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Charity Challenge spotlight: Providing independence and opportunity for developmentally disabled adults

The Center provides important services to people with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

Houston's a city of great giving and the CultureMap Charity Challenge aims to highlight that. CultureMap selected 12 deserving nonprofits to compete for a grand prize as they all raise awareness for worthy causes. Today: The Center.

The Center is a nonprofit agency that has served people with developmental and intellectual disabilities through innovative programs and compassionate care since 1950. It offers day services, full residential programs in both rural and urban settings, respite care and an engaging vocational program to provide a spectrum of choice based on individual circumstances and capabilities.

The programs promote individual choice, personal growth and independence for those with developmental disabilities.

The Center's Home and Community Based Services offer a range of community-based residential options that include apartment living, single-family homes, foster care and in-home support. Services are carefully tailored to the client's needs and their choice of living arrangements, and residential options are available throughout the Houston area.

The organization's Independent Living Program is an on-site program that offers individuals the opportunity to live independently in their own efficiency-style apartment while still benefiting from the resources and services The Center has to offer including on-site medical care, vocational training and placement and caring relationships.

In addition to services for those with developmental disabilities, The Center also offers respite services to families and caregivers with both overnight and weekend care.

Supporters of The Center are embarking on an ambitious fundraising drive with a 4,000 mile biking expedition across the United States next summer. The once-in-a-lifetime journey, called Pursuit, hopes to raise $11 million to purchase The Center's property on West Dallas street, increase programming and establish an endowment. Along the transcontinental route, cyclists will connect with other agencies, experts, volunteers and organizations that support those with developmental disabilities across the nation.

Vote now for The Center — or one of the other worthy local nonprofits — in the CultureMap Charity Challenge.

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Charity Challenge Winner

Organization with a special mission wins 2016 CultureMap Charity Challenge

Courtesy photo

Freedom Place is the first long-term, comprehensive care facility in Texas for underage victims of domestic child sex trafficking, and is one of only five such facilities in the country.

The votes have been calculated and the results of the third CultureMap Charity Challenge — a two-week online contest in which readers were asked to recognize the good work of a dozen local non-profit organizations — are in.

Garnering 30 percent of the more than 17,000 total votes, Freedom Place is the 2016 grand prize recipient and will receive an exclusive promotion and advertising package from CultureMap valued at $10,000.

Freedom Place is a Christian-oriented care and recovery center for underage female victims of domestic child sex trafficking. It's the first long-term, comprehensive care facility in Texas for underage victims of domestic child sex trafficking, and is one of only five such facilities in the country.

The organization's mission is to offer a successful path to freedom for American children who have suffered as victims of commercial sexual exploitation.

“The benefit of the CultureMap Charity Challenge has been huge. It’s helped unite and unify us for a movement we believe is great,” Debi Tengler, national development director of Arrow Child & Family Ministries, told CultureMap. “It’s been exciting to see our national organization, donors and the community step up and root for us.”

K9s4COPS came in a close second with 28 percent of the votes. Founded in 2010 by Kristi Schiller, K9s4COPS is a non-profit foundation whose mission is to ensure that every law enforcement agency be provided a well-trained K9 to accompany officers on duty, ready for action.

The other worthy local the charities that took in this year's challenge are:

You can read about each charity in the CultureMap Charity Challenge special series.

Freedom Place is the first long-term, comprehensive care facility in Texas for underage victims of domestic child sex trafficking, and is one of only five such facilities in the country.

Houston, Freedom Place, January 2016, girl with horse

Courtesy photo

Freedom Place is the first long-term, comprehensive care facility in Texas for underage victims of domestic child sex trafficking, and is one of only five such facilities in the country.

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