TraNsforming
Lives Covenant House Texas Annual Report 2011
Dear Friends,
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For one more day, 2,000 young people will wake up at Covenant House sites and have breakfast. For one more day, 4,000 of our Covenant House staff and volunteers from Anchorage to Managua will wake up and walk through the doors of a Covenant House site and bring their best selves to this mission. For one more day we will strive with God’s grace to be icons of love in the world. For one more day, we have the glorious opportunity to provide more ‘best day evers’ for beautiful kids like Josh who deserve nothing but the best we can offer. At Covenant House Texas, one of our oldest running sites, I am proud to share that the incredible staff, donors and volunteers are doing just that–offering their very best. As you’ll find in this report, under the dedicated leadership of Ronda Robinson our Houston site has been able to stretch their time, talent and treasure to the limit to serve the dangerously underserved population of homeless and at-risk youth across the state. On behalf of all our kids and the thousands more alone on the streets, thank you for caring. Your support of Covenant House Texas is truly transforming lives. God bless you, God bless our kids, and God bless this house.
In 2011, Covenant House reached over 51,000 youth at 21 sites throughout the Americas. Our crisis hotlines in the United States and Mexico, NINELINE and Acercatel, answered almost 34,000 crisis calls. Despite the withering global recession, and because of the compassion of hundreds of thousands of friends across the United States, Canada, Latin America and Europe, Covenant House remains the largest human rights movement for at risk, homeless and trafficked youth in the Americas. But we must do more. When I think about the violence, the gangs, the poverty and the exploitation that fills the lives of so many homeless young people, I’m convinced we must increase our efforts ten-fold to lift young people into lives of safety, economic opportunity and love. Young people like Josh. He walked into our shelter in New York wearing the best suit he could find in our clothing room (he looked very sharp!) and joyfully sang out four of the most beautiful words in the world. Gratefully, “I got the job!” After two interviews, he landed his first job. “I go to my GED classes during the afternoons, so I told them I could work any time, day or night, except for the three hours I take my classes. And I can work all weekend. They asked a lot of questions and I guess I did ok. Can’t believe I got the job.” Kevin Ryan I can believe it. Josh is a great kid, with a smile that lights up a room. President He is naturally ambitious, but a crushing childhood had left him filled with Covenant House self-doubt, afraid to strive. The truth is, sometimes the best gift you can give someone is to let them aspire without judgment. Josh didn’t know it, but his day was about to get even better. My friend Brian Cashman, general manager of the New York Yankees, who is a member of Covenant House’s Board of Directors, had invited some of our kids for a private tour of Yankee Stadium. Since Josh was back from his interview and didn’t start his job until the next day, we asked him if he wanted to come along. So an hour after Josh had landed his first real job, he was sitting in the Yankee dugout and beaming from ear to ear. On the way home, Josh could not help himself. He just kept saying, over and over … “man, this is the best day ever… best day ever…” Sometimes, when it gets to be too much, when thinking about what Covenant House needs to be for these extraordinary kids a year from now is too much, it’s best to focus on one more day …
Dear Friends,
Transforming lives is what we are about at Covenant House Texas (CHT). It’s a lofty goal and one we have taken very seriously at CHT for over 28 years. Transforming a life comes in many different forms, such as giving a young person confidence in their abilities, teaching them job skills, helping them pursue their education, giving them a spiritual foundation, or something as basic as providing them with a safe place to lay their head at night. Something you may not know: all our services and programs aimed at transforming lives are open to any youth, even though they may not reside at CHT. This includes our medical clinic, GED program, Job Development and Life Skills programs. This allows us to touch a lot of lives. Whether it’s for a few days, a few months and, in some cases a few years, we try to make a lifelong positive impact on youth in need. We want to thank our many donors and volunteers for all their support in helping us to make a difference in the life of each youth that comes to our door. As we stand by our youth urging them on to greater accomplishments, our donors and volunteers stand by our side encouraging us with their selfless support. While we continue to work with a deficit budget in this challenging economic environment, we appreciate even more our dedicated supporters and the hard work of our tireless Board of Directors. Although we found it necessary to downsize by four staff positions this past year, we were able to reinstitute a previous pay cut to our employees. Our primary goal continues to be retaining all the programs and services for our youth. In 2011, the pressing need for mental health services spurred expansion of this provision in our holistic continuum of care. In our society today, we are seeing more youth with the need for psychiatric help. For many years CHT has provided an on-site Mental Health counselor, and with the generous support of partners in our community, we are now able to provide much needed psychiatric counseling to those youth who have more serious issues. We are very encouraged with the results. Within this report you will find more in-depth information about another of our important programs at CHT – the Education/ Vocational program. Many of our young people are going to colleges and universities and working at the same time. As you will see in the article on our Job Development efforts, we are committed to giving our youth the job skills training they need and to help them obtain jobs. An important aspect of this program is the partnership with the companies and organizations who
