa
p
a
R
e
Th
The Guerrero
Family
The Parker Fam
ily
amily
The Sutton F
Jenifer Jarriel with Gridiron Legends
r Family
The Milline
The Madrigal
Family
The Flores
-McCoy Fa
mily
The Davis Family
Family
The Sapp
The Gallagher
Family
ily
The Holiday Fam
spring 2016 | 5
Caring Family Network is Now
DePelchin Children’s Center
Although Caring Family Network and DePelchin have been operating as one for four years, they have been seen publicly as two
different agencies with two different names. The name change signals that DePelchin Children’s Center is one state-wide entity
with offices in Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Lubbock and Brownwood. There are currently more than 30,000 children in the
state of Texas foster care system. There also are more than 6,000 children waiting to be adopted. DePelchin Children’s Center,
with its expanded presence and focused resources, will be able to more effectively recruit loving foster and adoptive families
and better meet the needs of children in its care.
LUBBOCK
2706 82nd Street I Lubbock, Texas 79423
Office: (806) 745-3222
BROWNWOOD
1812 Centre Creek Drive I Austin, Texas 78754
Office: (512) 719-3222
AUSTIN
HOUSTON
SAN ANTONIO
114 Early Blvd. I Early, Texas 76802
Office: (325) 646-3222
4204 Gardendale, Suite 301 I San Antonio, Texas 78229
Office: (210) 691-3222
125th Anniversary Spotlight
In 1892, a woman named Kezia Payne DePelchin relied only on her pioneering spirit
and faith in humanity when she accepted three orphaned children into her care.
Today, DePelchin Children’s Center is the leading center in Texas for children’s wellbeing, with a focus on mental health, foster care and adoption services. Our history
is rich in the Houston community, now expanding across Texas, and we are excited
to celebrate our 125th Anniversary in 2017.
I
n 1957, Victoria came into DePelchin’s
care with her sister Corrie when their
mother temporarily could not support them.
The sisters were sent to live with a wonderful
foster family in the country, where they learned
to milk cows and tie their own shoes. After
a year in the country, the sisters were sent
to live with the other children at DePelchin’s
main campus on Shepherd Drive (where the
organization still stands today). At that time,
children ages six years or older were grouped
together by age and gender in cottages
throughout the property, where they shared
meals, attended school and were cared for
by loving, supportive staff.
“It is important for me to never forget the kindness bestowed
on us that ultimately kept our family together,” Victoria said.
“Because of your super glue during our stay, my Mom met a wonderful
man whom she eventually married, and both he and his family adopted
us as his own. I am glad ours was a story with a good ending.”
If you have a DePelchin story you’d like to share, please email us at [email protected].
We’d love to hear from you!
Victoria and her sister Corrie
6 | today
Benefiting
T
his year marked the third annual Thanksgiving Art Contest sponsored by Comerica Bank for the children served by DePelchin. Children were
asked to submit an original drawing and a brief statement depicting “what I’m thankful for” for a chance to win up to $1,000 as the Grand Prize
Winners. The top three finalists in each category received a $500 savings account and were honored at a reception at the Junior League of Houston
on November 5 where the Grand Prize Winner in each category was announced.
Gunner
rs and under
Grand Prize Winner 6 yea
Julian
Grand Prize Winner 7–
10 years
Pam Lovett presents Jenifer Jarriel
with a donation from Comerica Bank
Christian
–14 years
Grand Prize Winner 11
Julie Anna
Grand Prize Winner 15
–18 years
TIE A BLUE RIBBON AND HELP PREVENT CHILD ABUSE
I
n 1989, the Blue Ribbon Campaign to Prevent Child Abuse began as a Virginia grandmother’s
tribute to her grandson who died as a result of abuse. She tied a blue ribbon to the antenna of
her car as a way to remember him and to alert her community to the tragedy of child abuse (blue
symbolizing the ‘black and blue’ bruises of child abuse).
