Boys and Girls Country Holiday 2010 Newsletter

Boys and Girls Country NewsVolume 39, Issue 4, Holiday 2010

18806 Roberts Road Hockley, Texas 77447

(281) 351-4976 Fax: (281) 351-4978

[email protected]

Inside...Pages 2-3Message from the

Executive DirectorMrs. Robinson and the

Banjo BandYou're Invited to A Vision

for Children!

Page 4Thank you for a

successful Heritage Award Dinner!

Page 5Fun with the Astros, the

Texans, and more!

Page 6MemorialsDec. 3-5: Take a home

tour to benefi t our kids!

Page 7HonorariumsThank you to our friends!

Plus:Taekwon-do

sponsors needed! (page 7)

Page 8How you can help this

holiday season!Holiday Wish List!

We have many friends to thank, including Vickie Borchgardt, Cody Dennison, Lori Eaheman, Michele Hyde, Scott Jones, Becky Nesbitt, the Owens family, Redmon Heating and Cooling, Chuck and Rita Scianna of Sim-Tex, L.P., Paul Shollar and his family, and the Waller County Fair Association. Hemi's success at the world championship was only possible with help from Mike Bishop, Branded Western Wear, Nancy Cahill, Cavender's Boot City, Nancy Coyle, Houston Horse Council, Dawn Forrest, Michele Grice, Brad Jewett, Melsa Maher, Gretchen Mathes, Billy Nelson, Carey Nowacek, Sim-Tex, Jason Smith, Texas Quarter Horse Association, Michelle Tidwell, Ava Urbanovsky, Waller Horse Council, and Stacey and David Young.

Waller County Fair!Our kids rounded up the awards at the Waller County Fair this year! Hemi, Nicholas, and Tiffany won in the calf scramble, and Nicholas won a belt buckle for getting over the line fi rst! Hemi and Hannah Br. raised the Grand Champion fi lly, and Hemi won the Horseman Award. (Hemi's yearling gelding also placed 12th at the American Quarter Horse Youth Association World Championship Show this past summer!) John won 1st in showmanship and 2nd in weight class for his heifer, Helen won 4th in her weight class for goats, Hannah Bu. won 12th in rabbits and 4th in senior showmanship, and Brittani took 5th in senior showmanship. Twelve kids had animals qualify for the auction, including the fi lly, heifer, rabbits raised by Brittani, Denisha, Haley, and Hannah Bu.; and goats raised by Ashton, Helen, Jared, Rhonda, and Tiffany.

Visit us online at www.boysandgirlscountry.org!

Donate Online!

www.boysandgirlscountry.org

facebook.com/boysandgirlscountry

Message from the Executive Director

A Vision for ChildrenYou’re invited to take a tour of our Home and learn more about the children we serve – and how your support helps us to raise them. Bring only an open heart and a friend.

Everyone is welcome! You do not need to RSVP, but if you would like for us to know you’re coming, please visit our website at www.boysandgirlscountry.org and click on "Register Now". You can also fi nd future Vision for Children dates on the site under “Events”.

We’d like to host at least 10 people at each of our upcoming sessions:

Saturday, January 8Saturday, February 5

10:00-11:00 am.

There are two things I should state right from the start. Number one, we love our kids! And number two, we are all very excited about the year 2011 at Boys and Girls Country! Of course, we’re very excited about each and every day here! I sometimes marvel at my fortune in being involved in a program that has such beautiful and interesting children, such broad based support, such faithful donors and such a dedicated Board and staff. Sometimes you hear people say “I’d rather be lucky than smart” and I always thought, if given a choice, why not try to be both? At any rate, I’m thankful to be a part of this amazing family!

Our seniors moved to the College and Career Program and we rewarded their Teaching Parents, who had taught, nurtured, loved and guided these children over the past few years towards their graduation, with brand new kids, all on the fi rst, raw step of their new journey! Somehow that never seems like a proper thank you to our Teaching Parents for a job well done, but our staff members take a deep breath and start all over again with the same passion they had on their fi rst day. They know in their hearts that you cannot go back and make a new start in a child’s life, but we can start right now, to make a new ending. How privileged we are to be able to do that!

I’m not sure if it’s me just getting older, but the summer seemed to fl y by! When I was a kid, summer seemed to last forever. This one set a record for speedy passage, right from the close of the school year. I asked the kids about that and they said it fl ew by for them also. I know we were blessed with many activities (including our education labs and the teaching at home!) and I felt the kids were busy, but also enriched. Thank you!