share with us in this effort and our thanks go out to them. Some of our young people have reconnected with us and it’s always wonderful when we hear from former residents that were here 20-25 years ago. They now have children of their own and can reflect back on the impact that CHT made on their lives. In our article, “Where are They Now”, it’s great to find that they have “made it” and feel a sense of pride in their accomplishments over great adversity. We appreciate all the wonderful efforts of our community partners, donors and volunteers to help us transform and change lives for the good. One person can make a big difference and when we combine all our efforts to work toward a common goal: helping each young person become the person God intended them to be—then we succeed. Thank you for helping us transform lives each and every day. God Bless,
Ronda G. Robinson Executive Director/CEO Covenant House Texas
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Dear Covenant House Friends, All organizations that come together for a specific purpose identify a set of goals that are used to measure their success. Every kind of organization, from the largest corporations, to the smallest family businesses, to sports teams and everything in between, all come up with different ways to measure whether they are succeeding or failing to meet their objectives. For business, it can be in profits or share price; in sports, maybe wins versus losses, making the playoffs, or the number of championship rings/banners won. Every great organization sets its goals and vision and then works hard and strives to meet its goals – to be viewed as a “success” or a “winner.” However, in the not-for-profit world, it is not always as easy to measure success by business or other standards. In fact, how should we measure the success of not-forprofits, in general, and Covenant House Texas, specifically? The Mission Statement of Covenant House speaks to “treating all children with absolute respect and unconditional love,” and serving the “suffering children of the streets and to protect and safeguard all children.” We are charged to emulate Christ in being a “visible sign that effects the presence of God, working through the Holy Spirit among ourselves and our kids.” In selecting these goals, the founders of Covenant House set an incredibly high standard to live up to—one coming from the “Highest Authority.” Let’s use some other specific goals from the same source, pulled from the Book of Matthew, to see how CHT measured up in 2011:
“I was sick and you looked after me / I was in prison and you visited me” • 5,819 free Medical Clinic visits were made for health services • 767 individual or group Mental Health counseling sessions were provided • 201 individual psychiatric sessions were held with CHT’s contract psychiatrist
These excerpts from the Book of Matthew remind us that when we do these things for the least of our brothers and sisters, we receive the blessings of the Father and our well-deserved inheritance in His Kingdom. Thanks to the generosity and kindness from all of you, our Covenant House friends and supporters, the staff and volunteers are able to make a dramatic, lasting impact in the lives of our youth who have nowhere else to turn for help. Thank you all for helping this wonderful organization be a “winner” – a “success” – and to live up to these lofty goals. Best Regards,
John C. Sarvadi Chairman of the Board of Directors Covenant House Texas
“When I was hungry, you gave me something to eat / When I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink” • 90,558 free meals and sack lunches were served in the Crisis Shelter or Community Services Center • 10, 095 contacts were made with street youth under age 21 through the Street Outreach Program providing food, clothing, information or referrals “I was a stranger, you invited me in / I needed clothes and you clothed me” • 5, 367 unduplicated youth were served in the Crisis Shelter, the Rights of Passage Living Programs (ROP and ROPAL), the Community Services Center or through the Street Outreach Program • Over 200 unduplicated youth received Christmas gifts
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John Sarvadi & Ronda Robinson
Major Supporters
We are grateful for all of our donors who supported our mission of serving homeless and runaway youth during this past fiscal year. We are blessed to have an incredible base of individual donors who in aggregate gave 45% of our overall revenue for this period. In addition, a special thank you goes to the following major supporters and numerous others who wished to remain anonymous: Major Supporters $100,000.00 + ConocoPhillips Houston Endowment
George and Mary Hamman Foundation Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation M.D. Anderson Foundation The Medallion Foundation $25,000.00 to $99,000.00 The Methodist Hospital AT&T Foundation Jo Ann Petersen Baylor Methodist Community Kim and Mark Rose Health Fund St. John the Divine Episcopal The Brown Foundation Church Bud Light/Silver Eagle Distributors, L.P. Louis S. Sarofim Foundation Tonya and Hank Hamilton Harris County Hospital District The Simmons Foundation Vivian L. Smith Foundation Foundation Aimee and Wynne Snoots Healthcare & Nursing Education TGS NOPEC Geophysical Foundation Valero John P. McGovern Foundation The Iris and Lloyd Webre Miriam and Jim Mulva Foundation $10,000.00 to $24,999.00 $5,000.00 to $9,999.00 Bank of Texas Amegy Bank ECF Fund of the Boeing Company Anadarko Petroleum EnCap Investments L.P. The Enrico and Sandra di Portanova Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral Charitable Foundation John S. Dunn Research Foundation Apache Corporation Cheryl and Bob Boblitt Mary and John Eads Electro-Mechanical Industries, Inc. Burleson Petroleum The Butcher Fund Margaret and James A. Elkins, Jr. Cameron Foundation Foundation Chevron Phillips Chemical Frees Foundation Company Friendly Auto Sales
Continental Airlines James and Jane Page Crump/Jane Page Design Group Peggy and Gary Edwards Ellwood Foundation Ray C. Fish Foundation The Gallagher Foundation Gibbs & Bruns L.L.P. Annette and Daniel Gordon Susan and Joe Gutkowski/Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Charlotte and Thomas Haynie Insperity Jackson Walker L.L.P. John and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation Korn/Ferry International Debbie and Thomas Kurz LyondellBasell Industries The Lyons Foundation Barbara and Paul McCurdy McGee Family Foundation Mepco, Inc.
