Houston Texans support Genesys' Community Works
July 17, 2007
New program raises civic engagement among inner-city youth
More than a dozen Genesys Works students played Big Brothers and Sisters for a day to a group of elementary aged children who seek guidance. The event was organized with Big Brothers Big Sisters Houston as part of a new Genesys Works program designed to foster a sense of civic responsibility among inner-city high school students who are themselves learning the keys to professional success.
Genesys Works President Rafael Alvarez said he believes the new program will teach students that, in addition to having a career and making a good salary, professional success includes being an active part of the community. Football tickets donated by the Houston Texans Foundation will be provided to students who participate in the service projects.
"Support from the Houston Texans Foundation will help get our Community Works program off the ground by providing incentives for students to participate in events like the one with Big Brothers Big Sisters," Alvarez said.
One standout among those volunteers was Davis High School's Allenrachelle Fontenot, who is currently receiving training in information technology at Genesys Works. Fontenot was the winner of a student community-service essay contest for a pair of football tickets courtesy of the Houston Texans Foundation. Fontenot will serve as a volunteer leader for other Genesys Works students, as her winning submission described fundraising and volunteer efforts to renovate and refurnish the home of her friend, who had been diagnosed with leukemia.
"When it comes to community service, I am the first person on the scene," Fontenot said. "I love helping people in need, especially because I know how it feels to need help."
In addition to rewarding Fontenot, the Texans Foundation will also provide 60 tickets to Genesys Works students for an exhibition game at Reliant Stadium later this summer.
"Having supported Genesys Works in the past, we were eager to support their community service efforts and reward their hardworking students in their new program," said the Houston Texans Foundation Programs Coordinator Soraya Lewis.
The June event with Big Brothers Big Sisters Houston kicked off a series of community service projects in which students will participate throughout the summer and during the fall of their senior year in high school. BBBS coordinator Linda Spencer who organized the event said she was thrilled to have Genesys Works students mentoring little brothers and sisters in the program.
"They were awesome with the children," Spencer said. "I hope the Genesys Works students will continue to mentor while they are in college."
Throughout their enrollment in Genesys Works, students will continue volunteering for Big Brothers Big Sisters and initiate other service projects to address major Houston community issues such as hunger, homelessness, conservation projects and other youth mentoring activities.
Genesys Works is a Houston-based non-profit organization whose mission is to enable underprivileged high school students to enter and thrive in the economic mainstream by providing them with the knowledge and work experience required to succeed as professionals.
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