You already know the TXU Energy Houston Turkey Trot is one of our largest fundraisers. But the importance of your participation extends far beyond the event itself. A few hours of your time have a life-long impact on our neighbors.
One of them is Savannah Becerra. Currently a fifth grader, Samantha has been enrolled in the after-school program at Ripley House since Kindergarten. “It’s an everyday thing. We have a lot of fun here. If it wasn’t here, my mom wouldn’t be able to put me anywhere, so this is a good thing for her, too,” she says.
About 40 students attend the after-school program at Ripley House. Some are bused in from other schools while others – like Lorena Luna – are students at our Promise Community School. Lorena says, “I stay busy here. We play games but we’re learning stuff at the same time. You’re hanging out with your friends who you don’t really get to talk to during school. We get to socialize and have fun. We play group games, so we’re kept busy instead of sitting around.”
Community Youth Leader Yolanda Smith says it’s more than just having a place to go after school. It’s about providing students a stable environment – a “home away from home” where students learn leadership skills and build their self-esteem. “Our kids are from all different types of environments. We treat our kids as if they were our own kids. They enjoy coming here. The funds we receive from the Turkey Trot go a long way in running this program,” she says.
In addition to the after-school program, proceeds from the Houston Turkey Trot support more than half a million Houstonians working hard for a better life.
Whether you volunteer or run, we hope you’ll make the Houston Turkey Trot part of your holiday family tradition. You can also help by encouraging others to get involved, by donating, or by simply sharing this story.
Support for Houston communities is made possible because of TXU Energy’s commitment to serving hard working people. Thank you, TXU Energy, for all you do for Houston Communities.