As you know from that last school year, our kids ended up with a 3.12 grade-point average! We were so pleased! As the new school year got underway, we felt a sense of anxiety, as we became our own “tough act to follow”! The fi rst six weeks of school shot by and before we knew it, our mailbox was stuffed with envelopes from Waller ISD. One by one, our Education staff opened the envelopes, hoping our best efforts paid off. As I could hear their near constant, positive exclamations drift towards my offi ce, I was relieved that our kids, Teaching Parents and Education staff had done it again! Despite the new children that arrived over the summer, we ended up with a 3.06 grade-point average for our fi rst 6-week grading period! When you start from there, the sky is the limit!

Now, back to our excitement over the year 2011. Boys and Girls Country was started in 1971. That means that next year we celebrate our 40th Anniversary! In anticipation of the event, I have been in contact with former and fi rst Executive Director, Brother Jack Brewer, mostly by U.S. Post Offi ce “snail” mail. I have also been in contact with former and third Executive Director, Ms. Shirley Wright, by e-mail. (As an aside here, I have to admit, that our kids think e-mail is “snail” mail! They are masters at ‘instant” texting and one of our young men can talk to you while texting others at an amazing rate and without looking! He set the text records for one month while I have consistently set the record for “least texts” for the month. When I do text, it’s almost always “OK” or “no”.) Anyway, we are planning a series of special events for the remarkable 40th Anniversary with one of them being the former Directors and myself co-writing next year's newsletter columns in a “Then and Now” fashion with some great “Then and Now” pictures! What a journey of progress our founders have sent us on!

The great psychiatrist, researcher and founder of the Menninger Clinic, Karl Menninger taught us, “What’s done to children, they will do to society”. Understanding the importance of spirituality and education for our kids is a crucial cornerstone of our program. I have a letter signed by our founder, T. A. “Tom” Robinson, hanging in a frame in my offi ce where Mr. Robinson discusses the importance of kids leaving our program with “a strong, dedicated” spiritual foundation. If every child had strong morals, a strong spirituality and a great education, can you imagine how our society might benefi t?

One of my favorite times over the last few months happened on a beautiful fall Sunday in early October. On that day, Mrs. Jean Robinson, wife of founder Tom Robinson, invited the entire campus to the Houston Country Club for dinner and a special performance by Buddy Griffi n’s “All Stars Banjo Band”! (The band is composed solely of children.) As much fun as that was, the special treat for me was to get to spend some time with “Ms. Jean”. Forty years ago, she named our organization and knelt on the ground and planted tiny oak saplings with her bare hands that are now the beautiful, mature oak trees on our campus! I got to the

Country Club early to try and help a bit, but Ms. Jean had it all under control. She then set her chair right by the door and greeted each and every child and staff member as they entered. I imagined what it must have felt like to have started a program 40 years ago and to be able to still hug the kids in that program today. All of us age, but the kids in our program never do. We had children 40 years ago, we have children today and we’ll have children 40 years from now. We all enjoy Ms. Jean! She is such a generous, special lady!

Right: With Jean Robinson, wife of our founder Tom Robinson, at a performance of the All Stars Banjo Band, organized by Jean to share their love of "happy banjos" with our children!

One of the traditions our residential staff have kept alive and nurtured is group “Parent Meetings”. Every few months, on a Saturday afternoon, we invite the kids' parents to all come and visit over snacks in our Community Life Building. Our residential staff talks about the program, the rules we have and how we approach homework. The parents often share with each other about how diffi cult it is to realize that sometimes, the best thing you can do for your child is to entrust them into the care of others. Occasionally, the kids have even “presented” to the parents about their life here. At the end of the meeting, the families have dinner together and get to enjoy some precious time. I often think if our friends and supporters could sit and observe one of those meetings, they would know why I often state, “Miracles happen here, every day”.

We ended the fall as we always do, with the Heritage Award Dinner. One of the fi rst few Board Members I met was Mike Gatewood, and this year we honored Mike and Cindy, his wife of 36 years, at our evening dinner. For nearly 10 years Mike has served on our Board and he was the Chairman who offered the Executive Director position to me. In the months that I have known him, I’ve learned that Mike is humble, shying away from praise and putting the needs of the organization forward as the only story he wants to tell. Mike is a great example of the kind of quality human beings we have on our Board. That Board partners with all of our donors and supporters to bring hope to our kids and their families. Is there a greater gift than giving hope to others?

