CCEF Honors 12 at Its Annual Gala

December 1st, 2019

Honorees Ron Masters, Debbie Kropp, Melissa Wiginton, Ann Hammond, Tim Kropp, Logan Reed, Jana Reed, Alexis Reed, Darren Ellisor, Jackie Mitchell, Daniel Okorodudu, Dale Okorodudu, Matthew Paulson (who was filling in for Lyzette Ruiz), and Alaina Garza, from left, get together for a photo at the gala.

By Mary Alys Cherry

EXCITEMENT filled theair when the Clear Creek Education Foundation hosted its always popular gala at South Shore Harbour Resort Nov. 2, honoring some of the area’s outstanding folks, while raising $85,000 for innovative educational programs – a new record for this event.

“Once again our community generously showed their support of our mission to provide innovative learning materials to our students,” CCEF Chairman Jonathan Cottrell said. “It was heartwarming to see our community come together to recognize these outstanding individuals and support education in CCISD.”

Each year CCEF honors an outstanding citizen with the Citizen of the Year Award. This year the award went to the late Chris Reed, a Clear Creek ISD trustee and Kemah police chief who was killed in a boating accident back in June, after spending much of his life helping improve the quality of life for children. His wife, Jana, accepted the award on his behalf.
Another former CCISD trustee honored was Ann Hammond, who was presented the George B. Carlisle Distinguished Service Award for her consistent demonstration of commitment to CCISD over time.

Other honorees at the 19th annual gala were:

  • Distinguished Alumni Award winners were CCISD alumni and are now accomplished professionals who support their community: Jacqueline Mitchell (Clear Creek High, 1983), Dr. Daniel Okorodudu (Clear Creek, 2000), Dr. Dale Okorodudu (Clear Creek, 2002),  and Melissa Wiginton (Clear Lake, 1976)
  • 
Valor Award in honor of a public servant (military, police, fire, etc.) who has gone above and beyond the call of duty: Darren Ellisor, (Clear Lake, 1992)
  • 
CCISD Superstar Award bestowed on a select group of individuals who support and enhance CCISD whether CCISD alumni or not: Ron Masters; Alaina Garza, CCISD Secondary Teacher of the Year; and Lyzette Ruiz, CCISD Elementary Teacher of the Year
  • Dennis Johnson Memorial Small Business Award is presented to a small business owner within CCISD who demonstrates an unwavering commitment to the district through active participation in multiple activities: Tim and Debbie Kropp – MRI Technologies

Gala Co-Chairmen Joyce Abbey and Suzanne Fair joined CCEF Executive Director Deborah Laine and her husband, David, and Matt and Kelsey McNeil in welcoming the arriving crowd, including Greg and Pam Ploss, Richard and Traci Dvorak, Rebecca Lilly, Lisa Holbrook, Laura and Jamieson Mackey, Carrie and Jay Cunningham, Carl and Colene Joiner, Beth and T.J. Aulds, Nina and Chris Premont, Mike Pierce, Sarah and Dr. Glenn Freedman, Amy and Brent Cockerham and Tim and Debbie Kropp. 

Dan and Jill Reason were also in the crowd of nearly 350, as were CCISD Superintendent Dr. Greg Smith and his wife Kathy, Pat and Wendell Wilson, Katy and Bill Bastedo, Mike and Karen Engle, Scott Rainey and Martha Bowles, Ed and Elaina Polsen, Kippy Caraway, Mary Ann Shallberg, Dee Scott, Chris and Dr. Laura DuPont, Roy Green, Daniel and Win Weber, Jason Alcorn and Wendy Shaw, Joe and Kellie Byrd and Jennifer and Dr. Steven Ebell.

Elected officials you might have passed included Mayors Pat Hallisey of League City, Julie Masters of Dickinson, Mark Denman of Nassau Bay and Thom Kolupski of Seabrook and State Rep. Dr. Greg Bonnen. Others you might have spotted as CCEF Chairman Jonathan Cottrell welcomed the black-tie crowd were Gary and Sandy Mossman, Joan McKinney Mitchell, Jeanette and Joe Barlow, Elaine and Gary Renola, Ann and Jim O’Malley, Jayme and Arturo Sanchez, Janet and Randy Brown, Donna and Roy Montalbano, Gene Hollier and Emmeline Dodd, Bob and Macy Osoria, Stacy and Michael Houston, Scottie and Ron McLeod, Christie and Jason Reynolds and Carol and Jim Saxe. 

