Summer in Houston is as steamy as ever. Our first-ever Sexy Issue hits the streets soon, featuring the hottest swimwear and the coolest restaurants. Plus: inside the vegan and microbrew scenes, and our special reporting on the state of romance in H-Town. Smart. Sexy. All local. Welcome to CityBook.
Fall Philanthropy Report: Easter Seals of Greater Houston ‘Impacts Where People Need Us the Most’
Oct. 8, 2024
What year was your organization launched? Founded in Houston in 1947, as the Cerebral Palsy Treatment Center, the organization provided services to individuals with disabilities living in Houston and Harris County. In 1989, the organization changed its name and greatly expanded its services to meet the needs of its clientele. Today as Easter Seals Greater Houston, the organization provides multiple outstanding service programs to children, adults, veterans, and service members with all types of disabilities and their families in Harris and sixteen surrounding counties.
What is your mission? Easter Seals Greater Houston is the only organization in the greater Houston area providing comprehensive services to individuals with all types of disabilities, veterans and their families. We impact where people need us the most – school, work, home, and in the community. Enhancing education, advancing health, expanding employment, and elevating the community.
Why did you launch the organization? Easter Seals was originally launched as the school district location for children with disabilities before the ADA was passed in the 70’s. Once ADA legislation was passed, the agency evolved into life changing services and programs serving babies, children and adults with all types of disabilities and their families, regardless of their ability to pay.
What are you most proud of? Easter Seals’ services focus on improving the physical, educational, cognitive, mental and financial health of our clients so they can live as fully participating members of our community. Even though we are very efficient, with over $.91 of every dollar used for direct client assistance, we have still been able to consistently expand services to fill gaps in services for an underserved population.
How have you impacted the community? Each year, we serve close to 15,000 families in Harris and surrounding counties, most living below poverty simply due to medical bills and caregiving issues; our programs not only address our direct client’s need for therapy, school, camps and more; but those of the family through respite, financial education, mental health services and emergency assistance.
Tell us about your big event. Easter Seals is excited to announce our 14th annual “Walk With Me Houston” Family fun walk on April 12, 2025, at the Houston Zoo presented by Prosperity Bank and attended by over 4,000 donors, sponsors, volunteers and clients. Following the walk, is an after-party with children’s activities, music, food, drinks and more. WalkWithMeHouston.org
How many employees and volunteers work with your organization? 250 and more than 200.
How much have you raised since you launched? In the past 20 years, Easter Seals has grown an average of 7% a year-in spite of economic downturns, government funding cuts and the fact that less than 3% of all charitable giving goes to organizations serving people with disabilities. That growth came through a combination of community support-from government funding, the United Way, individual donors, foundations and corporations so that our babies, children and adults receive the services they desperately need without worrying about the cost or their lack of insurance.
What are your major challenges? In spite of medical advancements and the power of technology to improve the lives of veterans and people with disabilities, the need for our services continues to grow-and with that the challenge of raising the funds necessary to support those expanded services grows.
Keep Reading
Show less
Jordyn Groover, Shelby Mayfield, Caitlin Core, Shanelle Shojaei
IT’S RODEO SEASON in Houston, and Kendra Scott is celebrating by opening a new concept store, Yellow Rose by Kendra Scott, deep in the heart of Texas. The shop — featuring a collection of furniture, accessories and clothing for the modern cowgirl — bowed in Heights Mercantile last week with a western-chic bash.
Boot-clad guests sipped ranch waters and margaritas while watching Suede & Honey brand and embellish custom hats; they also loved Layne Stitch’s jewelry engraving and bandana stitching. DJ Cara kept the party going while mingling amongst the fringe and suede in the crowd.
The entrance to the store features a dramatic floor-to-ceiling cowhide mural of a cowgirl by Kyle Bunting. All the art and some of the furniture were hand-picked over the years by Scott herself in Round Top. The boutique carries collections from Yellow Rose x Wrangler Denim, H Bar C, Arloom, Three Sons, Daydreamer, Juan Antonio Leather, and Clayton & Crume.
Carrie Colbert, Reagan Corbett
Alejandra Bravo Correa
Tiffany Halik, Amanda Moreno, Nichole Filson, Magen Pastor
Brittany Barnette, Nicole Katz, Lindsey Looke
Kyle Bunting, Bo Barkley
DJ Cara
Lindsey and Skye Villa, Amanda Moronk
Lyndsey Zurich, Nichole Filson, Shelby Mayfield
Morgan Hale
Marcia Smart, Natalie Steen, Capera Norinsky
Valerie Dittner, Elly Brown, Lyndsey Zurich, Casey Charles
Keep Reading
Show less
THE WEATHER IS changing, and soon, so will the time! Make the most of that extra hour of sun at Montrose’s Okto. This Mediterranean hotspot, located in Montrose Collective and part of Sof Hospitality — a group nominated for the prestigious 2025 James Beard Award in the competitive Outstanding Restaurateur category — is rolling out a new happy hour to enjoy on their urban-chic patio.
Monday Funday — yes, it’s totally a thing — is now in full swing with happy hour prices all day and 50% off all bottles of wine! Regular happy hour runs Monday through Thursday from 5–7 p.m., with $12 cocktails, $10 wines and delicious bites.
Bask in the warmer weather with an Okto G&T ($12), served ice cold with shishito pepper-infused gin, a citrus-y Italian liqueur, and tonic. There's also an espresso martini ($12) and sangria ($12) on the happy hour menu.
Chef Yotam Dolev doesn’t skimp on happy hour food. The Instagram-worthy tuna tartare ($16) is served in a bowl with sweet white soy sauce. And the bread service ($7) includes creamy pistachio butter, olives, and pickled peppers. Cheers!
Keep Reading
Show less