The kids are so excited about the holidays! The traditions and the spirit of the season are both comforting and joyous. And of course, they love the gifts! Each year, we encourage all the children to ponder the thought, that “the best gift is not the one you get, but the one you give”. Each of you gives “joyful life” to Boys and Girls Country. Without your support, it is only a concept with a clever name attached. You are the people who set the stage, to make “Miracles happen here, every day”. How noble for you to support this, without having actually seen those miracles. You are truly people of faith and you shall be rewarded in the most powerful way.

We wish you the best of the holiday season!

Lou Palma

The All Stars Banjo Band was in full swing at the Houston Country Club, and our kids loved every minute of it! Right:

Meadow was invited on stage by band director Buddy Griffi n, an inductee of the National Four-String Banjo Hall of Fame!

Our November 3rd Heritage Award Dinner was a great success! We honored Mike and Cindy Gatewood for their dedication to our children...and capped off the evening with great entertainment from comedian Frank Caliendo! We are grateful to all of you who attended...bid in the auctions...and made pledges of support for our children that evening. We are especially grateful to the generous underwriters who made the event possible! Leticia Trauber (right), Chair of the Heritage Award Dinner Committee, with honorees Cindy and Mike Gatewood

HERITAGE AWARD DINNER

DiamondGatewood Family FoundationA Friend of Boys and Girls

Country

EmeraldPenny and Paul LoydCitigroup/Leticia and Steve

Trauber

PlatinumPatrick and Katrin CasserlyKelly Gene Cook, Sr. Charitable

FoundationRodney and NaDean EadsEl Paso Corporation/J. R. and

Susan SultBob and Helen Howard/Jack and

Carolyn LittleTaylor and Paige KellyNational Oilwell VarcoPride InternationalMark and Nancy RovenstineSeahawk DrillingChuck and Rita Scianna/Sim-

Tex, L.P.Nathan and Kristen StedhamLeticia and Steve TrauberJoe and Elma VaughanWoodforest National Bank

GoldAdministaffThe Bowers FoundationThe Kirk Edwards Foundation/

The Sullivan FamilyErnst & Young LLPFMC TechnologiesKPMG LLPLoyd Family FoundationMarathon Oil CorporationNoble CorporationLarry and Brenda Petru FamilyTrenegy Incorporated

SilverApache CorporationBarclays CapitalCredit SuisseDevon Energy CorporationA Friend of Boys and Girls

CountryScott and Katherine GallowayGrant Thornton LLPRandy and Tracy Hale/CCS

Presentation SystemsHTK Consultants, Inc.Paul Johnson/Paul Carter JewelsLatham & Watkins LLPLight Charitable Trust/Susan

LawhonMr. and Mrs. Michael M.

LowtherMcDermott International, Inc.Morgan Stanley/Brian and

Elisabeth McCabeRBC Capital MarketsKaren and Frank RosalesRowan Companies, Inc.Dick ScottSouthwestern EnergyRandy and Sandy StilleyCynthia and Mac WalkerMichael Wasserman, David

Greenberg, Ken Mathis, and Robbie Segler

Scott and Loraine WegmannWells Fargo BankJohn L. Wortham & Son, L.P.

BronzeLeslie Alexander and The Houston

RocketsAmerCable, IncorporatedAndrews Kurth LLPBank of America Merrill LynchThe Brock GroupGeorge and LuAnn DamirisDeloitteRyan and Keri DesAutelsRonnie and Lynn DeyoENGlobal CorporationFulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.Goldman SachsSmith & Christine Howland/Nisseki

ChemicalIBC Bank/Craig and Elizabeth BunkKey EnergyHerb and Cheryl ListenLockton Marine & EnergySheila Lyon InteriorsMethodist Willowbrook HospitalMidway FoundationMirand Response SystemsNeos Marketing, LPNew DirectionsOceaneering International, Inc.Greg and Cynthia PappasPatterson & Sheridan, LLPElaine and Dick Petranek/Carolyn

and Steve MafrigePinnacle Financial Strategies

FoundationRigNet, Inc.Matthew and Elizabeth Rotan

Bronze (cont'd) The Roten FamilyRottet Studio, Debner & Company

and Harvey BuildersMike Rutledge/Locke Lord Bissell

Liddell LLPFayez Sarofi m & Co.SCF PartnersSimmons & Co.Tidewater, Inc.Jim and Leigh TomfordeTransCanada CorporationUSA Compression Partners, LLCVaughan Nelson Investment

ManagementWalter Oil & Gas CorporationPete and Marilyn WardenburgRichard L. Wynne/Porter & Hedges,

L.L.P.

