The 5th Annual Volunteers Awards Luncheon sponsored by the Acre Homes Community Development Corporation (AHCDC) was held August 8 at S.B. Parker Memorial Fellowship Hall at Greater Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1620 Dolly Wright Street in Houston. AHCDC, located at 6719 West Montgomery, Suite 223, hosts this celebration every year to recognize the outstanding contributors to the life of the Acres Home Community.
This event establishes a forum by which the AHCDC Board of Directors can identify personalities who have made contributions to the community and to commend them for the high degree of involvement and commitment put forth to make it a better place to live. The AHCDC continue to emphasize their motto “Volunteers Make a Difference” to encourage and foster volunteer momentum and opportunities so that more community citizens can realize the impact of volunteering.

Carmen Watkins, Magic 102 was master of ceremony and the event started off with a musical selection by the Bradby Sisters. The scheduled guest speaker was The Honorable U.S. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee but she was unable to attend so John Scroggins, of Wells Fargo Bank in 5th ward spoke instead.
Brenda Lakey, executive director welcome the guests and did the occasion followed by a prayer by Rev. Fred Sanders III, AHCDC board member and pastor of Cliffdale Baptist Church. Following this was lunch and a beautiful musical selection by the Cliffdale choir. Georgia H. Jackson, AHCDC Board member gave out the Volunteer Spirit Awards to Mrs. Charles Andrea Simmons, Mrs. James Etta Griffin, Emmett W. Hill and Nico Mathews. Lakey presented the Business Support Award to Sharon Phillips, vice president of Business Development Community Reinvestment Resources, Washington Mutual and the Community Support Award to Forged Vessel Connections, Inc. Hosea Harris, AHCDC President made the closing remarks.

In speaking of the past year”s success, Harris stated, “Under the direction of LISC consultants, the AHCDC Board engaged in the activities for building a strategic plan. The process resulted in organizational changes and setting of aggressive goals and fund development for the immediate months and years ahead. We have organized a new advisory board composed of 13 members who bring new vitality, expertise and direction to the CDC planning and decision making process. Also, we have added new members to our board. With the two bodies, we have a solid developmental team strategy firmly in place. It is important to note the relationships and support base we have formed are critical to our continued efforts toward the total revitalization of our community.”
Call 713/692-1155 for more information.