Fall Philanthropy Report: Urban Harvest Farmers Market Helps ‘Transform Food Accessibility’
Oct. 8, 2024
What year was your organization launched? Urban Harvest’s Saturday Farmers Market started in 2004 with just seven vendors, providing an outlet for local farms, community and backyard gardeners to sell fresh produce harvested directly from their soils. Now in its 20th year, the market has grown to be one of the largest markets in Texas, supporting over 100 local farmers, ranchers, and food artisans all from within 180 miles of Houston. The market draws 3,000 customers every Saturday morning and includes many original vendors like Animal Farm, Atkinson Farms, and Wood Duck Farm.
The Urban Harvest’s Farmers Market Program supports real, fresh food and the hardworking people who grow it. The market is more than just a place to shop, it’s a gathering place where friends and families meet up each at Urban Harvest, kids grow up knowing where their food comes from, and new friendships are forged.
What is your mission? The mission of Urban Harvest is to be a catalyst in transforming food accessibility in Greater Houston. Urban Harvest aims to achieve this by fostering strong partnerships with local farmers and gardeners, operating vibrant Farmers Markets, initiating mobile markets, and providing comprehensive garden education.
What is your vision? Their vision is not just to improve, but to transform the way communities engage with and access fresh, locally sourced food. Through these efforts, Urban Harvest aspires to set a national example, showcasing how innovative community collaboration can lead to sustainable change in food systems across the country.
How have you impacted the community?
In 2023 -
• Urban Harvest Farmers Market brought together over 100 local farmers, ranchers, gardeners and food artisans to sell their products directly to Houstonians
• Urban Harvest Farmers Market hosted over 45,000 shoppers
• Urban Harvest matched $25,000 in Double Up Food Bucks, allowing those who use SNAP/EBT to get $1 in fresh fruits and veggies for each $1 spent, up to $40 daily
• Approximately 45% of Urban Harvest vendors identified as social minorities and Urban Harvest continue to strive to grow the Farmers Market diversity. In addition, 50% of shoppers identify as a BIPOC.
Tell us about your big event. Urban Harvest invites Houstonians to break bread during their 30th Anniversary Sunday Supper hosted at St. John’s School on Sunday, November 3rd, 2024. The evening will be a celebration of local food, culinary excellence and the communities Urban Harvest serves. Thirteen of Houston’s most esteemed chefs will lend their unique talents during a multi-course, family-style meal created in partnership with local ranchers and farmers. Proceeds from this unforgettable farm-to-table experience will benefit the programs of Urban Harvest: Farmers Markets, Community Gardens, Youth Education, Food Access, and Gardening Classes.
What are you most proud of? Every year the small but mighty organization serves over 45,000 farmers market patrons and over 100 small food business; nearly 5,000 students and teachers in socially vulnerable Areas; 3,823 community gardeners preserving over 34 acres of greenspace; over 2,000 Mobile Market customers, 78% of which are in underserved neighborhoods; and educates over 900 individuals who participate in year-round organic gardening classes.
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Good Doctors: Female Physicians Trade Scrubs for Fab Fashion at ‘Women in Medicine’ Style Show
Apr. 11, 2025
Nadia Hafeez, Shireen Hadi, Sara Perry (photo by Daniel Ortiz)
A ROSTER OF women you might usually see in scrubs and white coats flipped the script and went high-fashion for the Arts of Healing Foundation’s fourth annual Fashion Show at the Post Oak Hotel, celebrating Houston’s Women in Medicine.
“Eighteen unstoppable women in various fields of medicine were selected as the honorees and showcased on a runway, which was referred to as the runway of role models,” said a rep for event organizers. “All major hospitals and many private practices throughout the Houston area were represented, and their specialties ranged from clinical practitioners, to surgeons to administrators.”
Fady Armanious of Tootsies helped dress the docs-turned-models. Johnny Bravo conducted the auction, and Lori Raijman co-founder and president of the organization, was also on hand. “As a result of their efforts, their layers of knowledge and their years of expertise, our community has benefited,” said Raijman of the healthcare professionals. “Their success and dedication affect each of us.”
Hitting the runway were mix of physicians and administrators including Connie Wang, Jayne Johnston, Susan Mathew, Alexandra Stevens, Magdalena Sanz Cortes, Katie Bolt, M. Monica Gramatges, Christina Paruthi, Shaden Khalaf, Tricia McGusty, Emily Jamea, Gwyn Richardson, Shirley Lima, Sonali Patel, Shanda Blackmon, Gina Blocker, Jessica Traver and Dalia Moghazy.
The foundation’s beneficiaries include The Elkins Pancreas Center at Baylor College of Medicine, The Lung Force and The Sunshine Kids Foundation.
Connie Wang (photo by Daniel Ortiz)
Magdalena Sanz Cortes and Derek Kliethermes (photo by Daniel Ortiz)
Katie Bolt (photo by Dave Rossman)
Josh Weisman, Jack Simes and Mark Bordman (photo by Dave Rossman)
Gina Blocker (photo by Dave Rossman)
Lucy Moore, Kristen Collins and Pam Connealy (photo by Dave Rossman)
Ashlee Rubbo and Taylor Hoffman (photo by Daniel Ortiz)
Jessica Traver (photo by Dave Rossman)
Shetal Amin and Kishan Dwarakanath (photo by Daniel Ortiz)
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Amy Pierce, Sippi Khurana, Dr Namrata Sharma Goel and Ruchi Muchejee (photo by Daniel Ortiz)
A BIG CROWD turned up at the Post Oak Hotel for the Children at Risk gala, raising some $360,000 focused on “understanding and addressing the root causes of child poverty and inequality,” per its mission statement.
Fred Armisen of Saturday Night Live and Portlandia fame was the headliner, entertaining the crowd of 430 with offbeat comedy and musical bits.
Suzan and Jeremy Samuels and Beth Wolff served as event chairs for the Stand Up for Children event. Other big shots were on hand, including emcee Khambrel Marshall and honoree Sippi Khurana. “Khurana gave impassioned remarks that included statistics for Texas showing the importance of Children at Risk’s research and advocacy, pinpointing the areas needed for change in health, education and welfare of children,” said a rep for the event organizers. “Her 3 d-grade daughter Seva gave a beautiful invocation to start the evening.”
VIP guests included and Ed Wolff, Cynthia Wolff, Courtney and Zac Harmon, Ann and Jonathan Ayre, Ajay Khurana, Kristen Cannon, Alice and Matthew Brams, Shaina Perry and Jeremy Ross, Shawn and Donald Bowers, Amy and Rob Pierce, George Connelly, Evelyn Leightman, Katie and Seth Tsuru, and David Charles.
Cynthia Wolff, Henry Florsheim and Beth Wolff (photo by Daniel Ortiz)
Bob and Ellen Sanborn (photo by Daniel Ortiz)
Chris Schreck and Megan Schreck (photo by Daniel Ortiz)
Julie Dickinson and David Charles (photo by Daniel Ortiz)
Jayne Johnston and Kristen Cannon (photo by Jacob Power)
Rainer Munzel, Ursula Munzel, Evelyn Leightman and George Connelly (photo by Daniel Ortiz)
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