DonationsJ. Murry BowdenCytex PlasticsTilman and Paige FertittaJames B. and Wendy K. FryfoglePhil and Sara HawkRandy and Carol LimbacherMcGriff, Seibels & Williams, Inc.Gary R. PetersenTommy and Isla RecklingMrs. T. A. Robinson, Jr.Scurlock FoundationTaste of Texas Restaurant

Special Thanks To:Neos MarketingTexas Business Theatre

Below: The Heritage singers with a musical tribute to Mike and Cindy...Harley gave our invocation...and Alexandra shared the story of how Boys and Girls Country changed her life

Fun and Games!

Messiah Lutheran Church (above) and the Salem Lutheran Church Youth Group (below) held "Fun Days" for our kids, fi lled with games, great food, all kinds of fun...and terrifi c company!

Thank you to the Cypress Springs High School cosmetology students (above) who gave our kids great haircuts...and to Nikki Germenis and Maria Sopher of Girl Scout Troop 5070, who coordinated a fashion show for our youngest girls so they could show off their cute new haircuts!

We've been working hard in school this fall...but thanks to our friends, we still make time for lots of fun! Left: As part of the Houston Texans community outreach program TACT (Texans All Community Team), our kids were chosen by tight end James Casey to be "Casey's Cannons!" We cheer on the team at all home games, and even greet the players as they go out on the

fi eld! Thank you to James and the Texans for this amazing opportunity! Below: Director of Development Elaine Petranek with the Astros' Tommy Manzella and Hunter Pence at the Texas Italian American Sports Foundation, which made a donation for each home run hit by Tommy, Hunter, and Lance Berkman during the fi rst half of the 2010 season! Thank you!

In Memory Of Received July 16, 2010 - October 9, 2010

You can make your next tribute gift securely online at www.boysandgirlscountry.org. Click on "Donate Now!"

Dr. Joseph AinsworthGeorge & Caroline PolkRuth BakerEdgar & Carolyn ReevesMay Ola BedwellElizabeth LloydFayrene BingArlys BingElaine BrewerKen & Nancy DavenportCharles W. “Charlie”

BrownBarbara BrownOllie D. BrownVictoria Blanks & Paul

PryzantGeorge BuckoEdgar & Carolyn ReevesMaxine Cole BurdineJohn & Cynthia BirdsongDuncan ButlerBill & Tita PaddockBessie F. CampBetty BellNorman & Jeannine

BeveridgeDennis & Wilma ButlerTeresa & Robert Camp &

boysDoris CunninghamLois DavisDouglas & Kathryn

DemossJanel GillespieRosemary GoldbergJackie HaynesJon Corbell & AssociatesDeva Nell KilpatrickJohn & Cynthia Kinzer

Bessie F. Camp (cont'd) Nelda LineberryClydell MayPatricia MooreCharles & Frances NolenErma Reasoner & Laura

Reasoner-WhiteRichard & Patti Fox

SindelarDr. & Mrs. Alfred SmithBeverly & Dave Sufi anHerman WooRhonda CasalinoMr. & Mrs. W.H. SentesiBetty ChallenderFern BasdenLeonard ChambersSammye ValkChuck CuzmankoDon & Betty Belle

DawsonW.O. (Pete) EdgarMarilyn & Richard

VandergriffShirley FlanaganJim & Ruby BloodworthEston FontenotRyan & Joanne PittmanJohn B. FoutsRyan & Joanne PittmanPeter GannonJohn & Cynthia BirdsongRobert GillenMelvin & Jo Ann BeardJoe GrubsNan & Brick ThompsonRussell GumShawn & Jeri Neely

Lew Wayne HarpoldJack & Carolyn LittleJot H. Hodges, Jr.Edgar & Carolyn ReevesIla HoseaGeorge & Caroline PolkHilda Rose HurstGeorge & Caroline PolkReba IrwinVirginia Crowson Father of Steve JamesBaker & Penny McAdamsGeorgiana JoinerCharles & LaDonn NelsonMr. Alcie JonesRussell & Leanna HydeDr. Zwaine LamarMax & Cindy KoeslerMinerva Marie

