The Woodlands Lifestyles & Homes magazine Mar 2010: News Around The Woodlands

Wendy Baldwin with Mark Cochran, center executive director South Montgomery County YMCA.

YMCa recognizes
volunteer of the year. Every year the South Montgomery County YMCA recognizes an outstanding volunteer for his/her generosity of spirit, hard work and compassion for others. Wendy Baldwin was named this year’s Volunteer of the Year.

Baldwin was presented with her award at the YMCA of Greater Houston’s Annual Celebration earlier this year at Rice University’s Faculty Club. She joined 36 others, each representing an individual YMCA center, camp or special program. Baldwin and the others were greeted with a standing ovation by the audience after being awarded a solid bronze sculpture custom-made by Katy artist David Mattiza.

Dr. Ann Snyder, president and CEO of Interfaith of The Woodlands, and BP employee Carl Long.

Interfaith receives donation. As part of the BP Fabric of America Fund, BP employee Carl Long selected Interfaith of The Woodlands to receive $500.

“As a member of Living Word Lutheran Church, my congregation supports Interfaith. I wanted to give to an organization that would help in more places, and Interfaith is that organization, ” said Long.

Sarah McClure with Lee Elliott, YMCA teen director.

The Woodlands College Park High School Teen Recognized as ymca Teen Volunteer of Year . The YMCA of Greater Houston recognizes one very deserving teen as the Youth Volunteer of the Year with the Jessica Loverich Award. This year, Sarah McClure, a senior at The Woodlands College Park High School, representing the South Montgomery County YMCA, received the coveted award.

McClure’s love for the YMCA began at YMCA Camp Cullen as a young camper and then became more involved as she completed the Counselor in Training program at the age of 15. Sarah began her volunteer work in the summer of 2007 at the South Montgomery County YMCA Day Camp program.

In the last two years, Sarah has logged in more than 800 volunteer hours of service to the South County YMCA in all program areas of the YMCA including day camp, special events, Teen Leadership, Youth and Government, Saturday Night Live, asset training and much more.

Become a Fan if You Haven’t Already. The Woodlands has launched a new Facebook page. It’s a great way to keep up with fashion finds, great deals, restaurant offers, plus concerts and events found only at Market Street.

To join the new page, go to Facebook, search for Market Street - The Woodlands and click on “Become A Fan.”

Judith Wilson (center), Bluebonnet Garden Club, with (l-r) Sarah Raleigh, executive director of Montgomery County Women ’s Center, and Nell Belanger, assistant treasurer for the Women’s Center.

Bluebonnet Garden Club donates to Women’s Center Reaching Pines Community. The Bluebonnet Garden Club donated funds to the Women’s Center for community benches on the grounds of Reaching Pines, the agency’s new transitional housing community.

Reaching Pines offers women coming from emergency shelter a safe and secure living environment, affording them the ability to integrate back into society through this supportive housing community.

administaff is major sponsor of arts festival. The Woodlands Waterway Arts Council has announced Administaff as the major sponsor of The Fifth Annual Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival.

“The Woodlands Waterway Arts Council is honored to partner with Administaff in bringing the arts to The Woodlands and the Greater

MCUW Holds Days of Caring Food Drive. Entergy and CB& I employees participated in Montgomery County United Way Day of Caring Food Drives benefiting Montgomery County Food Bank. Last year, the food bank distributed 4.5 million pounds of food to Montgomery County food pantries.

drive to success fundraiser befnefits mcwc. The Diamond Star Ranch team and the Houston Texan Cheerleaders partnered with Montgomery County Women ’s Center for an auction fundraiser “Drive to Success” held at Auctions Southwest in Magnolia. A portion of the proceeds benefited both Diamond Star Ranch and the Women ’s Center. A variety of goods and services were auctioned including Christmas wreaths crafted by children at the agency ’s emergency shelter.

The Diamond Star team raised approximately $6,000 in goods, services and cash from the auction and donated to the Women ’s Center.

Mr. & Mrs. Roel Farias and daughter, Champions Driving School; Donna Wick, Montgomery County Women ’s Center; Jim Stiffler, Diamond Star Ranch; Chris Laster, Auctions Southwest; (kneeling) Rodney Anderson, Crescent Moon; Tina Joslin-Fox, United Southern States Pageant; Analisa Pratt; Becky McKay; Trisha Alhman; and Lindsey Shinners.

friendship center receives aetna foundation gift. In recognition of the tremendous need for transportation for seniors needing medical treatment, the Aetna Foundation awarded The Friendship Center with a donation of $10,000 to be used to assist those Montgomery County clients over age 60 who lack transportation resources.

MCUW breakfast with champions. The Montgomery County United Way held its 2nd annual Breakfast With Champions in January. Channel 13 sportscaster Tim Melton and former Oakland Raiders great Gerald Irons played host to seven sports champions at Carlton Woods Clubhouse of The Woodlands. The event raised $20,000 toward the organization ’s 2010 campaign goal.

Celebrity sports figures in attendance were: Houston Astros’ Jim DeShaies, New England Patriots’ Tory James, Houston Rockets’ Matt Bullard, Olympic platform diver Laura Wilkinson, Houston Astros’ Doug Drabek, Boston Celtics’ and Houston Rockets’ Coach Bill Fitz and New England Patriots’ Michael Bishop.

(L-R) Sherry Summers-Ball, Body BeneFits Inc.; Donna Wick, Montgomery County Women ’s Center; Janell Blackmon, Avante Laser & MediSpa; and Rodney Anderson, Crescent Moon Wine Bar, with the donation check from the fashion show fundraiser for the Women’s Center. Not pictured is Elizabeth Goodwin, Elizabeth’s Boutique.

fashion show benefits women’s center. Avante Laser & MediSpa, Elizabeth’s Boutique, Body BeneFits, Inc. and Crescent Moon Wine Bar hosted a fashion show at Elizabeth ’s Boutique as a fundraiser for the Montgomery County Women’s Center.

In addition to the monetary donation made to the Women’s Center, the fashion show also garnered numerous bags of skin care products and toiletries for women residing in the emergency shelter for abused and battered women.

Montgomery County region,” said Alex Sutton, president of TWWAC. “We are committed to the arts and excited to be able to support The Woodlands community through this event, ” said A. Steve Arizpe, Administaff executive vice president of client services and chief operating officer.

Additional sponsors of the event include The Woodlands Development Company and The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival will be celebrating its fifth year April 10-11. Approximately 215 fine arts and crafts artists exhibit in the juried show that provides more than $20,000 in scholarships to high school students each year. Charity Partners, who provide volunteers for the festival, receive a portion of the proceeds.