Through the Texas Children’s Houston Open and its Birdies for Charity program, Harris County Department of Education (HCDE) staff helped raise more than $67,000 to support the Education Foundation of Harris County (EFHC).

The fundraising campaign ran from September to March, and area nonprofit organizations used the city’s professional golf tour stop as leverage to generate donations. A 5% match was guaranteed through the program, but due to #TeamHCDE’s generous giving and a sponsorship from Chevron, the Astros Golf Foundation was able to increase the match to 14.7%.

Total funds raised equaled $58,561.75 through EFHC in its first year in the program and $8,532.45 through the bonus match, marking a grand total of $67,094.20. HCDE Chief of Staff Danielle Bartz and EFHC Director Trina Silva attended the Houston Open Celebratory Luncheon on June 9 at Union Station at Daikin Park.