Every effort is made to assure accuracy in donor recognition; however, in compiling such a list, errors or omissions may occur. Please advise the Development Department at 713-630-5636.
NFP Corporate Client Group St. Martins Episcopal Church Sabre, Inc. Lisa and John Sarvadi Michelle and Alan Smith Charles B. and Jean G. Smith Family Foundation Strake Foundation Swift Energy Company The Tapeats Fund Katherine and Carlos Treistman/ Morgan, Lewis & Bockius Trulucks Restaurant Group Turner Family Foundation Patricia and Thomas Turner Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. Beatty and Bill Watts
Campus Refurbishing Projects Honeywell Liberty Property Trust Management
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Joseph’s stor y Joseph was born in the Central African Republic, but raised in Nigeria. His father resides in the Central African Republic where he has a laundry business. His mom was a trader but lost her business due to the economy in Nigeria. Joseph says, “I am close to my mom, but since my dad spent most of the year away, it didn’t give us a chance to get close.” Since there were not many opportunities in Africa for Joseph, it was determined that he should go to the United States. A sponsor was found for him and so Joseph traveled all the way to the U.S. Joseph explains what happened when he first arrived in the U.S. “I was instructed to call a friend of my sponsor who I would be staying with for a while. But things didn’t work out as planned, so I was stranded the first two days of my arrival. I was walking out from a building where I paid $11 per night to sleep, and a car stopped in front of me. The man in the car asked me what I was doing in that building. I hesitated at first, but finally explained. He told me he worked in a place where I could sleep and get fed for free. He gave me the number to call and his name too; it was John. He worked as one of the security guards at Covenant House Texas. I called on a pay phone, got the address, and boarded a cab.
“All the staff really contributed to where I am today and I will always be grateful for what they have done for me. God bless all 6
of them.”
My life has positively changed since then. Not because of the bed and food I was offered, but because of the lost hope the staff restored in me. I was enrolled in school and provided with every necessary support I needed. CHT became the family I have here.” When asked how the staff at CHT had impacted his life, Joseph responded, “Mr. Shawn Zanders is like a father to me. His counsel is full of wisdom. I’m amazed at his composure and the way he expresses himself. He is a perfect combination of a dad and a friend. I will never forget him. Mrs. Kim Upchurch is the “tough love” lady. I would always wake-up on time, clean my room, and be ready to go because I knew if I didn’t do those things she would hear about it. Now that I live independently, I see the image she was trying to shape us into. Thanks Mrs. Kim. Pastor Martin was and is the man who would always encourage me to make positive responses to things even when I desired to do otherwise. He would always tell me that God sees you and He will do things in His time, not ours. Pastor Martin kept my little fire burning. Miss Tammy fought to get me into the current program that I am in now. She got me the furniture and home goods that I needed. That was a great help. All the staff really contributed to where I am today and I will always be grateful for what they have done for me. God bless all of them.” The CHT Leadership Council, a group that promotes character and leadership qualities, was a great experience for Joseph. He shares, “The Leadership Council was a very challenging group for me. It exposed me to experiences that I never thought I was good at, like public speaking and critical thinking skills. It also brought me closer to the best friends you can ever dream of having. We looked out for each other.” Joseph has transitioned to our Rights of Passage Apartment Living program, which further develops the independence of our young people. He is really enjoying living on his own. “It exposes you more to the real world. Now I have to think of so many things: bills, what to cook, better ways to dress, and other things. It improves your dependability skills.” For his future plans, Joseph explained, “I am currently in the Respiratory Therapy program at Houston Community College. I will be working on becoming a permanent resident so that I can begin my studies in a premed program, and then into Baylor College of Medicine for a Doctorate in Cardiology.” According to Shawn Zanders, “Joseph is a grounded young man, who is a constant reminder of the champion that exists within our youth. He is a very unique young man who operates from a personal foundation of faith and exhibits remarkable strength and focus towards completing his goals. It has been a joy to work with Joseph and I look forward to outstanding accomplishments from him. Joseph will make a great doctor.”
