Houston's 9/11 National Day of Service
Name of Grant Recipient: City of Houston – Mayor’s Volunteer Initiatives Program
Contact: Cameron Waldner, Chief Service Officer
Number: 832-393-0971
Email: cameron.waldner@houstontx.gov
Address: Volunteer Initiatives Program
900 Bagby, Public Level,Suite019
Houston,TX77002
1st Request: $66,000
Amount per Year: $22,000 (2012,’13, ’14)
Amount of Volunteers Affected: 20,000
Or
2nd Request: $33,000
Amount per Year: $11,000 (2012,’13, ’14)
Amount of Volunteers Affected: 8,000
Names of Organizations Involved in the Event: the United Way, Houston Habitat for Humanity, the American Heart Association, the Home Depot Foundation, the American Legion of Houston, the Mayor’s Volunteer Initiatives Program, the Mayor’s Office of Veteran’s Affairs, the Houston City Council, SCI, Houston Grand Opera, Compassionate Houston.
How the service activity will address a community need or challenge?
The Volunteer Initiatives Program (VIP) is preparing three major service opportunities for the 9/11 weekend that encompass the enhancement of city youth, veterans, and emergency response.
In conjunction with Habitat for Humanity, the VIP will call for 1,000 youth to revitalize the at-risk Fifth Ward community ofHouston. The Fifth Ward is notorious for violent crimes; it has a high concentration of ex-felons; and its average median family income for 2009 was $15,890. The duties of the youth would include planting trees, mowing grass, and graffiti abatement.
In conjunction with the American Heart Association, the VIP looks to train and teach its citizens the importance of CPR. Recently, the VIP directly trained more than 1,000 citizens in CPR and indirectly impacted more than 8,000 citizens through the distribution of CPR kits.
In conjunction with Home Depot, the VIP will help renovate the American Legion Post building, and improve the quality of life for 50 veterans by working on their homes. For the American Legion Post, indoor renovation includes restrooms, kitchen, floors, walls, and doors. Outside, two flag poles will be added, solar lighting will be set up, a victory garden will be planted, and efforts will be put into making the building environmentally friendly such as setting up rain gutters and adding coating onto the roof.
About one-fourth of the grant will be dedicated to volunteer recognition such as making t-shirts, creating certificates, or simple plaques in appreciation for participation. Approximately one-tenth of the fund will go to providing fuel for theUniversityofSt. Thomasshuttles that will carry volunteers to and from serving the veterans at either the American Legion Post or a veteran’s home. The rest of the grant will support first aid kits, port-a-potties, and comfortable mats for those who will watch “New York Says Thank You”, a documentary that will be shown at a park.
How the service activity will commemorate the losses on September 11, 2001 and honor the service and sacrifices of those who have responded since that day?
All aspects of the project are focused on honoring the lives and legacies of the victims and heroes of 9/11. We have planned a multitude of commemorative activities corresponding with the 9/11 Day of Service to span the entire weekend from Friday, September 9th to Sunday, September 11th. The VIP will coordinate with Habitat for Humanity, the American Heart Association Houston, the Home Depot Foundation, the City of Houston’s Veterans Affairs Office, and the American Legion of Houston, for service projects that will commemorate the volunteer spirit demonstrated by the dedicated and brave group of citizens that served our nation in the days following the 9/11 tragedy. Scheduled events include a CPR initiative in collaboration with the American Heart Association, and the renovation of the American Legion post inHouston with the Home Depot Foundation.
Friday’s events will encompass a press conference with Mayor Parker, the presentation of a 9/11 Wall Exhibit, a commemorative service, and a military salute accompanied by a musical tribute from the Houston Grand Opera. Community service projects, which include Eco Bash (BayouParkclean-up project) and the planting of 2,998 trees representing the number of victims taken on 9/11, will be initiated over Saturday and Sunday. Sunday’s events will culminate in a final service, an additional performance by the Houston Grand Opera, and a presentation of the film, “New York Says Thank You”, which will coincide with the CPR training workshop planned with the American Heart Association.
How many volunteers are expected for the 9/11 Event?
CPR Training Workshop 400 (trained) (3200 pledged)
American Legion Renovation 100
Eco Bash on the Bayou & 9/11 Commemorative Tree Planting 1300
Run for the Heros 250
Subtotal 2,050
CompassionateHoustonwill match total number of volunteers for event 2,700
- Our biggest event in terms of numbers was at the YMCA, which had 400 people collecting backpacks, playing soccer, swimming, etc from 10- 1 on Saturday
- Our Saviors’ Church packed in 200 for service project
- Bo’s Place (though I don’t have the exact count) had probably around 40- 50 volunteers, painting, planting, quilting. In that group were junior and senior leaders with freshman from Episcopal High. Episcopal High sent all their freshmen around to various service projects so we will find out their numbers.
