This committee:
- Maintains a partnership with the HAY Center to enrich the lives of current and former foster youth.
- Organizes an annual holiday party with gifts, food, a visit from Santa, family-friendly activities, and more.
- Assists in the Prom Event by requesting formal wear donations and volunteering at the event.
- Assists with the Graduation Party to celebrate high school seniors.
- Volunteers for the College Bound Experience to help youth headed to college shop for clothing and other needs.
- Conducts a series of legal presentations throughout the year to educate the youth about their rights and responsibilities.
2024-2025 Co-Chairs:
Joseph Sanchez, Harris County District Attorney’s Office
Cara Vasquez, Vasquez Waite PLLC
For more information on this committee, contact HBA Projects and Events Director Bonnie Simmons at bonnies@hba.org or (346) 471-3418.
2024 HAY Center Graduation Party
On June 3, the HAY Center celebrated current and former foster youth who are graduating from high school or earning their bachelor’s degrees. We were thrilled to host 30 high school graduates and 2 college graduates. Congratulations to all the graduates!
Thank you to all of our sponsors and volunteers!
Graduate Wish-List Sponsors:
Ann Clayton
Barbara Lauterbach
C.L. Schnaubelt
Christine Herron
Pat Herron
Glenda Duru
Sara Bluemel
Misty Bluemel-Duvalle
Stephen Dockery
Mary Jo Cantu
Volunteers for Pre-Set Up and Event Assistance:
Charles Shaw
Mary Jo Cantu
Joseph Cantu
Anne Clayton
2024 Prom Readiness Event
Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this year's HAY Center Prom Readiness event an unforgettable experience for foster youth. Thanks to the many donations, they were able to 'shop' for free prom attire and accessories so that they could attend their own prom. Volunteer seamstresses were also provided to tailor-fit clothing for the youth, along with gift cards for them to enjoy dinner before prom. Together, we united to transform prom dreams into reality!
Thank you to all of our volunteers:
Patrice Barron
Judge Andrea Beall
Candyce Thompson Beneke
Sara Bluemel
Linda Bridges
Jessica Caird
Gary Cerasuolo
Erin Craig
Patricia Davis
Mynde Eisen
Amanda Halter
Christine Herron
Linda Hester
Janiece Horn
Leon Kaplan
Katie Lumpkin
Mary Lou Rainey
Ashley Selwyn
Gabrielle Stipanuk
Dolores Valero
Stephanie Young
2023 HAY Center Holiday Party
Click the image below to view the photo album!
This year we were able to bring joy to 150+ current and former foster youth and their families.
Thank you to the Lawyers for a Beautiful Houston Committee, the Senior Lawyers Committee, our donors and volunteers for supporting this event.
Thank you to all who volunteered or donated to make our HAY Center Holiday Party a success!
Volunteers
Ashley Selwyn
Barbara Lauterbach
Bonnie Simmons
Caitlin Halpern
Candyce Thompson Beneke
Catherine Schnaubelt
Christine Herron
Dolores Valero
Dorothy Kuehn
Emily Thompson
Emma Rose Brockway
Hon. Erika Ramirez
Erin Craig
Georgina Pena
Glenda Duru
Janiece Horn
Jessica Caird
Joan Cerasuolo
Joseph Sanchez
Kenneth Courville
Kimberly Clark
Leon Kaplan
Margo Ogram
Mike Von Blon
Mynde Eisen
Nancy Tucker
Pat Herron
Shannon Almes
Donors
Catherine Schnaubelt
Hon. Erika Ramirez
Erin Craig
Janna Oswald
Jessica Caird
Katherine Brooker
Mary Jo Cantu
Rehana Vohra
Sara Bluemel
Scott Arrington
Susan Cook
Lady Washington Chapter, NSDAR
National Society Colonial Dames XVII
Century John Champion Chapter
Shook, Hardy & Bacon, LLP