Charlotte’s stor y “This was the last thing that I thought would happen to me. It took me a while to smile again.” Charlotte grew up in Hong Kong with her mother and younger brother. Her parents divorced when she was two. She never really knew her father, but was very close to her mother. Charlotte shared, “My mother and I supported each other by helping each other out. Life was not easy in Hong Kong. My mother had to work two jobs and the three of us lived in a onebedroom apartment.” At age 18, she and her brother came to the United States to live in Friendswood with their father, thinking that this would be a better life. This turned out not to be the case as she relates, “My brother and I were forced out of my dad’s house after five months of living with him and my grandmother. My brother, who was 17 at that time, was brought to CPS by the police. He was later placed with a foster family until last year. I, on the other hand, was already 18 and therefore transferred to Star of Hope Women’s Shelter. I was there for one night and given a ride to Covenant House the next day. This was the last thing that I thought would happen to me. It took me a while to smile again.” After Charlotte settled in at CHT, she was very motivated to do well and was a natural for the Rights of Passage program (ROP). Soon after, she was accepted into the Leadership Council. When asked about Mr. Shawn Zanders, Lead Resident Advisor and sponsor of the group, she responded, “Mr. Shawn was so supportive and inspirational. He encouraged me to pursue my dreams at school.” While in the ROP program, Shawn helped Charlotte enroll at Lamar High School to earn her diploma and to find a job. Each youth is required to seek employment and, as a condition of their acceptance into the program, they agree to pay for a portion of their “rent” into a savings account that CHT opens for them. This helped set the stage for Charlotte to learn valuable life skills, like saving money and budgeting, and even made it possible for her to save up for a car!
After being in the ROP program for a year, Charlotte successfully transitioned to the Rights of Passage Apartment Living program (ROPAL). “When I first moved into my apartment, I was provided with a dining set, a bed, a chest, and some cleaning products by Covenant House.” Charlotte had nothing but positive things to say about Ms. Cheryl Thompson, the onsite supervisor of the program. “Ms. Cheryl was always there when I needed her. Not only did she take us to movie theaters, grocery stores, and out to lunch, but she also took me to purchase my first car.” Charlotte has taken the next step after the ROPAL program and is now renting her own apartment in the same complex. “With the money I’ve saved because of the ROPAL program, I am now able to help my brother.” Charlotte advises other youth considering the Right of Passage program at CHT, “It’s definitely worth it to stay at Covenant House because it helps you save money and the staff and programs help get you back on track. Try to go back to school if you haven’t graduated college because higher education will get you far.” Thanks to a generous scholarship from CHT supporters, Charlotte is able to pursue her own higher education goals. She shares, “I’m majoring in Human Nutrition and Foods at the University of Houston. I’d like to graduate as soon as possible and become a nutritionist.” Mr. Shawn says of Charlotte, “She is an outstanding young woman with remarkable drive. She acclimated very quickly and began her ambitious quest to complete her education and become financially independent. Charlotte has exceptional interpersonal skills and a focused determination to succeed. I expect her future to be very bright.” From the streets of Houston, throughout Texas, and as far as Africa and Hong Kong, CHT is reaching out to transform lives of youth!
Charlotte, Mr. Shawn & Joseph 7
Fiscal yeaR 2o11 in Review Since 1983 Covenant House Texas (CHT) has provided sanctuary and support services to help meet the needs of the growing number of homeless, runaway, and at-risk youth between the ages of 18-21 and their dependent children.
Mental Health And Substance Abuse Counseling Counselors perform needs assessments, conduct individual and group counseling sessions and refer those who need more long-term treatment to the appropriate service providers. The following were provided in 2011:
5,367 unduplicated youth were served in our core programs this past year.
469 substance abuse counseling sessions 767 individual or group mental health counseling sessions 201 individual psychiatric sessions were held with CHT’s contract psychiatrist
Descriptions and results of our various programs and services are as follows: Intake/Community Service Center The Center provides walk-in services, answers NINELINE crisis calls, and conducts intake assessments for youth wishing to enter our program. Youth wanting to come off the streets but not yet ready to enter our Crisis Shelter are offered a hot shower, a meal, clothing, counseling and/or a place to sleep for the night.
363 unduplicated youth received services at the Crisis Shelter with an average stay of 25.5 days
525 GED classes were held to assist 248 unduplicated youth 39 youth obtained their GED 305 unduplicated youth participated in job skills/training programs 60 unduplicated youth participated in a vocational training program 24 unduplicated youth participated in job maintenance classes 126 unduplicated youth obtained employment 55 unduplicated youth participated in CHT’s Job Club program 402 unduplicated youth attended 538 life skills classes
Health Care The C. Richard Stasney Health Clinic on campus at CHT provides free physical exams, treatment for temporary and chronic illnesses, HIV/AIDS testing and case management, prenatal care and referrals to specialists when necessary for any youth between the ages of 18-21, regardless of their enrollment in our shelter program.