LawrenceDouglas HagerEdward MacAllisterFern BasdenRonnie MathisMr. & Mrs. A.C. von

MindenVelma MatthewsJo Ann & Pat HarrisScott McKinneyCris & Margie CriswellJimmie MeadowsGene & Katie RoarkRachel MeltonThe Nelson Udstuen

FamilyGrace MidloNoelene & Ralph Birkelo

Lon MitchellPaul EnglishF.R. & Lois ForemanLoretta KunkelFrank MockMarilyn & Pete

WardenburgChristian MohnJeryl & Vicki MohnBill MooreDonna MooreRay & Sandy MurphyPatrick KulwickiKathleen NelsonA.A. BrautigamHusband of Mary Ann

PenningtonDoris O’ReillyFred PooleJim & Ruby BloodworthRussell PryorHugh & Lou BrantleyJim RabonGeorge & Caroline PolkJoe ReynoldsMr. & Mrs. Roy PaulEd RobertsTom & Mary BrandtWillie & Orca WillhelmMrs. Phyllis Ann RollinsFlorence AberciaMarilyn JehleClydean & Kenneth

NorrisAlleta RauTom & Patsy PattersonLiz SargentDonna GlaserLealon Sargent

“Nanny” SchaefferArlys BingHeath SchielackMr. & Mrs. A.C. Von

MindenEdward SchubertAlbert & Jeanette PittmanMark ScottDorothy AspiazuLynn BarronSheryl BeattyDarlene BorgBeverley CheathamSharon CooperKay FlemingTheresa GouldKay GuidryBarbara KellyAnn MallekLori MaySharon McNeilJan RobermanSue SullivanJane UllrichStephanie WilkinsonCarolyn SharberDonna RiderHaskell SheltonCarolyn & Jack BrewerAnnie B. ToweryTalbot CooleyBillie Van MartinCharles CraneFrank A. WaltersElizabeth Walters KrohnBillie WashingtonBill & Tita PaddockMr. O.J. WeberBill & Tita PaddockFred WinterAlex & Donna MairFarrile YoungBill & Tita Paddock

Includes gift(s) made to the Boys and Girls Country Endowment Fund

December 3rd-5th: Take a wonderful holiday home tour and help our children! Take a tour of four beautiful homes in River Oaks and Tanglewood, decorated for the season by professional fl oral designers, through the The Kappa Kappa Gamma Holiday Pilgrimage 2010! Proceeds will benefi t a number of charitable programs in the Houston area, including our apprentice program, which teaches our young teens the basics of fi nding and maintaining a job! Tickets are just $20 in advance or $25 at the door, and can be purchased in advance at various retail locations, including Bering's, Central Market on Westheimer, Cornelius Nursery, Rice Epicurean Markets, and River Oaks Plant House.

For details, call Elaine Petranek at 281-351-4976 extension 219 or email her at [email protected].

In Honor Of Received July 16, 2010 - October 9, 2010

Bill & Eileen Allen – 60th Wedding Anniversary

Jim & Rebecca StoneSophia & Carmen

BerumenIsmael & Kelsey

BerumenRussell BowersJoe B. FosterNancy BrennanTommy Brennan

Wayne & Michele Brown

Robert BrownFred & Susan CaldwellJeff & Mary Emmott *Tom & Kay Gallatin

– 50th Wedding Anniversary

Paul & Cheryl HuberJane & John McIntyreJim & Sherry PattersonTom & Patsy PattersonAl & Nancy Weaver

Allen & Pam Gault – Wedding Anniversary

Edgar & Carolyn ReevesJim Liebl – BirthdayTraci LieblJane Liles – BirthdayKaren & Ryan LilesJack Little – BirthdayOffi cers & employees of

Noble CorporationP. David MantorDavid Mantor

Janette McDonaldJoyce LawrenceRichard & Joyce

SlaughterKeith Mosing –

BirthdayMr. & Mrs. Roswell

Vaughan IIIEarl & Louise Nichols

– 60th Wedding Anniversary

Dianne Lami

Gene & Katie Roark – 67th Wedding Anniversary

Tom & Jane LilesKatie Roark – 90th

BirthdayBill & Dorothy KlotzTom & Jane LilesErnestine & Jim

RobertsonMartha WiebeBill & Joyce Thomas –

BirthdayEdgar & Carolyn Reeves

Getting a kick out of taekwon-do! Plus: Sponsors needed!