Alief Family YMCA
50 volunteer
AlAmaanah Refugee Services
50 volunteers
Amazing Place
50 volunteers
Bayou Land Conservancy
50 volunteers
Beyond Expectations Catering Service
50 volunteers
Bo’s Place
50 volunteers
Branches of The Vine Deliverance Ministry
50 volunteers
CAIR – Texas, Houston Chapter
50 volunteers
Casa de Esperanza de los Ninos, Inc
50 volunteers
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
50 volunteers
Cenacle Retreat House
50 volunteers
Christ the King Lutheran Church
50 volunteers
Citizen’s Foundation
50 volunteers
Classic Creole Catering Service/ Alief Family YMCA
50 volunteers
Communities In Schools of Houston
50 volunteers
COMPASS
50 volunteers
CompuCycle Inc.
50 volunteers
Covenant House Texas
50 volunteers
Crisis Intervention of Houston
50 volunteers
Developments in Literacy (DIL)
50 volunteers
Eastgate Women’s Organization
50 volunteers
Eye Care for Kids Foundation
50 volunteers
First Presbyterian Church
50 volunteers
Grace Episcopal Church
50 volunteers
Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center
50 volunteers
Houston Habitat for Humanity
50 volunteers
Habitat For Humanity – Northwest Harris County
50 volunteers
Heavenly Choice Catering.
50 volunteers
House of Charity
50 volunteers
Houston Area Women’s Center
50 volunteers
Houston Food Bank
50 volunteers
Houston Grand Opera Company
50 volunteers
Houston Rescue and Restore Coalition
50 volunteers
Institute of Interfaith Dialog
50 volunteers
Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston
50 volunteers
Islamic Society of Greater Houston
50 volunteers
Islamic Women In Service to Humanity (IWISH)
50 volunteers
Krist Samaritan Center
50 volunteers
Ligmincha Texas, for the Tibetan Meditative and Healing Arts
50 volunteers
Lord of Life Lutheran Church, The Woodlands
50 volunteers
Manousso Mediation & ADR Services: Elder Mediation
50 volunteers
Memorial Assistance Ministries
50 volunteers
Memorial Drive Lutheran Church
50 volunteers
Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church
50 volunteers
Memorial Drive United Methodist Church
50 volunteers
Montrose Counseling Center
50 volunteers
New World United Methodist Church
50 volunteers
Neighborhood Centers Inc.
50 volunteers
Our Saviour’s Church
50 volunteers
Pax Christi Houston
50 volunteers
PDV Special Events, LLC
50 volunteers
Raindrop Turkish House
50 volunteers
Rothko Chapel
50 volunteers
St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, Houston
50 volunteers
St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, League City
50 volunteers
St. Luke’s Episcopal Hosptial
50 volunteers
St. Luke’s Missionary Baptist Church
50 volunteers
St. Lukes’ United Methodist Church
50 volunteers
St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
50 volunteers
St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, Lake Jackson
50 volunteers
Shifa Healthcare &Community Services USA, Inc.
50 volunteers
Sirrom Studio
50 volunteers
Sister Cities of Houston
50 volunteers
Society of St. Vincent de Paul
50 volunteers
Sports & Signs
50 volunteers
Spring Branch Presbyterian Church
50 volunteers
Taiwanese Heritage Society of Houston
50 volunteers
The Beacon
50 volunteers
The Christian Outreach Center
50 volunteers
The Church of The Living God Mission
50 volunteers
The Women’s Home
50 volunteers
Thomas Street Health Clinic
50 volunteers
Trees For Houston
50 volunteers
Trinity Episcopal Church, The Woodlands
50 volunteers
Turning Point Center
50 volunteers
Union Baptist Association
50 volunteers
Urban AIDS Ministry Task Force, City of Houston
50 volunteers
USO|Houston
50 volunteers
Volunteer Houston
50 volunteers
Volunteer Initiatives Program, City of Houston
50 volunteers
VOX-The Rob Seible Singers
50 volunteers
World Community for Christian Meditation (Region 6)
50 volunteers
Total 4,750
What volunteers are expected to accomplish through their service?
Through their service on the 10th anniversary of 9/11, volunteers will be engaged in health/wellness training, veteran’s affairs, urban beautification and environmental sustainability. These activities will include the following outcomes: citizens becoming trained in CPR, the revitalization of a historic Houston neighborhood, the renovation of a veteran’s American Legion Post, the cleanup of a bayou, and the planting of 2,998 trees. However, the total output will be equal to more than simply the sum of the parts. Volunteers will not only contribute to deliverables, they will also be in contact with each other as well as the citizens of Houston, creating a unique atmosphere of good will and civic engagement. The process will entail more than simply physical change and quantifiable results; it will also bring together people from diverse backgrounds and foster the building of bridges within the Houston Community.
How will you promote the Day of Service and Remembrance?
- The VIP will utilize its new service website that was rolled out last March, www.houstonservice.org.
- The VIP will actively use its Facebook and Twitter pages to promote the event
- The Mayor will also issue a press release regarding the 9/11 Day of Service
- The 9/11 Day of Service will be announced in an E-Newsletter reaching over 100,000 Houstonians
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