Rights of passage (rop) transitional living And rop Apartment living (ropal) programs ROP offers non-parenting youth between the ages of 18-21 a program designed to provide a stable foundation and teach youth vital life skills and tools needed for independent living. After six months in ROP, youth may apply for off-site apartment housing. CHT co-signs the lease and the youth move toward independence over the course of a year.
5,819 free medical clinic visits were made for health services
92 unduplicated youth received services in the ROP or ROPAL programs
8,371 visits were made to the Center by 737 unduplicated youth Crisis Shelter The Crisis Shelter provides a safe environment to an average of 40 youth each night. Each youth works with their Resident Advisor to create a plan to help them obtain the education, life and job skills training necessary to work toward independent living. The Shelter also has special facilities and programs for pregnant and parenting youth.
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Education And Vocational Training CHT has an on-site GED preparation class available for residents who want to take their high school equivalency exam. The vocational programs offer on and off-site job preparation skills and training to help youth find and retain jobs that pay a living wage.
Pastoral Care CHT has a non-denominational chapel on campus. A full-time pastoral minister conducts services and bible studies and also offers counseling support and guidance for residents and staff. All participation is voluntary. 513 pastoral counseling sessions were provided and 2,089 youth participated in chapel services Street outreach The Outreach team goes out in a van five nights a week reaching out to kids on the street that may not know about CHT or cannot come to us. The team provides these youth with food, clothing, blankets and information about our services. 10,095 contacts were made with street youth under 21 Prevention A Prevention Specialist, along with experienced CHT youth called Peer Educators, speak to youth in local schools and community organizations about the consequences of running away from home, dropping out of school, using drugs and/or committing crimes. 201 presentations for runaway prevention were made to 5,788 youth and 1,295 adults
Who We Serve/Demographics ethnicity African American Caucasian Hispanic Other
68% 17% 9% 6%
SEX Male Female
55% 45%
AGE 18-21 Years 17 and Under (youth of parenting teens)
90% 10%
other 90,558 free meals and sack lunches were provided to youth in the Crisis Shelter and Community Services Center 1,039 volunteers donated 7,451 hours of service to support the youth at CHT 7,999 NINELINE crisis calls were answered from various locations throughout the State of Texas
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Where are they now? It’s always great to hear from our former residents. Our Executive Director Ronda Robinson, who has been with CHT since we opened our doors in 1983, especially enjoys having them return to visit. We thought it would be inspiring to reconnect with a few of our former young people. Tim Coman was at CHT in 1984 and is now Rev. Timothy Coman, Pastor of Student Ministries at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Midland, Texas. Tim recently came back to Covenant House Texas to speak to our young people. This is how Tim remembers his time at CHT. “In the early to mid 80’s, I was a young man who was from a troubled home. In fact, you might call it a home where, at best, fights with grandparents were commonplace on a daily basis and finally my grandfather asked me to leave. I was a 16-year old kid who worked at a local retail store, went to school and knew nothing about the streets; the fear of being on my own was quite overwhelming. I remember grabbing the phone book and looking for shelters and there I found Covenant House. When I called I thought I would be asked a lot of questions. But the young man on the other end offered a voice of compassion, a welcoming voice which said, ‘You will find a place to belong at Covenant House.’ “This, my friends, began my journey and relationship with Covenant House. It’s been more than 25 years, but I still remember the love, compassion and the sanctuary that was shared with me. And, today after earning my degree in psychology, I have the unique privilege of working with young people from all various backgrounds. I am an ordained member of the clergy all because people believed in a dream, a dream to provide a place for kids like myself. May God’s hand be forever on Covenant House Texas.” Ulonda Harris now works in the accounting field in Houston and loves her job. She also has three lovely daughters. Ulonda drops by donations twice a year and visited with Ronda about a year ago when she came by.
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“I want to tell all of the past, present and future residents of Covenant House that—You matter! YOU!” Ulonda shares her story, “I was 13 years old when I became pregnant. I was a broken young person who had been abused and molested and lost. I originally came to Covenant House when I was 15 years old. I found solace at Covenant House Texas, off and on, from 1986 to 1990. My past made me aggressive and guarded and made me fight what Covenant House had to offer. But then I was invited to be a part of the program called “Rights of Passage.” This Covenant House program taught me how to be a responsible adult. The whole Covenant House experience helped me learn how to be a better person. Fast forward 20 years…I learned to let go of my anger…I learned how to discuss frustration with my daughters…I learned how to give my girls a voice. I could have been a statistic. My children and I shouldn’t be a success story—but we are. Today, I have three wonderful girls that have a better chance at life because of their college education. The daughter I had when I was 14, Eboni, is now 27. She has a masters in Psychology from Sam Houston State University and is working on her second masters in Family Counseling. My middle child, Jessica, 23, just got her Bachelors in Sociology. And, my youngest, Keila, 21, has her Associate Degree in Culinary Arts and is working on her Bachelor’s in Nutrition, to be a Dietician. There is life beyond your current experience. My children and I had a very hard beginning…but I never allowed any excuses…And as I have always told my daughters, NEVER LET YOUR PAST DEFINE YOUR FUTURE!!! I want to tell all of the past, present and future residents of Covenant House that—You matter! YOU!”