If you have ever had a child take martial arts classes – or taken them yourself! – you know the benefi ts kids reap from the disciplined, step-by-step approach to learning, as well as the physical activity. Our friends at Cypress TaeKwon-Do, including owners Valerie and Robert Webre, instructor Robbie Dillon, and many other instructors and students of the school, have brought taekwon-do to our campus for the fi rst time...and they generously teach the class twice a week for half the usual rate! With close to 30 students in the class, we need your help to ensure weekly lessons for each student! If you are interested in becoming a taekwon-do sponsor at any level, please contact Elaine Petranek, Director of Development, at 281-351-4976 ext. 219 or by email at [email protected].

Right: Instructors Robert (left) and Robbie teach us how to kick through a board! Below: Class in session...watch out!

This past year, many friends have helped to make our work possible! This past quarter, we received a generous gift from the Texas Oilman's Charity Invitational Fishing Tournament, held each year in Matagorda. We also received gifts this year from the Aetna Foundation toward our children's health care program, from the Newfi eld Foundation to help meet their day-to-day needs, and from The Methodist Hospital and the Baylor/Methodist Community Health Fund toward our counseling and Plan of Service programs. Thank you all for helping us raise our children!

Boys and Girls Country of Houston, Inc.18806 Roberts RoadHockley, Texas 77447

Address Service Requested

NON PROFIT ORGANIZATIONU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPERMIT NO. 11163HOUSTON, TEXAS

WISH LISTOur Education Department Needs:Large Sketch Pads5-Subject Spiral NotebooksFine-Point Permanent MarkersTab DividersTI-86 or higher graphing calculatorsMechanical pencilsExpo dry-erase markers (fi ne-tip & chisel)

Our Clothing Closet Needs:In all sizes, except where indicated:Girls’ and Boys’ Black No-Show SocksBoys’ and Men’s Boxers and Boxer BriefsBoys’ (all sizes) and Men’s (size S, M) UndershirtsGirls’ Training Bras & Women’s Bras (size C, D)Girls’ (all sizes) and Women’s (size 8 & 9) Hipster PantiesGirls’, Boys’, Women’s, and Men’s Tennis Shoes and Casual Shoes

Our Commissary Needs:Hair Care Products (shampoo, conditioner, African-American hair care)Men’s RazorsCanned ChiliSpaghetti SauceKitchen Cleaner (Spray)Bath Cleaner (Spray)Toilet Brushes

Our Cottages Need:Batteries (AA, AAA, AAAA, C, D)Alarm Clock RadiosHand MixersBlendersTwin-Size Mattresses (top mattresses) DVD Players and DVDs (G, PG, PG-13)Wii Games

Our Maintenance Department Needs:Hand tools (pliers, screwdrivers, hammers, hand wrenches, etc.)

Plumbing supplies and tools

Full list at www.boysandgirlscountry.org Click on "Donate" and "Fill a Wish List"

Stressed by the holidays?Relax – give the gift of love!

For more on how to get involved this holiday season, contact Darla Guerra, Internal Events Coordinator, at 281-351-4976 ext. 243 or by email at [email protected].

Having a party? Make it a celebration of childhood! Instead of the usual gifts of chocolate, food items, or fl owers, ask your guests to bring a gift for our children, such as:

Food and Supplies. Check out the Holiday Wish List for our most needed items! A complete Wish List can be found at www.boysandgirlscountry.org (just click on “Donate Now,” and then on “Wish List” to view all of the items we need!). Financial donations. Consider turning your party into a fundraiser! Dick Richards, a dear friend of our Home who passed away last year, held Christmas parties for over 25 years with his friends to raise money for local causes, and his friends still carry on the tradition to benefi t our children!Gift cards for local restaurants and stores, such as JCPenney, Kohl’s, and Houston Premium Outlets. On the website, click on "Donate Now!" and "Wish List" for more.

Make tribute gifts in honor of your loved ones! Your gift will provide for our children all year, and we will recognize you and your honorees in our next newsletter! To mail your tribute gift, use the enclosed envelope for your check or credit card

information and write your tribute information in the form on the envelope fl ap. You can also make a secure online tribute gift at www.boysandgirlscountry.org! Click on "Donate Now" to go to the donation form. Select the box marked "My donation is In Honor or In Memory of someone special" and a new box for tribute information will appear below the Donation Information box.

