CultureMap readers have spoken loud and clear during the 2015 CultureMap Houston Charity Challenge presented by Yellow Cab. Of the 12,400 digital votes, more than one third were cast in favor of one of the 12 nonprofit partners that participated in the online competition spotlighting organizations that make Houston a better place to call home.
The envelope . . . please.
Casa de Esperanza de los Niños (House of Hope for Children) has emerged victorious. The organization will receive an exclusive advertising package from CultureMap valued at $5,000, in addition to a $2,500 cash donation and a $200 gift card courtesy of Yellow Cab plus other goodies.
Casa de Esperanza is in the company of other deserving groups — including the Alzheimer's Association Houston and Southeast Texas Chapter, Ambassadors for Texas Children's Hospital, American Heart Association, DePelchin's Children Center, Houston Area Women's Center, Houston Museum District, Latin Women's Initiative, Peach Outreach, Small Steps Nurturing Center and Urban Harvest — that were chosen with input from CultureMap society guru Shelby Hodge.
"We are very lucky to have such amazing supporters."
Since opening its doors, Casa de Esperanza has provided residential services and coordinated medical and psychological care for children infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS. With a donation of $500 plus a little help from their friends, Kathy Foster and Bill Jones opened the nonprofit's first home in 1982.
"Casa de Esperanza is very excited to win the challenge," Foster says. "We are grateful for our partnership with CultureMap and the continued support in spreading the mission of our organization."
Jodi Gough, the group's development coordinator, credits Casa de Esperanza's success in the charity challenge to daily emails to staff, family and friends, alongside e-blasts and an ongoing social media campaign on Facebook and Twitter, that reminded constituents to visit the challenge website and vote.
"We are very lucky to have such amazing supporters," Gough tells CultureMap.
In second place with 29 percent of the votes was The Will Herndon Fund, which supports research to treat and cure juvenile Batten disease. The top two spots in the challenge suggest that Houstonians have a soft spot for causes that help children.
Casa de Esperanza de los Niños has won the 2015 CultureMap Houston Charity Challenge presented by Yellow Cab.