Jessica, Keila, Ulonda & Eboni
Howard Kennard lived at CHT in 1984 and, as an adult, served in the Army for twenty years. Sgt. Kennard has completed two tours of duty in Iraq and will retire in April. He called earlier this year and wanted to come by to show his wife, Carolyn and son, Ty, 17, where he once resided. He hadn’t been back since 1984 and noticed a few changes, like the Rights of Passage building, but he thought it essentially looked the same. Sgt. Kennard and his wife were nice enough to give CHT a donation to continue our work. Howard recounted his time at CHT. “I was a young man who had no structure whatsoever in my life. I remember having to be back at CHT before the curfew. It was a drag for me to have to be on time, in order to stay there, but it provided that structure I needed. I had the opportunity to meet a youth worker there named Greg. He provided me with confidence—something I was lacking. Now that I look back he was more of a father figure. I remember playing basketball often with him. Covenant House also opened a savings account for all residents with a job which allowed us to save money. We could trust the staff and it was as though we were a big family. I resided there for several months and hated to leave. I love Covenant House. It was there for me when no one else was. It changed my life. Please continue to teach responsibility and develop dignity in young people.” Debra Farmer-Randle was 17 when she and her son, Shayne were at Covenant House. Shayne is now 25 years old. While in the Army for four years, he completed two tours of duty in Iraq. He now has a great job at the Port of Houston. Debra received her Psychology degree from Tulane University and worked for 10 years in a rehab facility. She is now married, living in Oklahoma and works for Walmart as a service writer. Debra shares with us, “My son Shayne was born in May of 1986. In January of 1987, my stepfather and I got into an argument and he kicked me out with my baby. I arrived at Covenant House and the staff was so helpful and understanding. I got a job and stayed at CHT with Shayne until the summer of ’87 and then moved into my own apartment. Things did not work out, so in 1988 I was forced to leave my son with my parents and try to make a better life for us on my own. I returned to CHT and got accepted to the
“It’s hard for anyone to be successful, but harder when you don’t have opportunities.” ROP program. I was fortunate to have Ronda Robinson as my counselor. She helped me to get a job. I stayed in the ROP program for about 6 months and I then moved into my own apartment with my son. I appreciate CHT for being there when I thought I was in the big world all by myself with my baby! I am very grateful to all staff and volunteers—I don’t know where I would be had it not been for THEM! Thank you, CHT!” Greg Hernandez resided at CHT in 1989. He is now a Senior Vice President with Bank of Texas and he and his wife, Heather, have a son named Ethan who is 8 years old. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Covenant House Texas. Greg had been a ward of the state since he was six months old and had spent seventeen years being bounced around to eighteen foster and group homes. Greg says he always knew he had to make something of himself. He had something to prove. “When I went back for the first time, I felt like it was yesterday,” Greg says reminiscing about his first visit to CHT after joining the board. “As I walked through the Crisis Shelter I could vividly remember my first day at CHT as a teenager, and where I sat waiting to eat my first meal. I had mixed emotions, I felt like, wow, I can’t believe it was so many years ago that I was actually living here.” He was also a part of CHT’s Rights of Passage program. “We had four people in our room and we became a family,” he says of his roommates whom he can still call by name. “When I lived there I was grateful that I had a place to go.” Deciding to join CHT’s Board of Directors has brought Greg full circle in a lot of ways. “It’s tough to be in their situation,” he says and adds, “It’s hard for anyone to be successful, but harder when you don’t have opportunities.” Without question, my life-changing experience 23 years ago would not have been possible if not for the caring staff and volunteers at Covenant House. I am proud to still be associated with such a great organization.” The stories of these individuals, and the continuing testimonies we receive from our youth, help us at CHT to know that through our efforts, and with the support of our donors and volunteers, we are truly transforming lives.
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Focus on job development “Give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime.” A very integral part of the Job Development program at Covenant House Texas is the focus on educating youth, empowering and equipping them with the tools they need to be successful in life, and then working with them to obtain a job that will pay them a livable wage. There are four facets to the program. • Self-paced General Education Development (GED) preparation classes, available for any youth from 18 up to 24 years of age who have not completed high school, regardless of their enrollment in our shelter or living programs. • Employment preparation training classes to assist youth in developing the skills needed to secure employment (i.e. interviewing skills, resume writing, appropriate dress, etc.) as well as practical experience running the onsite “Country Store.” • Job search assistance provided by CHT job development staff and community volunteers to help each youth individually identify and secure appropriate employment prospects. • Local business partnerships developed to keep youth abreast of local employment opportunities and to facilitate filling those positions with qualified CHT youth.