Hurry! Your gift must be postmarked by December 31st in order to count as a tax-deductible donation for 2010! Online gifts must be made by midnight

(CST) on December 31st to count for 2010!

Holiday

Make it automatic! Now is the time to set up an automatically recurring gift! Just check the box for monthly, quarterly, or annually recurring donations on the enclosed envelope...or choose the recurring gift option on the online form. With this easy one-time setup, you can ensure that our kids' needs are met every day!

Boys and Girls Country of Houston, Inc.18806 Roberts RoadHockley, Texas 77447

Address Service Requested

NON PROFIT ORGANIZATIONU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPERMIT NO. 11163HOUSTON, TEXAS

WISH LISTOur Education Department Needs:Large Sketch Pads5-Subject Spiral NotebooksFine-Point Permanent MarkersTab DividersTI-86 or higher graphing calculatorsMechanical pencilsExpo dry-erase markers (fi ne-tip & chisel)

Our Clothing Closet Needs:In all sizes, except where indicated:Girls’ and Boys’ Black No-Show SocksBoys’ and Men’s Boxers and Boxer BriefsBoys’ (all sizes) and Men’s (size S, M)UndershirtsGirls’ Training Bras & Women’s Bras(size C, D)Girls’ (all sizes) and Women’s (size 8 &9) Hipster PantiesGirls’, Boys’, Women’s, and Men’s Tennis Shoes and Casual Shoes

Our Commissary Needs:Hair Care Products (shampoo, conditioner, African-American hair care)Men’s RazorsCanned ChiliSpaghetti SauceKitchen Cleaner (Spray)Bath Cleaner (Spray)Toilet Brushes

Our Cottages Need:Batteries (AA, AAA, AAAA, C, D)Alarm Clock RadiosHand MixersBlendersTwin-Size Mattresses (top mattresses)DVD Players and DVDs (G, PG, PG-13)Wii Games

Our Maintenance Department Needs:Hand tools (pliers, screwdrivers, hammers, hand wrenches, etc.)

Plumbing supplies and tools

Full list at www.boysandgirlscountry.org Click on "Donate" and "Fill a Wish List"

Stressed by the holidays?Relax – give the gift of love!

For more on how to get involved this holiday season, contact Darla Guerra, Internal Events Coordinator, at 281-351-4976 ext. 243 or by email at [email protected].

Having a party? Make it a celebration of childhood!Instead of the usual gifts of chocolate, food items, or fl owers, ask your guests to bring a gift for our children, such as:

Food and Supplies. Check out the Holiday Wish List for our most needed items! A complete Wish List can be found at www.boysandgirlscountry.org (just click on “Donate Now,” and then on “Wish List” to view all of the items we need!). Financial donations. Consider turning your party into a fundraiser! Dick Richards, a dear friend of our Home who passed away last year, held Christmas parties for over 25 years with his friends to raise money for local causes, and hisfriends still carry on the tradition to benefi t our children!Gift cards for local restaurants and stores, such as JCPenney, Kohl’s, and Houston Premium Outlets. On the website, click on "Donate Now!" and "Wish List" for more.

Make tribute gifts in honor of your loved ones! Your gift will provide for our children all year, and we willrecognize you and your honorees in our next newsletter! To mail your tribute gift, use the enclosed envelope for your check or credit card

information and write your tribute information in the form on the envelope fl ap. Youcan also make a secure online tribute gift at www.boysandgirlscountry.org! Click on "Donate Now" to go to the donation form. Select the box marked "My donation is In Honor or In Memory of someone special" and a new box for tribute information will appear below the Donation Information box.

Hurry! Your gift must be postmarked by December 31st in order to count as atax-deductible donation for 2010! Online gifts must be made by midnight

(CST) on December 31st to count for 2010! t

S

Make it automatic! Now is the time to set up an automatically recurring gift! Just check the boxfor monthly, quarterly, or annuallyrecurring donations on the enclosed envelope...or choose the recurring gift option on the online form. With this easy one-time setup, you can ensurethat our kids' needs are met every day!

You can change our children's lives this holiday season! Here's how!

Boys and Girls Country Holiday 2010 Newsletter

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Transcript of Boys and Girls Country Holiday 2010 Newsletter