The Menil Collection recently celebrated its 30th Birthday Party on Saturday, June 3, 2017. This fun community celebration included live music, dance performances, and a delicious birthday cake. This event was free and open to the public. The Menil Collection is shaped by the vision of its founders, John and Dominique de Menil, and their belief that the arts are central to the human experience. For more information about the Menil Collection visit their website at https://www.menil.org/.
Priti Patkar - Co-founder Prerana Interview
1. What brings you to Houston?
Priti Patkar explains that she is an Indian social worker & human rights activist who is the co-founder and director of an organization improving the lives of others called Prerana which means inspiration. Prerana has done pioneering work in the red-light districts of Mumbai, India to protect children that are vulnerable to commercial human sex trafficking.
2. What do you hope to accomplish during your Houston trip?
Patkar comes to Houston to form a partnership with Building Smart Kids. Building Smart Kids will offer services to help tutor kids that have the inability to pick up English. English is a global language Patkar says and the people of Mumbai will definitely benefit from learning English. This partnership will prepare young people for college. For more information visit our website at www.preranaantitrafficking.org.
3. Who is your hero? Ghandi
Sofia Ivanka - Founder of Building Smart Kids Interview
1. What is Building Smart Kids?
Building Smart Kids is a program that tutors kids.
2. What makes your tutoring style different from the others?
We offer Montessori style so that all students can learn at their own pace, and can connect the dots with understanding. We often meet the teachers to make sure students’ needs are being met and have a low student-to-teacher ratio for all grade levels. Ivanka says that the STAAR test is a standardized test does not work. We are here to help the students.
3. What is Building Smart Kids motto?
Our motto is smart kids are built not born.
4. Who benefits from your program?
Underprivileged children in at-risk areas. For more information on Building Smart Kids visit our website at http://buildingsmartkids.org. Building Smart Kids recently held a Re-Building India VIP event that took place on Monday, May 22nd at 12:00 PM at Coronado Club, 919 Milam St, Houston, TX.
Supporters of The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) are in action as it recently hosted its fourth annual Audrey Hepburn Society Ball to honor and pay tribute to UNICEF’s Ambassador and actress Angie Harmon with the Spirit of Compassion Award for all of her philanthropic contributions on Wednesday, May 24, 2017 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Downtown Houston. Rosanette and Harry Cullen were presented with the Margaret Alkek Williams Humanitarian Award for their extraordinary contributions to the causes of children, health, and education in the city of Houston and the state of Texas through the Cullen Foundation. Remarks were given by Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner with more than 450 guests in attendance.
The stellar evening lived up to its name and was as beautiful as Audrey Hepburn, herself, as her philanthropic spirit definitely filled the air. UNICEF continues to work in more than 190 countries around the world to improve and save children’s lives by providing clean water, health care, education, and emergency relief. According to UNICEF’s website, the U.S. Fund for UNICEF supports UNICEF’s work through fundraising, advocacy, and education in the United States. UNICEF’s mission is to prevent children from dying from preventable causes and for every child to have a safe and healthy childhood.
After a stellar performance by Grammy award-winning recording artist Michael Bolton, a live auction took place which included a trip to the Academy Awards show, a custom Victor Costa gown, Nini Jewels “Royale Collection” earrings weighing 47 carats from Saks Fifth Avenue, an intimate concert experience by Grammy Award Winner Ana María Martínez and a luxurious vacation in a private house with personal chef in San Miguel, Mexico. The event raised more than $910,000 with the help of Margaret Alkek Williams. To learn more about UNICEF or give to UNICEF, visit their website at http://www.unicefusa.org/mission or call them at 1-800-367-5437.
