The transition to using Bright Funds for CMC donations has been bumpy. In an effort to encourage employees to come back to or join in recurring donations, we are issuing a High 5 for CMC challenge. Every employee who signs up for a recurring donation of $5 or more a paycheck, will be recognized in January 2024 for their contributions to our CMC success.

If only half of the city employee population signed up to donate $5 a paycheck, we would raise more than a million dollars and if everyone signed up, we’d raise close to 2.5 million dollars. 

You can help spread the word by downloading and printing the High 5 for CMC referral cards. The employees who refer the greatest number of their coworkers to join them in giving $5 a paycheck will also be recognized in January 2024. 

We asked our local CMC nonprofits to tell us what good they could do with an annual $120 donation and here’s what they had to say:

$120 Campaign

For Greater Good Charities GOODS Program: 

• $120 would provide 2,400 meals for pets in need.

• Also, the GOODS program magnifies the value of donations. For each dollar donated towards freight, we can provide around $60 worth of pet food to those who need it. So, $120 would ship around $7,200 worth of pet food from the donor to shelter.

What can $120 can provide for Assist the Officer?

A donation of $120 to Assist the Officer can help provide an HPD Officer and their family with a sense of normalcy when they are in critical need due to an injury or illness.  Not all injuries or accidents occur on duty and there are a lot of out-of-pocket expenses HPD Officers, and their families can be responsible for during the officer’s recovery. 

Summerhouse Houston

$120 would support the following:

• three hours of job coaching for a Summerhouse member to be supported in his/her chosen profession
• classroom curriculum for members to develop job skills
• monthly gasoline for members to be transported in Summerhouse vans to volunteer sites to support other non-profits' efforts in our Houston communities 

Texas Paralyzed Veterans of America (Texas PVA)

$120 would provide electric service for one month. $120 would provide for small home improvements.

DSAH

$120 would allow us to provide a group activity for individuals with Down syndrome in one of our 13 community group locations around Houston. These activities include support groups, art classes, sports clinics, health seminars and more.

S.H.A.P.E. Community Center

$120 provides a child with one week of summer enrichment, Monday - Friday from 7am - 6pm. The child will experience a culturally safe environment in which they learn about historically significant events, life skills, visual arts, African dance, capoeira, social equity, and leadership. SHAPE's summer program helps curb learning loss while providing children with life-enriching experiences.

The Village Centers

One gift of $120 provides any one of the following: 

• 3 days of a client's participation in our day-program, which includes educational, social, and recreational activities and interaction under appropriate staff care and supervision.
• 4 community outings to activities such as bowling, the movies, wildlife parks, and other local attractions, for those families who cannot afford them.
• 1 night of overnight respite for family members who need a break from their ongoing caregiving duties to support their own mental and physical health.
• 1 week of medical supplies, including those that are essential for our more medically fragile clients. 

Prairie View A&M Foundation (in support of PVAMU)

Your support is critical to transforming the lives of deserving students.  With more than 95% of PVAMU students requiring financial aid, your $120 donation can be the difference between a PVAMU student being able to stay in school and complete their education or withdrawing.  

Musiqa

$120 pays for an hour-long Musiqa master class from a professional string, brass, or woodwind performer for students in Houston Title 1 schools, thereby expanding artistic opportunities for students who need it most!

Houston reVision

When you give $5.00 per paycheck to Houston reVision, you are supporting our work in breaking the cycle of juvenile justice involvement and homelessness among youth in Harris County. It is a statement that you believe in our mission to provide these young people with the resources and support they need to succeed in life.

• one-on-one counseling for a youth struggling with trauma.
• 2 weeks’ worth of groceries for an unstably housed young person.
• Snacks for the reVision Drop-in Center.
• A bus pass for a youth to get to school or work.
• A scholarship for a youth to attend a vocational training program.
• A field trip for a group of youth to experience the arts or culture.

AIR Project (Abuse is Real)

For every $120 received, our organization can provide bullying and violence prevention education through art, provide quality of life experiences, and self-defense classes free to 15 children. For our youth and their families, it means their child can learn how to protect themselves, gain leadership skills, and healthy ways to cope with mental health and self-empowerment. 

World Youth Foundation

Here is a quick summation of how $120 will help our organization:

When a City of Houston Employee chooses to donate $120 to the World Youth Foundation, it strengthens our efforts to accelerate the Youth Life Accelerator program's impact across so many communities. These contributions enable us to reach more underrepresented youth, improve program quality, invest in cutting-edge technology, expand mentorship initiatives,  and engage with local communities more effectively.

Each $120 donation becomes a powerful force in driving our mission forward, creating additional opportunities, and ensuring that we can provide essential resources and support to empower young individuals to "learn themselves, see themselves, and know themselves so that they can ignite transformative impact across their own communities." 

The Houston Symphony

A generous gift of $120 to The Houston Symphony provides support for The Symphony’s Student Concert Series. These concerts are held during the school day for elementary and middle school students at both The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion and Jones Hall. As a part of The Symphony’s Education and Outreach programs, these concerts are aimed to engage exposure of world-class masterworks to our young audiences. Additionally, our programs further the development of active participation in music.

Introduction to the arts and musical performances have proven to be highly beneficial to the success of young audiences and build memories that transcend generations. A gift of $120 would support one of our breathtaking concerts to over a hundred students.

YMCA of Greater Houston 

$120 – provides 2 kids ages 3-14 with life savings skills in the Y’s Safety Around Water Program.

Safety Around Water

The YMCA’s Safety Around Water program can help you make sure your children learn essential water safety skills, which can open a world of possibilities for them to satisfy their curiosity safely.

What Is Safety Around Water?

Through learning how to perform a sequenced set of skills over a period of lessons, the risk of drowning is reduced, giving your child confidence in and around water. Sessions are offered throughout the year at apartment complexes, school districts, and more.

$120 – gives a youth in our community the chance to play a team sport.

At the Y, we offer a variety of youth sports such as flag football, soccer, volleyball, baseball, and basketball that leverage the excitement and passion around recreational and competitive programs. This creates a healthy outlet for children to gain new skills, develop a sense of team and connect with positive role models.

$120 – helps 2 senior members meet new friends while having access to start healthy habits or continue exercising.

Houston Food Bank

What $120 does for my organization below: 

• What it buys:      
  • 360 meals for our neighbors in need
• What it provides
  • Meals of nutritious food for our 18-county service area. 
• What it means for those benefiting from your efforts
  • $1 equal 3 meals, so with $120 of donations we could provide over 300 meals for families. 

Houston Habitat for Humanity

A $120 a year provides paint for child’s room or the front door of a new home. 

American Cancer Society

A $120 donation to the American Cancer Society (ACS) has a profound impact. It ensures immediate support through our 24-hour helpline, providing answers and comfort for those facing cancer. Additionally, it connects breast cancer patients with trained survivors through our Reach To Recovery program, offering invaluable emotional support.

Your contribution also enables us to disseminate vital cancer education materials, empowering individuals with knowledge about prevention and treatment. Furthermore, it provides essential transportation through our Road To Recovery program, ensuring patients can access necessary treatment without added stress.

Moreover, your generosity affords a free night's stay at a Hope Lodge community, offering comfort to cancer patients and their caregivers during their treatment journeys. With your $120 donation, you directly contribute to our mission of improving lives and advancing the fight against cancer, providing hope and support when it's needed most. Thank you for making a difference.