Each year during Child Abuse Prevention Month, DePelchin has asked the community to stand
with the victims of child abuse in Harris County by tying blue ribbons to its fence line along
Memorial Drive. This year, DePelchin is issuing the same challenge: help us tie a blue ribbon in
recognition of every child who cannot speak for themselves. Starting April 5, we will begin tying
6,360 blue ribbons along our fence line to give voice to the 6,360 victims of child abuse in 2015.
If you, your family or your
organization would like to
join us and tie blue ribbons
throughout the month of April,
please contact Analisa Warren,
Manager of Public Relations,
at [email protected].
spring 2016 | 7
JOIN FRIENDS OF DEPELCHIN
F
riends of DePelchin members enjoyed an evening of festive fall revelry at their
annual carnival on October 22 at TAPS House of Beer. There were happy
hour drink specials, free appetizers, a silent auction and a corn hole tournament
for members to enjoy.
Friends of DePelchin is a group of young professionals who are committed to
supporting DePelchin’s mission through community awareness, philanthropy
and volunteerism. The funds raised by Friends of DePelchin, through membership
and events, directly support the core programs and services of DePelchin
Children’s Center. This group also organizes networking opportunities, two
annual fundraisers and unique volunteer opportunities.
If you are a young professional in the Houston area or know
someone who is, please consider becoming a member by contacting
[email protected] or follow us on Facebook!
Friends of DePelchin Board Members
friends
OF DEPELCHIN CHILDREN’S CENTER
DEPELCHIN HELPS PARENTS BE PARENTS
THROUGH HEAL GRANT
I
n September of 2014, DePelchin Children’s Center was awarded a
state grant to provide parent education targeting families in the Greater
Houston area at high risk of abuse and neglect. The HEAL (Home visiting,
Education, And Leadership) program offers no fee individualized parent
education and skills training in a home visitation model and utilizes
Triple P (Positive Parenting Program). The services are offered in English
and Spanish.
“We’ve seen children go from tantrums to talking, and
parents from feeling like they want to give-up to being
happily engaged with their children, all in a matter of
months,” said Meredith Rose, Program Coordinator for
the HEAL project. “We are also fortunate to have additional
funds with the project that enable us to provide families
in need with essential items like car seats or cribs.”
The program has served more than 100 families in our community.
DePelchin Children’s Center
Non-Profit Org.
US Postage
PAID
Houston, TX
Permit No. 3601
4950 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77007
2016 Annual Luncheon:
Families for Kids
Join DePelchin Children’s Center on Thursday, April 28, 2016, at the new
Hyatt Regency Galleria for our Families for Kids luncheon. This year’s event
will honor Pat and Tom Powers who have been serving DePelchin through their
leadership, philanthropy and genuine love for the vulnerable children in our care
for more than 25 years! In addition to recognizing the Powers’ commitment to
DePelchin, Families for Kids will raise funds to help children find loving families
and help strengthen the ties that bind. Attendees will also hear from Steve
Pemberton, child advocate and author of A Chance in the World, who will
share his inspiring story of triumph over adversity. For table and ticket information,
please visit www.depelchin.org/luncheon or contact us at 713-802-6245 or
[email protected].
OUR VISION
We envision a world in which every child is safe and healthy.
OUR MISSION
We strengthen the lives of children by enhancing their mental health and
physical well-being.
DePelchin Children’s Center is the leading center in Texas for children’s well-being, with a focus on mental
health, foster care and adoption services. For more than 120 years, DePelchin has been turning lives around
with comprehensive care for children, including psychiatric services, counseling, programs for at-risk youths,
parent education, residential treatment, foster care and adoption. DePelchin is a not-for-profit organization and
gratefully receives its support from individuals, foundations and corporations; government grants and fees; and
United Way agencies. Visit www.depelchin.org to learn more.
Today is published by DePelchin Children’s Center. Copyright 2016 DePelchin Children’s Center. All rights reserved.
Dixie Mullins – Senior Vice President, Advancement
Mary Kristen Valentine – Director, Marketing and Public Relations
Analisa Warren – Writer, Photography
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