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CCEF names new executive director

July 16th, 2018

South Shore Harbour Resort General Manager Roy Green finds himself surrounded by pretty women as new Clear Creek Education Foundation Executive Director Deborah Laine, from left, drops by with CCEF Board Chairman Jill Reason and CCEF Marketing Manager Kelsey Richardson to meet him.

Deborah Laine of Texas City, a marketing and fundraising professional, is the new executive director of the Clear Creek Education Foundation. She replaces Kaci Hanson, who resigned so as to spend more time with her husband and two young sons.

She brings 13 years of experience as the executive director of the Texas City ISD Foundation for the Future and director of development and community relations for Texas City ISD. She has over 30 years of experience in marketing, advertising, fundraising, business relations and consumer goods packaging design.

Community involvement has been key to her roles in Texas City. She has actively served 13 years with the Texas City Rotary Club and is currently the president of that club while also serving a six-year term on the Rotary Foundation Board of Directors. This past year as president she worked with Rotarians from multiple clubs to introduce the Inaugural Galveston County Rotary Royal Court that brought further recognition and awareness of Rotarian work across the county. She has been named a Paul Harris Fellow and received the Vocational Service Award in 2011 from the Texas City Rotary Club.

Since 2005, Ms. Laine has been active in the Greater Houston Area Association of Education Foundations, serving as president in 2007/2008. Her work to develop the Inaugural Texas City ISD Hall of Honor in 2006 received the Crystal Award by the Texas School Public Relation Association. She has been an active TSPRA member since 2006 and has served as a presenter for workshops at TSPRA and TASB (Texas Association of School Boards) conferences.

She was named the Staff Star Nominee by the TCISD Administration Department for the 2012-2013 school year. Ms. Laine has worked on many projects for the good of Texas City and its kids that include participation in the Texas City 100 Year Centennial Planning Board, Rotary Youth Leadership Camp, Mainland Communities United Way, Texas City 2017 Goal Planning, and the Texas City La Marque Chamber of Commerce. In her role as executive director for the TCISD Foundation for the Future, she has worked with her board of directors to increase the net worth of the organization to $1.2 million and gifted over $3.6 million to programs for TCISD kids.

Ms. Laine will tell you that leaving her corporate career and beginning her new career in education to support kids has been a dream come true. She is married and spends most of her extracurricular time enjoying four adult children and special friends.

 

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CCEF style show raises $28,000

July 1st, 2018

Fashion models Taylor Diggs, a junior at Clear Lake High, and Mikayla Anding, a Clear Falls High junior, show off pretty spring and summer fashions from Dillard’s at Baybrook Mall during the Clear Creek Education Foundation Fashion Show.

The Clear Creek Education Foundation‘s 12th annual fashion show showcased the many things CCEF loves about CCISD, using the theme, “I Love CCISD…District and Community Strong.”

Held at Mercedes-Benz of Clear Lake, the popular style show drew more than 220 guests and raised over $28,000 to support Clear Creek ISD academic enrichment programs.

The “CCISD Strong” Fashion Show, directed by national fashion event producer Lenny Matuszewski Jr., featured 50 high school juniors, along with 8 guest models who rocked the runway and 8 teachers modeling fashions from Dillard’s – Baybrook Mall and hair styles by Visible Changes.

Plus, League City Elementary kindergartner, Levi Maldonado, and his art teacher and homeroom teacher, Mrs. Aalund and Ms. Barrera, strutted the runway wearing t-shirts showcasing Levi’s design as the winning artist of the annual “CCISD Strong” Kindergarten Art Contest.

In addition to runway seating, 10 local restaurants provided stations offering hors d’oeuvres for guests, who also enjoyed talent vignettes featuring CCISD students – truly an event for all to enjoy.

Meanwhile, student groups including the Clear Springs Jazz Ensemble led by George Solis and the Clear Lake High School Soundwaves led by Jade Blakey, entertained guests before the fashion show. The Clear Springs Theatre, led by Mark Stonebarger, wowed the audience with a few scenes from “Shrek,” while the Clear Springs High Audio Video and Production team, led by Amber Pecsenye, captured the event in a keepsake high definition video.

“CCEF works year-round to develop and host programs that truly make a difference in the lives of CCISD students,” CCEF Executive Director Kaci Hanson said. “Our fashion show is a special time to educate the community on our initiatives and enlist their support, while showcasing many of the programs we love through this fun filled event. This year’s event did not disappoint.”

