Fall means back to school and back to fall fun with community events. So, what’s happening with our valued community organizations this fall? What are their plans for the coming months, and what fun things can we add to our fall calendar?
We reached out to several local organizations to find out what fun and fabulous activities are on their fall calendars, and most importantly, how we as a community can support their efforts. In this special feature, absolutely! Brazos Cares About Community, we highlight several local non-profits and share a calendar of upcoming events. We hope to see you out and about in Brazos doing what we all do best – supporting our community while having a great time!
The Fort Bend Junior Service League (FBJSL) and Memorial Hermann Sugar Land (MHSL) invite the community to join them as they “Jingle All the Way” into the holiday season during the 2022 Sugar Plum Market. This year’s market will again be held at the Stafford Centre Performing Arts Theatre and Convention Center, November 3rd – 5th, with a special preview night to be held the evening of November 2nd.
FBJSL is grateful to the community for supporting their charitable efforts through the Market. In addition to their title sponsor MHSL, FBJSL is pleased to recognize other notable sponsors, including: the City of Stafford, Sterling McCall Toyota Fort Bend, Amy & Gary Becker Foundation, Kendra Scott, H-E-B, The Sansone Group at RE/MAX Fine Properties, The Audra O’Neal Team, Trustmark National Bank, PB&J Pavement Marketing, Inc., Stewart Title, Allen Boone Humphries Robinson LLP, Sugar Land Town Square, Cardinal Realty Management, J Squared Interior Designs, Legacy Ford, Molson Coors Beverage Company, and Pamela Printing.
Last year’s Sugar Plum Market raised a record-breaking $375,000, which benefited 30 charitable organizations in Fort Bend County.
Sponsorship and underwriting opportunities for the Market are still available to both businesses and individuals. The Market is also seeking donations for their Premium Raffle. Visit www.sugarplummarket.com for more information. For the latest news and updates, follow @sugarplummarket on Facebook and Instagram.
Texana Center has expanded its autism services significantly over the last 17 years. Now with over 10 unique programs, there is an option for almost everyone and any age to help them unlock their potential.
The newest expansion of autism services is in Fulshear where the Children’s Center for Autism quietly began serving children at their third location in the summer of 2020. The program has their main location in Rosenberg and a second location in Sugar Land. The Children’s Center for Autism typically serves children ages 3-8, using applied behavior analysis treatment. An individualized treatment plan is created by a Licensed Board Certified Behavior Analyst to teach the child how to interact and learn from their family, community and educational environments.
The Center for Advancement is the latest program created by Texana and provides classes and training for young adults with autism and/or intellectual disabilities. Classes include Social Connections Club; Computer classes for skills like coding and video editing; dance classes teaching various styles of dance; and art classes where students can create wood art pieces that can be displayed in their home. This program is all about letting students explore their strengths and prepare them for independent living and employment in our community.
Texana Fulshear campus is also home to the ever popular Texana Café, a retail-training center where students can get hands-on training as well as learn to make and serve exceptional food and coffee. The Café is open to the public Monday to Friday 8 am to 3 pm.
For more information and other programs, visit www.texanacenter.com or email info@texanacenter.com.
Known as “the best-hidden gem in historic downtown Rosenberg,” Cast Theatrical Company continues to enrich the lives of Fort Bend County and surrounding areas with high-quality theatrical productions. Established in 1989, Cast was founded by Bill Long and a small troupe of actors who provided the opportunity for a local outlet for performing arts and involvement in Rosenberg. Located on the second story of The Vogelsang Antique Emporium, the charming black-box theater is known for its top-tier acting and intimate atmosphere.
Fort Bend County’s longest-running community theatre provides an environment where friends and families work together on all aspects of production, where patrons of all ages enjoy attending theatre productions together, and where actors and volunteers of all ethnic backgrounds, ages and experiences work together and learn from each other. The theater empowers the community by holding all auditions open to the public and providing numerous volunteer opportunities for all skill types: Box Office, Costumes, Hair and Make-Up, Lighting and Sound Operators, Props, Set-Construction, Props and Stage Management
Cast offers a theatrical season every year from January to October with five shows, including but not limited to melodramas, thrillers, dramas, historical and comedies, as well as a separate Christmas production that runs for the first three weeks of December. Single tickets are available for each production, with discounts for seniors, students and groups of 20 or more. Season tickets and flex passes are also available. For more information, visit www.casttheatrical.com, call 832-889-3808 or email boxoffice@casttheatrical.com.
Cullinan Park Conservancy is proud to announce Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital as the 2022 Presenting Sponsor for Picnic for the Park, scheduled October 7th, 2022, at 11:30 AM. The event will be held at River Pointe Church and proudly presents longtime supporters and advocates of Cullinan Park, Doug and Susie Goff, with the Nina Cullinan Award.
In an effort to promote healthy lifestyles in our community, Memorial Hermann has partnered with Cullinan Park to support continued fundraising to enhance Cullinan Park and the outdoor nature experience the park offers to all. Studies show that being outdoors can improve health both physically and mentally, and the medical providers at Memorial Hermann want to support and promote outdoor experiences in nature to our community as a healthy lifestyle.