CHT Youth at Country Store
CHT is fortunate to have two very committed staff to guide, assist and train our young people in their job search efforts: Shelven Lewis, Job Developer, and Rhonda Collins, Employment Specialist. Shelven comments on the young people he works with, “Many of our youth face some very adverse employment barriers. I have been truly inspired by the vast population of the residents we serve and their desire to change their lives. As difficult as it is sometimes to breakdown their walls of despair, it is always worth the effort. I am very thankful to God to have the opportunity to be of service to the young men and women of Covenant House who will not give up on themselves.” Rhonda Collins explains her position as the Employment Specialist at CHT. “I help the young adults prepare to seek employment and training opportunities that will enhance their career options. We cover the application process, resumes, interviewing skills, and much more. Once the youth is employed, they join the Job Club which is a support network where they can discuss their work experiences while learning how to resolve on-the-job issues. Included in the discussion topics are saving and budgeting money.” Rhonda expresses her feelings about the youth she serves. “ I am humbled by the thought that God has placed me in these young people’s lives to walk along side of them in this venture to find themselves and their self-worth. This includes building a solid foundation of trust, hope, faith, and most of all, believing they have a purpose. It is challenging for me at times when our young people don’t take advantage of the opportunities that are available to them. It is equally rewarding when they overcome those obstacles and develop the job skills they need and obtain the job they have been seeking. To see the sense of pride they feel when they are able to say, ‘I got the job!’ is truly fulfilling and rewarding.”
Rhonda Collins, Employment Specialist
Businesses Making a Difference An important part of the Job Development program is the partnership that CHT has with companies in the Houston area. According to Rhonda Collins, “We have a number of different partnerships with small and large employers that have been kind enough to open their hearts and businesses to help the residents of Covenant House Texas.” CHT is grateful to all the companies that employ our youth and we wanted to highlight some of the great companies that support our youth and their employment efforts. We talked with three of our young people, Aaron, Timothy and Fatima, and the managers who work with them at Kroger, Five Guys Burgers & Fries and Walmart, Aaron has been with Kroger for 18 months as a produce stocker. Aaron says, “I enjoy working at Kroger very much; it is a fun and friendly environment. Being at Kroger has really helped me understand the importance of a job and the requirements it takes to keep one. The best part of my job is interacting with the customers. I really like working with Mr. Marino – he does a great job of keeping the employees working together as a team and helps me continue my day with a smile.” Aaron plans to go to ITT Technical Institute and major in computer engineering. Aaron’s store manager, Michael Marino was very complimentary of CHT and Aaron, “It has been a pleasure to work with our employees from CHT. I have always felt everyone deserves a chance to go out there and prove themselves. It feels good watching these young people grow and develop into contributors in our society. Aaron has been one of our many success stories from CHT. He has always had an appetite for learning and has always been a team player.” Timothy has been at Five Guys Burger & Fries for one year. He does a little bit of everything, but he enjoys cooking the most. He says, “I really enjoy making good food and seeing people happy. The best part is when people tell me they really enjoyed their meal and that they will be back. It’s great to work there; my manager and other co-workers are so friendly and enjoy what they do.” We are always looking to add new companies and employers to our family of community partners! Please contact the Job Development staff at (713) 523-2231 ext. 5606 to find out more.
According to Jose Garcia, Timothy’s manager, “It’s nice working with Tim. He is one of our ‘goto’ guys at work. He is a really hard worker and he gets things done without having to be asked.” Timothy also had great things to say about the Job Development team. “I would really like to thank Mr. Shelven and Mrs. Rhonda for the hard work they put into finding people a job and helping us become more professional and business-like.” Timothy’s future plans are to finish college and become a restaurant manager. Another company working with CHT is Walmart. Fatima, a youth in our apartment living program, ROPAL, really enjoys working at Walmart. She is a cashier there. She says, “Working with the customers is what I enjoy most and all the other employees have such positive attitudes.” Of her manager, Danny Safady, she says, “He is very upbeat and supportive.” She also has kind words for the CHT Job Development team, “Mrs. Rhonda and Mr. Shelven have helped and motivated me every step of the way.” Fatima is taking classes at Houston Community College and plans to major in business. Mr. Safady, Fatimas’s manager says of her, “She is asset to our department and does an excellent job with the customers. Walmart is very committed to working with young people and giving them an opportunity to excel in the workplace.” CHT would like to recognize all the companies that employ our youth or help to place them in jobs. In addition to Walmart, Kroger, and Five Guys Burgers and Fries, we would like to thank: Fronterra GeoSciences Group, Goodwill Industries, HEB, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Marshalls, Papa Johns, Pappasito’s Cantina, Target, Walgreens, D.A.R.S. (Dep. of Assistance and Rehabilitative Services), A-1 Personnel Services and SER-Jobs for Progress of the Texas Gulf Coast, Inc.