The event was planned by a 21-person volunteer committee that included CCEF Community Marketing and Events Manager Kelsey Richardson; Co-Chairmen Gina Conklin and Elizabeth Wang; and committee members Joyce Abbey, Summer Brauer, Suzanne Fair, Kimberly Fleming, Ann Hammond, Midge Herrod, Rebecca Lilley, Dinah Matthews, Laura Mackay, Amanda Mark, Sarah Moutz, Claudia Pardivala, Sonia Ponchak, Jill Reason, Deena Rigby, Skyler Rossacci, Brad Rossacci and Mary Ann Shallberg.

Mercedes Benz dealer Jerry Foyt, center, welcomes the CCEF style show committee. They are, from left, Skyler Rossacci, CCEF Events Manager Kelsey Richardson, Amanda Mark, CCEF Executive Director Kaci Hanson, CCEF Chairman Jill Reason, Co-Chairman Elizabeth Wang, Mary Ann Shallberg, Co-Chairman Gina Conklin, Brad Rossacci, CCISD Trustees Ann Hammond and Paige Rander and Laura Mackay.

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Dine Out to Donate

September 26th, 2017

CCEF invites YOU to “Dine Out to Donate” on Monday, Oct. 2 to support education! This year, 60 area restaurants will donate a portion of their revenue to CCEF which will benefit the students and teachers of the Clear Creek Independent School District.

CCEF is excited to have 60 local participating restaurants that will donate a portion of their Oct. 2 revenue to CCEF to benefit the students and teachers of the Clear Creek School District. The top two CCISD elementary, intermediate and high school campuses with the highest percentage of participation based on student population will win $1,000 and $500 respectively!

Participating Restaurants Include:

  • Angelo’s Pizza & Pasta, 400 W. Bay Area Blvd., Suite A | Webster
  • Aquarium, 11 Kemah Boardwalk| Kemah
  • Avenida Brazil, 201 Bay Area Blvd. | Webster
  • Bubba’s Shrimp Palace, 352 Gulf Fwy. N. | League City
  • Bubba’s Shrimp Palace, 113 6 th | San Leon
  • Carrabba’s Italian Grill, 502 W. Bay Area Blvd. | Webster
  • Chick-Fil- A, 2805 E. League City Pkwy | League City
  • Chuy’s, 20975 Gulf Fwy. | Webster
  • District Theaters, 1020 W. Nasa Pkwy. #152 | Webster
  • Esteban’s Café and Cantina, 402 W. Main St. | League City
  • Fudruckers, 2040 Nasa Rd. 1 | Houston
  • Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, 2660 Marina Bay Dr. | League City
  • Gatti’s Pizza, 16607 El Camino Real | Houston
  • Gio’s Flying Pizza & Pasta, 650 FM 517 W. | Dickinson
  • Grazia Italian Kitchen, 1001 Pineloch Dr. #1100 | Houston
  • Ichibon Japanese Seafood and Steakhouse, 18206 Egret Bay Blvd.| Houston
  • Jersey Mike’s, 2456 Marina Bay Dr. | League City
  • Jersey Mike’s, 2555 E. League City Pkwy. #130 | League City
  • Jimmy Changas, 2504 Gulf Fwy. |League City
  • Jinya Ramen Bar, 18299 Egret Bay Blvd. | Houston
  • Joe Lee’s Seafood Kitchen, 1108 Marina Bay Dr. | Clear Lake Shores
  • La Brisa Mexican Bar and Grill, 4001 Hwy. 146 | Bacliff
  • La Brisa Mexican Bar and Grill, 501 N. Wesley Dr. | League City
  • Landry’s Seafood, 1 Kemah Boardwalk | Kemah
  • Longhorn Steakhouse, 19019 Gulf Fwy. | Webster
  • Luigi’s Pizza and Pasta, 210 S. Hwy. 3 #C | League City
  • Luna’s Mexican Restaurant, 6555 South Shore Blvd. #B | League City
  • Luna’s Mexican Restaurant, 704 W. Parkwood | Friendswood
  • Maggiano’s Little Italy, 700 Baybrook Mall Dr.| Friendswood
  • Malay Malay Malaysian Restaurant, 2508 S. Gulf Fwy. #102 | League City
  • McDonald’s, 3140 Gulf Fwy. S. | League City
  • McDonald’s, 102 Hwy. 3 S. | League City
  • Mediterraneo, 18033 Upper Bay Rd. | Nassau Bay
  • Mediterraneo, 2409 Falcon Pass #160 | Houston
  • Sombrero Mexican Restaurant, 2640 E. League City Pkwy. | League City
  • Sombrero Mexican Restaurant, 6011 W. Main St. | League City
  • Nothing Bundt Cakes, 304 W. Bay Area Blvd. #400 | Webster
  • Opus Bistro, 1002 Aspen Rd. | Clear Lake Shores
  • Opus Ocean Grille, 1510 Marina Bay Dr. #124 | Clear Lake Shores
  • Pappas Bar-B- Q, 20794 Gulf Fwy. | Webster
  • Pappas Seafood House, 19991 I-45 S. | Webster
  • Pappasito’s Cantina, 20099 I-45 S. | Webster
  • Pei Wei Asian Diner, 19411-A Gulf Fwy. |Webster
  • Perry’s Steakhouse and Grille, 700 Baybrook Mall Dr. | Friendswood
  • PIZZAFIRE, 2471 Gulf Fwy. S. | League City
  • Pomodoro’s Cucina Italiana, 2700 Marina Bay Dr. | League City
  • Raising Cane’s, 2586 E. League City Pkwy. | League City
  • Red River BBQ & Grill, 1911 E. Main St. | League City
  • Saltgrass Steakhouse, 20241 Gulf Fwy.| Webster
  • San Lorenzo Taqueria, 3020 Marina Bay Dr. #E | League City
  • San Lorenzo Mexican Restaurant and Cantina, 2441 FM 646 W. #D | Dickinson
  • San Lorenzo Mexican Restaurant and Cantina, 3202 Marina Bay Dr. #G | Kemah
  • Schlotzsky’s, 221 S. Egret Bay Blvd. | League City
  • Skipper’s Greek Cafe, 1026 Marina Bay Dr. | Clear Lake Shores
  • Sloppy Nick’s Brooklyn Deli, 2800 Marina Bay Dr. #1 | League City
  • Sokols’ Greek Deli and Café, 2410 Bay Area Blvd. #C/D | Houston
  • South Shore Grille, 2800 Marina Bay Dr. #F | League City
  • Star Cinema Grill, 702 Baybrook Mall Dr. | Friendswood
  • Tommy’s Restaurant and Oyster Bar, 2555 Bay Area Blvd. | Houston
  • Zoes Kitchen, 1501- C Bay Area Blvd.

