2018 Annual Meeting & Recognition Luncheon
On Tuesday, April 24, 2018, the Community Foundation of West Texas held its Annual Meeting & Recognition Luncheon (formerly known as the Annual Grantee Luncheon). The luncheon recognized six outstanding nonprofit organizations, as well as two additional awardees for the amazing service they provide to Lubbock and the South Plains.
Listed below are the honorees, as well as a short description of their project they were being recognized for. Each recipient received a $500.00 grant, with the Impact Award honoree receiving a $1,000.00 grant!
Grantee Awards
Animals
Paws Pet Adoption of Plainview
Catios and Equipment
Paws Pet Adoption of Plainview was established in June 2014 with the goal of reducing euthanasia through spay/neuter programs, adoption, and transport for the dogs and cats at the shelter. The spay/neuter program is the first in Plainview and has spayed or neutered over 100 pets to date. Grants from the Community Foundation of West Texas helped Paws to launch the spay/neuter assistance program and helped to pay for the personnel to manage the kennel area.
To learn more about Paws Adoption of Plainview, please visit them at www.facebook.com/pawspetadoptionplv.
Arts and Culture
Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts (LHUCA)
Healing Arts Outreach Program
LHUCA is a center for the visual, performing and literary arts on the South Plains and celebrated its 20th Anniversary in 2017. Its signature programs are the monthly First Friday Art Trail and annual Flatland Film Festival. Believing in the healing power of the arts, LHUCA is partnering with Covenant Health and StarCare Specialty Health System to provide a range of art experiences for their clients. A grant from the Community Foundation of West Texas helped fund a staff member to create this program.
To learn more about LHUCA, please visit them at www.lhuca.org.
Basic Needs and Self Sufficiency
Llano Estacado Silver Star Board
Heating and Air Conditioning Assistance
The Llano Estacado Silver Star Board was formed in 2009 to help Adult Protective Services caseworkers meet the needs of seniors and persons with disabilities in the South Plains. Some of the assistance they provide helps seniors and disabled persons who are victims of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. With grants from the Community Foundation of West Texas, the Llano Estacado Silver Star Board was able to purchase air conditioners and heaters for their clients so that they can be comfortable, no matter what season it is.
To learn more about the Llano Estacado Silver Star Board, please visit them at www.facebook.com/llanoestacadosilverstarboard.
Civic, Social and Economic Development
Slaton Railroad Heritage Association
Denver Caboose Interior Restoration
The mission of the Slaton Railroad Heritage Association is to keep alive the important history of the railroad in West Texas, operating out of a restored 1912 Harvey Eating House, as a museum, bed & breakfast, and community event center. With the generous assistance of the Community Foundation of West Texas, the Slaton nonprofit undertook a project to restore the exterior of an early 1900s Fort Worth & Denver caboose, and this year they began fundraising to return the interior back to its original state. The caboose will serve as an interactive exhibit.
To learn more about the Slaton Railroad Heritage Association, please visit them at www.slatonharveyhouse.com.
Education and Youth
Guadalupe-Parkway Sommerville Center
Scoutreach
The Guadalupe-Parkway Somerville Center was established in 1962 by Barbara Sommerville, the Lubbock Area United Way, and the City of Lubbock to address the needs of families in the Guadalupe neighborhood area. They provide opportunities for children to grow and learn, including instruction in computers, literacy, sports, and fine arts. With grants through the Community Foundation of West Texas, Guadalupe-Parkway Sommerville Center is able to participate in Scoutreach. Scoutreach is a partnership with the South Plains Council of the Boy Scouts of America to offer Scouting programs at no cost with staff acting in the roles traditionally reserved for parent volunteers. This allows children to participate in Scouting without financial barriers.
To learn more about the Guadalupe-Parkway Sommerville Center, please visit them at www.guadalupe-parkway.org.
Impact Award
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lubbock
Santa Cops
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lubbock (BBBS) was established in 1970 and has created successful at-risk youth mentoring programs for the South Plains. BBBS has matched thousands of children with their adult mentors. One of the programs that BBBS has is made possible through the Lubbock Professional Police Association. The annual Santa Cops event is an opportunity for children in BBBS to get to work with and understand their local Lubbock Police Department. The officers and adult mentors partner to give the kids a day full of clothes, shoes, gifts, and a visit to Santa. The event allows the children and their families to be served in a different capacity by Lubbock police officers.
To learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lubbock, please visit them at www.bbbslubbock.org.
This year the Foundation introduced two new philanthropist awards: The Heart of the Foundation Award and the Legacy Award. The Heart of the Foundation Award will be made to an individual who has donated their time and efforts to the Foundation to further the mission of the organization. The Legacy award will be presented to an individual or corporation who has made the Foundation a part of their philanthropic giving. Listed below are this year's award recipients.
Heart of the Foundation Award
Nancy Phillips
Nancy Phillips is a native of Lubbock and has been a positive force in the community since day one. Her family valued volunteerism and service in the community, carrying that spirit of giving, everywhere they went. Nancy carries on her family’s giving legacy throughout her life. Probably most notable is her work in the education field in the South Plains. Nancy helped to create the Lubbock Exemplary Academic Program (LEAP), as well as various other educational programs in the 30 years she dedicated to the Lubbock Independent School District. She was always told “It is better to give than to receive,” and she continues to embody the giving spirit every day. Nancy has served the Foundation in many capacities, including helping with grants and scholarships committees.
Legacy Award
Parkhill, Smith & Cooper
Parkhill, Smith & Cooper Inc. was established in 1945 in Lubbock, Texas and now has more than 300 employees in nine offices across Texas and New Mexico. PSC is a multidisciplinary firm that provides comprehensive architectural and engineering design services for a multitude of projects in government, commercial and institutional sectors - including K-12 and higher education, public works, environmental, infrastructure, transportation, healthcare and church facilities. PSC’s internal resources includes design professionals in architecture, civil engineering, interior design, landscape architecture, MEP engineering and structural engineering. Since inception of the Building Community Fund in 2015, PSC has donated more than $900,000 to fund more than 50 projects for community organizations across Texas. PSC employees also volunteer in their community.
Special thanks to Lubbock Christian University for the use of their Baker Conference Center for the luncheon!
