The soft whir of LEGO robots rolling across the floor mixed with the chatter of educators, community partners and Harris County Department of Education (HCDE) staff as guests stepped into the Junior League of Houston on May 13. More than 230 attendees at the Education Foundation of Harris County’s (EFHC) annual Heart of Education Luncheon were welcomed by students eager to demonstrate the skills they developed long after the final school bell rang.  

Two teams of students from Sam Houston Elementary School in Galena Park Independent School District drew crowds to each corner of the room as they participated in a mock All-Earth Ecobot Challenge, an afterschool program promoting STEM learning among elementary and middle school students. They built, coded and carefully guided their LEGO robots through a series of environmental-themed tasks as their eyes darted between computer screens and obstacle paths. Guests asked questions about the curriculum, cheered the students on and felt the joy of being momentarily transported into the energy and creativity of an afterschool program in action.  

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“These kids are so excited to show off their knowledge and robots, and it’s really refreshing to see,” EFHC Board Chair Michael Parks said. “This is a great opportunity for business leaders and community partners to learn about programs that they didn’t know existed, and if we can get them to invest and help fill the gaps in education, then these students’ future will only get brighter.”  

EFHC is the non-profit, philanthropic arm of HCDE, generating support for educational programs and initiatives within Harris County’s 25 school districts. This year’s luncheon theme — “From Backpacks to Briefcases: Building Skills for Tomorrow’s Workforce” — highlights the impact the Center for Afterschool, Summer and Enrichment (CASE) for Kids has in preparing students for success beyond the classroom. CASE for Kids connects students with high-quality afterschool programming and summer learning opportunities through partnerships with area school districts, community partners and local businesses, helping them gain access to academic support, arts enrichment, mentorship and leadership development. Operating year-round to provide a safe learning environment, the program not only helps students succeed academically but also prepares them for future careers and lifelong success.  

“Their world exists within a few-mile radius, but afterschool programs introduce them to community partners that share their skills and passions and ultimately open their world to new possibilities,” Division Senior Director Dr. Lisa Caruthers explained during her opening address. “That opportunity means everything to our kids because they might have an interest in various careers, but have no knowledge of how to achieve their goals. That’s where afterschool programs help fill the gap.”  

Spring Branch ISD students from the CASE Debates program impressed guests next as four high schoolers gathered on stage for a mock debate centered on the importance of investing in EFHC and life-changing opportunities made possible through community support. Attendees were handed scorecards and encouraged to evaluate each side’s arguments as students passionately defended how EFHC funding helps sustain afterschool and summer programming. As part of the presentation, students walked onto the stage carrying backpacks before exiting with briefcases in hand, a symbolic reminder of the luncheon’s theme and the role CASE for Kids played in equipping students with the poise, persuasive oratory skills and ability to command a crowded room. 

“We often hear from companies that they can teach students technical skills for a job, but need them to come in with the soft skills,” Caruthers said. “Employers can’t teach people to engage with their colleagues or set the phone down, but students in CASE for Kids are already building those skills and that infrastructure inside themselves by participating in various activities that will naturally carry over into the workforce.”  

Leisa Holland-Nelson and Shavonnah Robert Scheiber, the luncheon co-hosts and founders of the radio show Culture Club HTX, introduced a video further highlighting the impact of EFHC funding on CASE for Kids programming. Former afterschool students, including Adrian Izaguirre, shared how their experience was instrumental in finding colleges and career pathways that led to their current employment.  

Izaguirre, who attended Houston ISD’s Cesar Chavez High School, credits the CASE for Kids Ambassador program with changing his life. Designed to help students become representatives for afterschool programming and establish them as leaders on campus, the program also provides students with the necessary information and advocacy skills to meet with local, state and national government leaders. Izaguirre described how sharing the meaning of out-of-school-time programming with elected officials was a critical turning point in his life, where he realized his potential.  

“Being a CASE Ambassador laid the foundation for the leader I am today,” he said with a smile. “I’m now able to give back to my community through the skills I learned afterschool and throughout my education, once again possible through the guidance of CASE staff and scholarship opportunities they helped me find.”  

The first-generation high school and college graduate returned to CASE for Kids as a County Connections site coordinator, spending five years identifying and funding nonprofit organizations that offer youth summer enrichment programs. They include sports, fine arts, academic enrichment, college-readiness initiatives and mentoring.  

Izaguirre now serves as the Texas director for civic engagement at the NALEO Education Fund, where he leads efforts to empower Latino communities, drive voter turnout for upcoming elections and support naturalization workshops.  

“The impact that CASE for Kids has on students’ lives cannot always be measured quantitatively, but you can definitely see it,” Izaguirre said. “It’s shown up in my life and career in the people I’ve interacted and collaborated with, my peers and the memories and programs we reminisce about. Without a doubt, CASE for Kids is making an impact and changing people’s lives, just as it has changed mine.” 

EFHC closed the event by honoring longtime supporter Donna Fujimoto Cole with the Heart of Education Champion Award for her enduring commitment to public education and youth enrichment programs across Harris County. The third-generation Japanese American entrepreneur founded Cole Chemical & Distributing, Inc. in the 1980s after earning a reputation for exceptional customer service and high-quality products. Cole has become a passionate advocate for public school students and steadfast supporter of EFHC initiatives, which include her contributions as the founding funder of the CASE for Kids Ecobot program.  

“We wanted children who weren’t from affluent households to be able to compete with kids from wealthier neighborhoods who already had access to computers and internet access,” she recalled. “Now we get to see hundreds of students each year solve coding problems, express their creativity and have fun in a program many people found difficult to conceive when we first started.”  

Cole’s funding came full circle when Galena Park ISD students who participated in the Ecobot demonstration at the start cheered her on and offered shouts of gratitude for their STEM curriculum. Cole explained how every student deserves the chance to discover their strengths and passions, even when those talents are not found in a traditional classroom setting.  

“Whether it’s STEM, music or arts, afterschool programs encourage students to grow,” Cole said. “They create a space for them to learn how to play and work with other people, keep kids out of trouble and stimulate the talents within them. We must make sure those programs are available to them, and that’s where your donations to EFHC start making a difference, because when kids pursue things they are passionate about, their potential for growth is endless.” 

The Heart of Education Luncheon raised more than $95,000 to support CASE for Kids and other EFHC initiatives that expand access to scholarships, resources and programming for students across Harris County. As guests said their goodbyes, the “Backpack to Briefcases” theme once again lingered as a reminder that, with the right support, mentorship and opportunities, students can develop the confidence and skills needed to succeed beyond the classroom.