The theme for the presentation will be “Get Outside!” Memorial Hermann administrators and medical professionals will provide an exciting array of healthy information about living in and discovering nature and the wonder it provides us all. The community is invited to join us at the 6th annual Picnic for the Park and to get outside at Cullinan Park!
For more information about Cullinan Park or to sponsor Picnic for the Park, please visit www.cullinanparkconservancy.org.
Named “2019 Best Local Museum” by Fort Bend Star and listed as one of Sugar Land’s top attractions by TripAdvisor, Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center – A Very Special Project of Children’s Museum Houston, is a Playground for Your Mind™. It is dedicated to transforming communities through innovative, child-centered learning.
Converting the historic Imperial Sugar mill into a museum for the community, the Discovery Center serves families with children ages 12 and younger by presenting a wide array of learning opportunities through exhibits and special events all year round. Last year, the Discovery Center welcomed more than 60,000 visitors of whom more than 6,600 received free admission through the “Open Doors” program, which ensures access to low-income families. The Discovery Center also served an additional 6,400 people through its extensive afterschool and parenting outreach programs delivered in schools, community centers and events all around Fort Bend.
The Discovery Center houses five exhibits which use Building Blocks for Learning rubric, ensuring alignment with national learning standards and 21st century skills. Kidtropolis, USA focuses on civic engagement, economics, math and literacy; How Does it Work? explores physics and simple machines; Amazingly Immature, based on the best-selling KLUTZ® book series, fosters STEM learning through quirky challenges; Cum Yah Gullah, created in partnership with Penn Center, explores African American culture of the Sea Islands of Georgia and South Carolina; and Tot*Spot provides developmentally appropriate experiences for infants and toddlers.
Get involved by visiting www.childrensdiscoveryfb.org. Support the Discovery Center by donating, volunteering or becoming a member.
By partnering with horses, Reining Strength Therapeutic Horsemanship (RSTH) helps people realize their individual potential through customized equine assisted services.
Reining Strength is a non-profit in Fort Bend County and a Premier Accredited Center through the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International. They provide therapeutic horsemanship programs for people ages two through adults, who have physical, cognitive, social or emotional needs. There are a wide variety of people who can benefit from therapeutic horsemanship. They include, but are not limited to, individuals with a diagnosis of Anxiety, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, CVA or Stroke, Down Syndrome, Intellectual Disabilities, Learning Disabilities, Multiple Sclerosis, PTSD, Spina Bifida, Traumatic Brain Injury and various Genetic Syndromes.
Reining Strength offers group and private riding lessons. Client lessons are taught by a Certified PATH International Instructor and are available Monday thru Friday. The fall session starts September 12, 2022.
Reining Strength loves volunteers! They are the backbone of Reining Strength. You’ll never find a more rewarding volunteer opportunity. There are so many ways to help – volunteer during lessons, help in the office or join the Derby Day Party committee. The best way to learn about what RSTH does is to come see them in action. Schedule a tour at the Reining Strength facility, located at 7126 FM 359 Road in Richmond, Texas, 77406, or visit the RSTH website for more information on touring, giving, or volunteering at www.reiningstrength.org or call 832-451-6874.
The Art League of Fort Bend (ALFB), a 501c3 non-profit organization, began in 1957 with the vision of providing a community place where artists of all ages and stages could come to create, study and exhibit their talents. The mission is to encourage artistic development and cultivate an appreciation for the arts through education, exhibitions and community outreach.
In November 2017, the ALFB was given an opportunity to occupy space at 2012 Avenue G in historic downtown Rosenberg, and the Fort Bend Art Center (FBAC) was born. The FBAC contains 6,000 sq. ft. of gallery space, artist studios, classroom and office space and a gift shop.
Artists meet, display, create and sell their work and provide education in this space. Instructors offer a variety of art classes and guitar lessons. Over 30 gallery member artists display paintings, drawings, photography, textiles, jewelry, sculptures, glass and ceramics. Gallery displays change quarterly, so there is always something new to see! The gift shop boasts an eclectic variety of gifts.
Two annual ALFB art shows qualify artists to participate in the regional Lone Star Art Guild annual exhibit. Many award-winning artists show and sell their artwork on the walls of the FBAC.
The ALFB is completely run by member volunteers. Members host art walks, book signings, workshops and demos and participate in downtown Rosenberg’s events, including Chocolate Walk and Holiday Nights. Members also provide community displays for Attack Poverty, the Fort Bend History Museum, Pecan Grove Country Club, the Sugar Land Airport and the George Memorial Library.
ALFB membership is open; information is available at www.artleaguefortbend.org. FBAC hours are noon to 5 PM, Wednesday to Sunday.
Fort Bend Hope is a happy place where learning never stops! On an average day, one can hear the laughter of children as they continue learning after school, and the sound of adults learning to speak a new language, getting a GED or becoming US citizens. Fort Bend Hope (FBH) is solely focused on education and offers these programs for children and adults as they believe education is the key to breaking the cycle of generational poverty. Education is much more than facts and figures; education equals choices and opportunities. Education is the key to unlocking the American dream.