Aaron & Michael Marino
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on revenue &
expenses
Where did CHT revenue come from? Fiscal Year 2011 Bequests and Wills Corporations/Foundations/Churches Government Grants Individuals In-Kind Donations Special Events
8% 18% 16% 45% 3% 10%
Where did CHT revenue go? Fiscal Year 2011 Program Expenses Fundraising and Public Relations Management and General Expenses
81% 8% 11%
For more information on supporting Covenant House Texas through our Planned Giving Program, through Gifts of Stock, or to learn other ways you can contribute, please contact the Director of Development at (713) 523-2231 ext. 5636.
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Statement of Activities Year ended June 30, 2011, with summarized financial information for the year ended June 30, 2010. contributions, revenue and reclassifications Contributions Contributions received from Parent Organization primarily donor generated
Unrestricted $1,815,000
Temporarily Restricted $
--
Permanently Restricted $
Total 2011
Total 2010
--
$1,815,000
$1,936,970
Contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporations, including legacies and bequests of $422,504
1,823,454
141,858
--
1,965,312
1,590,317
Contributed services and merchandise Government grants and contracts Special events and Guild income Less: cost of direct benefit to donors Total Contributions
173,381 846,804 688,332 (167,738) 5,179,233
----141,858
------
173,381 846,804 688,332 (167,738) 5,321,091
238,323 961,835 606,292 (205,682) 5,128,055
----
1,324 (1,396) (72)
revenue Interest Income Other Income Total Revenue Total Contributions & Revenue reclassifications Net Assets Released from Restrictions total contributions, revenue & reclassifications
1,324 757 2,081
-(2,153) (2,153)
1,429 33,913 35,342
139,705
--
5,321,019
5,163,397
509,262
(509,262)
--
--
--
5,690,576
(369,557)
--
5,321,019
5,163,397
5,181,314
expenses Program Services Shelter and Crisis Care Mother/Child Outreach Medical Services Rights of Passage Community Service Center Public Education Total Program Services
1,897,247 801,230 199,947 469,939 992,128 126,959 55,038 4,542,488
---------
---------
1,897,247 801,230 199,947 469,939 992,128 126,959 55,038 4,542,488
2,101,763 803,423 200,784 449,193 1,008,488 103,288 44,588 4,711,527
Supporting Services Fundraising Management and General Total Supporting Services
439,671 606,511 1,046,182
----
----
439,671 606,511 1,046,182
418,979 588,153 1,007,132
total expenses
5,588,670
--
--
5,588,670
5,718,659
Change in Net Assets Net Assets at Beginning of Year Net Assets at End of Year
(369,557)
101,906
980,765
4,232,582 $4,334,488
--
$
611,208
$
(267,651)
(555,262)
40,000
5,253,347
5,808,609
40,000
$4,985,696
$5,253,347
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Mission Statement
We who recognize God’s providence and fidelity to His people are dedicated to living out His covenant among ourselves and those children we serve, with absolute respect and unconditional love. That commitment calls us to serve suffering children of the street, and to protect and safeguard all children. Just as Christ in His humanity is the visible sign of God’s presence among His people, so our efforts together in the covenant community are a visible sign that effects the presence of God, working through the Holy Spirit among ourselves and our kids.
Board of Directors Chairman John C. Sarvadi Robert L. Boblitt, Jr. Kathryn Stasney Childers David G. Dunlap Charlotte Peters Haynie Albert C. Hergenroeder, M.D. Greg Hernandez Thomas P. Kurz William E. Matthews William W. McGee Andrea N. Moore Kurt D. Nondorf Jeff G. Peden William D. Roe Paul C. Simmons, P.E. Patricia Nowak Turner Randall L. Walker Beatty G. Watts Martin H. Young, Jr. Treasurer John S. Lampson Secretary Lolita Robles Executive Director/CEO Ronda G. Robinson
Advisory Board Vincent H. Buckley Tieman H. Dippel, Jr. James H. “Red” Duke, M.D. Jack Dulworth John Eads Elizabeth H. Stone Fowler William J. Hill Harry Jamail Yvonne Johnson Granville Knight Linda Ligon Jeff Love Cinda Matthews Charles T. McCord, III William K. McGee, Jr. Peter McKone Hon. Michael McSpadden Vicki Montague Meg G. Rice Allen J. Rogers Margaret Shilstone C. Richard Stasney, M.D., F.A.C.S. George Strake, III Douglas E. Swanson Stanley Voelkel Printing and Paper donated by: ConocoPhillips Design by: Tribe Design Photography by: Shelly Porsch Chetty
Covenant House Texas 1111 Lovett Boulevard Houston, Texas 77006 713-523-2231 www.covenanthousetx.org