The Special Olympics Texan East Region is getting a bunch of help from Jersey Mike’s who is conducting a cool fundraiser on March 27th. They will donate all proceeds to Special Olympics nationwide. To tell us how if affects Texas, my guests are: Ainsley Spenser, a Special Olympics athlete with a great story of friendship, AJ Edenzon, the Executive Director of Special Olympics Texan East Region, Carolina Proaño, a marketing specialist for a Jersey Mikes franchise in Houston and John Foster, the area director for Jersey Mike’s. Go to www.sotx.org to see their many programs which brings families and friends together on a weekly basis.

Lisa Tynan is the marketing and special events specialist for Houston PetSet. We celebrate their 20 years of service to Texans by discussing the great success they have had lobbying our city and state government to enact more humane laws. They also offer free chip and vaccine services and we explain how important it is to do this with our pets. And we always talk about their pet transports. They have sent opver 10,000 cats and dogs to states up north so they could be adopted. Their websites have great videos you should check out. They’ll fill your heart with hope and joy! Go to www.houstonpetset.org and also consider donating a few bucks. They’re doing great work.

Sylvia Villalpando is the Homeowner Services Associate Director for Houston Habitat for Humanity. Their success is in large part due to their “Sweat Equity” program, which requires potential homeowners to take financial management classes and to put in some work in helping others with their home needs. We also discuss how Houston Habitat chooses applicants and how they buy land to build houses. They need volunteers and we also discuss the great help they’re getting from big companies in Houston. Go to: www.houstonhabitat.org

Jacque Daughtry is the CEO of Literacy Now and Jacklyn Wilson is their chief Operating officer. Only about 30% of Houston Area 3rd graders can read at their 3rd grade level when they are pushed into 4th grade. This condemns these kids to a life of poverty and, probably, petty crime or worse. That’s what the data tells us. Literacy Now helps those kids catch up to their reading level and it works because there is nothing wrong with the kids! It’s how we allow our public education system to fail them that is wrong. Other programs Literacy Now operates help them achieve this goal: Reading Intervention, The Reading Express and the crucial Parent Partnership because without the parents participating, it’s harder to get the kids to learn. You can volunteer and donate here:www.literacynowhouston.org

Anne Marie Blacketer is the CEO of Lupus Texas Gulf Coast. Lupus is still a relatively unknown disease to most and raising awareness is how we can create more research opportunities. The disease affects black women disproportionately and we still don’t know the cause, nor is there any cure. Lupus Texas Gulf Coast offers support to those living with Lupus, including a summer camp for children that is held at Camp For All in Burton, TX. It’s designed to engage kids between the ages of 5-15 who have lupus. Check out their website: https://www.lupus.org/texasgulfcoast

Sonja Gee is the President & CEO of Memorial Assistance Ministries (MAM). They never dropped the ball during the pandemic. They kept their doors as open as legally possible and continuing their services uninterrupted. They are launching a new program: the Innova Community Business Academy, designed to to empower entrepreneurs and small businesses in poor communities. Their first graduating class was a great success and they are already expanding which means over twice as many graduates in 2024! MAM also has a great Literacy Advance program and that is on top of all their services supporting in need of long term support. Go to: www.mamhouston.org

Neha Agrawal is a clinical pharmacist at Legacy Community Health and Jose Romero is their Director of Therapy Services. Legacy Health Community Health provides mental health assistance from prescriptions to psychotherapy. Patients are followed and connected to the right providers. We also discuss the misuse diabetes drugs like Ozempic, which people are taking to loose weight. We also discuss the great risk of buying prescription drugs online. Go to www.legacycommunityhealth.org for more information on their holistic programs available to all.

DeJuana Jernigan is the CEO of Arms Wide and this time, she brought some friends. Laura and John Preble are foster parents for Arms Wide and they are living examples of how rewarding fostering can be. They also explain that with the help of Arms Wide, becoming a foster parents is doable for any couple. You just need to want to do it and Arms Wide will help you. The Prebles share their moving stories of loving foster babies and how they get help from Arms Wide. (They choose to care for very little kids but you can choose to foster older kids it’s that’s what you have in mind.) From the terrific training Arms Wide offers to the constant support of case-workers, foster parents are actually the head of a team. They are never alone in dealing with the children, no matter their needs. It’s an incredible organization. There is a great need for foster parents so if it’s something you’ve thought of, listen to the Prebles explain in the simplest terms how to get involved. Go to ArmsWide.org

Samantha Anchia is the Development Director for Northwest Assistance Ministries, one of our non-profits that never stopped serving the community, even at the height of COVID lockdowns. They kept their Meals on Wheels rolling for our seniors – they deliver over 900 meals every day!. They are currently helping people with the rent and mortgage assistance program, programs for our veterans and helping women escape domestic violence. They’re also doing a massive toy drive to provide a Christmas to children that would otherwise go without and they’ll be delivering Thanksgiving and Christmas meals, too.
Help them do all this by going to their website and donating what you can: www.namonline.org

Kaitlyn Dougherty is the Exhibits Development Coordinator for the Children's Museum of Houston and Keith Ostfeld (aka Mr. O), is their director of educational technology and exhibit development. As they do every year, the museum installs their Season of Sharing exhibit, a series of little houses you can visit to learn about the Holiday traditions around the world. They’re also doing an awesome grown-ups only night at the museum. Secret Night Out adults only adult night Friday the 17th and it’s your opportunity to climb their awesome tower with a margarita in your hand. Doesn’t that sound like a good time! Check out their website for info and to see all the other awesome exhibits they have: www.cmhouston.org