The year 2012 brought success and growth for The Harris Foundation. As we ring in the New Year with a focused drive and determination to expand our reach, I reflect on the positive impacts we continue to make in the lives of children and communities across the nation.
In 2012, we successfully piloted our first financial literacy program. RockIt! was launched at Houston Independent School District's (HISD) Marshall Middle School with fifty seventh graders eager to learn entrepreneurial skills and the business of managing and marketing a music band in a fun and interactive gaming environment. This year RockIt! plans to soar its way into more schools throughout Houston and beyond.
The ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp (EMBSSC) program also concluded another great session this past summer, reaching more than 960 students from 628 schools. The two-week residential STEM camps were hosted at twenty different universities across the nation. The popularity of the camp continues to garner student applicant submittals in the thousands. Stay tuned in February for the announcement of our 2013 camps.
Dare to Dream (DTD) completed its seventeenth year working with schools in Harris County, Texas last school-year and is currently in eleven elementary and middle schools; providing students with a curriculum focusing on self-improvement, community service and career building skills necessary to become a productive member in society.
In the arena of health, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Community Health Leaders program (RWJF-CHL) recognized ten outstanding men and women making strides to improve the health and wellness of individuals in their communities. In September, CHL recognized these forward-thinking leaders by awarding them with a grant to assist with the growth of their programs. These leaders remind us all of the importance of positive and beneficial health programs.
Our efforts of continued community involvement reached new heights in 2012 as well. The Harris Foundation was recognized by the City of Houston and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) with the Community Stars award. The award was in honor of our efforts in preventing drug use among the youth in our community. The Harris Foundation also had the pleasure of volunteering at a local Election Day phone bank last November. We assisted voters in Houston and surrounding areas with locating their designated polling sites as well as answering questions regarding voter requirements. The Harris Foundation likes to lead by example; and that is why we are implementing our new Volunteer Program this spring with the goal of fulfilling our vision of reaching more communities by mobilizing role models.
It is an exciting time for THF, the communities we serve, our country and our world - but there is still work to do. This year's theme for the Presidential Inauguration was Faith in America's Future. We truly believe there are "infinite possibilities" for the future of our children and communities across the world. We thank you for your past support and invite you to join us as we set our sights on new horizons filled with boundless dreams. With great optimism, we embrace the opportunities that 2013 has in store for The Harris Foundation.