To make this possible, Fort Bend Hope depends upon the generous spirit of their volunteers. From helping a child with their homework to working with an adult who is studying for his citizenship, there are countless opportunities to get involved at FBH. FBH prides itself on providing a great emotional return on the volunteer’s investment of time. Kendall Boyd, a longtime volunteer, said, “I always take more home with me than when I arrived with because of the energy and excitement the children have.” Lynette Evertson, another longtime volunteer, lives for the “Aha moment.” “It’s so exciting to see the look on their face when they understand a new concept,” she said.
At Fort Bend Hope, the volunteers are game changers. FBH wants the community to be involved. Contact them today to impact someone’s future. For more information or to volunteer, call 346-702-3806 or email leslie@fortbendhope.org. At Fort Bend Hope the learning never stops!
The George Ranch is a great place for families to visit anytime of the year, but there’s something very special about the Historical Park when the weather turns a bit cooler. That fall feeling is captured in a picturesque way when two semi truckloads of pumpkins, gourds and squash arrive from Floydada, Texas, to create the Great Pumpkin Round Up at the ranch.
Inspired by the eighteen-year tradition at the Dallas Arboretum, local designer Lucas Chavez creates a magical pumpkin display that will take your breath away. Last year, Chavez debuted the Great Pumpkin Round Up by creating a unique design surrounding the George Ranch House that included a western chuck wagon, training carriage and antique plows, and this year, there’s even more pumpkin fabulous to enjoy in his original fall-inspired creation.
The perfect place for visitors of all ages to take that unforgettable fall photo surrounded by pumpkins that climb structures and cascade to the ground in whimsical designs, the Great Pumpkin Round Up debuts October 15th and is available for visitors to enjoy every Saturday this fall through November 26th. The experience requires purchase of a regular admission ticket to the George Ranch Historical Park and includes the added fun of children’s games at the Ranch House. Come for the photos and awe and stay for a day of outdoor fun. Bring a picnic, tour the historic homes and explore what life on the prairie was like decades ago. To purchase tickets, visit www.georgeranch.org.
The 38th Annual Needville Harvest Festival will bring two days of fall fun to Harvest Park, located at 3001 Violet Street, on Friday, October 14th and Saturday, October 15th. Admission will be free this year! Gates will open at 5 PM Friday for an evening of music, the annual barbecue cook-off, fajita and margarita judging.
Saturday beginning at 7:30 AM, the fun continues with crowd favorites, such as the annual Talent Show, Little Miss and Mr. Contest, Queen’s Contest, lawn mower races, an expanded BBQ cook-off with a KidzQ, a live auction, and new this year, is a magic show by Paul Driscoll. The Kidz Zone is sure to keep young ones entertained. Mason and Friends Polka music will be playing Saturday from 11 AM to 4 PM, and the raffle drawing will take place at 6:30 PM. There will be plenty of activities for people of all ages. Make plans now to participate in some of the fun-filled contests or to just come out and have a great time.
The Needville Harvest Festival, Inc. is a non-profit 501c3 organization that operates Harvest Park and presents the annual family-friendly festival. “All proceeds from the Harvest Fest go right back into the improvement and maintenance of the park, which is for all of the community to enjoy,” said President Chris Janicek.
Janicek said the all-volunteer Harvest Fest committee is comprised of “some of the most hard-working, dedicated individuals you’ll find anywhere.” Hopes are high that this year’s festival will be a record-breaking success. Wearing a mask and social distancing will be encouraged.
Visit www.needvilleharvestfest.org for a complete schedule, contest rules and much more. For additional information, call 281-468-9314.
OakBend Medical Center is excited to announce the 10th annual Patchwork of Life fundraiser will take place completely virtually, via computer. This is an opportunity for the Fort Bend County community to honor and support the only remaining independent non-profit hospital in the Greater Houston Area. Mark your calendars for Thursday, October 6th from 6 pm to 9 pm to share this fun evening with OakBend by participating in this amazing event from the convenience of your living room.
There are four sponsorship levels to join the party. Each sponsorship level comes with a delicious dinner delivered to your home on Thursday, October 6th. Golden Threads Sponsor: $10,000-Personal chef VIP dinner with wine for 12 served in your home. Community Fabric Sponsor: $5,500-Chef-prepared VIP dinner with wine for 8. Patterns of Hope Sponsor: $3,500-Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen fajita meal for 8 and a pitcher of margaritas. Stitches of Love Sponsor: $2,500-Mixed BBQ dinner from Rudy’s for 8.
As the only independent, non-profit hospital in the Greater Houston Area, OakBend is committed to providing exceptional, compassionate healthcare to the people it serves, regardless of their ability to pay. Community support plays an important role in helping OakBend meet the needs of our community. OakBend is honored by the continued support of the community and corporate partners. Funds raised from this year’s event will go toward the purchase of upgraded medical equipment.
For sponsorship opportunities or to donate an auction package, contact at https://www.oakbendmedcenter.org/patchwork-of-life/.