It started with a simple idea.

Then that one small thought grew legs and ran.

How could Harris County Department of Education and the Education Foundation of Harris County properly thank the many community and business partners that invest in initiatives, programs and events for students ranging from young children to adult learners?

Through conversations between Joyce Akins, the Director Harris County Department of Education’s (HCDE) Center for Grants Development, and Trina Silva, Education Foundation and Partnerships Director, the final result was the “Celebrating Impact” Donor Appreciation Breakfast. Held Sept. 18, hundreds of Department advocates filled the Irvington Conference Center for a morning of fellowship, networking, good food and the chance to not only see all HCDE does to fill in the gaps in education, but how partners and funds make the opportunities possible.

In addition to attendees, several HCDE divisions that collaborate with community partners to serve students and families across Harris County also hosted display tables.

“We pride ourselves on being the seekers of the blind spots some of these tables that you see around here today address exactly that,” Superintendent James Colbert Jr. said in his welcome remarks to the room. “There are many populations in not only Harris County but throughout the country that don’t get much advocacy, so we try to become their advocates.

“And it’s the spectrum. It’s everything from a young child that was born into generational poverty all the way up to our ‘reluctant’ learners who don’t necessarily value what you might be teaching in a class, to even adult education where we have people who come back to get their GED equivalent at the age of 60.”

Donors were gifted encased certificates of appreciation, each featuring student selected artwork on the backside. The pieces were among top finishers at the 2026 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards – HCDE serves as the second-largest regional affiliate for the prestigious scholarship and recognition program.

They also heard how funds raised support initiatives within Head Start, the Center for Educator Success (CES), and the Center for Afterschool, Summer and Enrichment (CASE) for Kids.

For Head Start, the SuperMENtors program not only fosters a joy for reading to some of Harris County’s youngest learners – they receive copies of each book during the school year – but connects these 3- and 4-year-olds with a male role model who is present and committed to their success.

“What a joy it’s been these last few years to walk into a room and be bum-rushed by little children with a hug and them saying, ‘You’re back,’” said Journey of Faith Pastor Stephen Goldsmith, a SuperMENtor at Humble Head Start, which shares the same site as the church. “We see more women in the classroom so for this opportunity for children to be exposed to male mentors and community partners making a significant impact outside of their classroom, that’s a great thing for SuperMENtors.”

A CES video showcased the Early Childhood Winter Conference, explaining how more than 1,000 educators spent the day learning new strategies and hands-on activities to take back to their respective early childhood learning centers.

CASE for Kids Senior Director Dr. Lisa Caruthers introduced Taylor Baker, a teacher and Ecobot educator at Tice Elementary School in Galena Park Independent School District. The All-Earth Ecobot Challenge exposed hundreds of students across Harris County to robotics, coding and critical thinking, all while helping solve real-world problems in the competition.

“To me, the best thing about Ecobot is seeing students who may struggle in traditional academics discover that they can create, collaborate and excel,” said Baker, who has led Tice students in the challenge for five years. “The impact on our students has been profound. They’ve learned how to work through failure, think critically and believe in themselves. As a teacher, Ecobot reminds me just how important hands-on learning can be.”

Each group of donors were recognized, starting with “Friends” and moving up to “Advocates,” “Partners” and “Champions.”

Top individual, corporate donors and community partners were also highlighted. Among the top individuals were Board Trustee Erick Dick and Donna Cole, this year’s EFHC Heart of Education Champion Award recipient.

CenterPoint Energy Foundation, H-E-B Tournament of Champions Charitable Trust and Versa Creative were the top business partners honored, while the Henderson Foundation, Houston Endowment Inc. and TDECU Cares Foundation were top community partners.

“As Mr. Colbert said, we look for those blind spots,” said Board President Richard Cantu, who also serves on the EFHC Board of Directors. “We look for those neighborhoods where it’s not going on and it’s really needed. With your help, whether it’s a personal donation, corporate gift or longstanding support from foundations in this community, it’s all making a tremendous difference in keeping kids off the street, keeping them coming to school, wanting to learn and being successful in life. We couldn’t do it without and we appreciate you.”