CCEF would like to invite YOU to “Ride to Give” on October 6th-8th by purchasing  discounted amusement ride wristbands at the Kemah Boardwalk. Discounted wristbands are $20.99 for anyone 48’’ and over and $15.99 for anyone under 48’’. CCEF will receive $4.00 for every discounted wristband purchased and all of the proceeds will directly benefit the students and teachers of CCISD. The first 50 wristbands sold will receive a FREE ticket to Stingray Reef.

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CCEF style show raises funds to support CCISD programs

June 1st, 2017

Margaret McCarty showcases
fashions from Dillard’s at Baybrook.

This year’s 11th annual Clear Creek Education Foundation fashion show drew a crowd of more than 300 and raised over $20,000 to support academic enrichment programs in the Clear Creek Independent School District.

Held in League City at Mercedes-Benz of Clear Lake,  it had “I Love CCISD…Where Inspiration Becomes Reality!” as this year’s theme.
“CCEF works year-round to develop and host programs that truly make a difference in the lives of CCISD students,” CCEF Executive Director Kaci Hanson said. “Our fashion show is a special time to educate the community on our initiatives and enlist their support, while showcasing many of the programs we love through this fun filled event. This year’s event did not disappoint.”

Carsen Lee wears a big smile
as he comes down the runway.

The fashion show showcased many things CCEF loves about CCISD!  Complete with runway seating, hors d’oeuvre stations provided by 10 local restaurants, and talent vignettes featuring CCISD students, it was an event for all to enjoy. The “I Love CCISD” Fashion Show was directed by national fashion event producer Lenny Matuszewski Jr. with fashions and makeup provided by Dillard’s – Baybrook Mall, hair by Visible Changes and a Microsoft gaming station.
Focal points of the evening:

Fashions modeled by 75 CCISD high school juniors and guest models who are in good academic standing, involved in school and community activities, and who demonstrate all that is positive about CCISD;

McWhirter Elementary kindergartner, Mason Creger, and his teacher, Leena Elmore strutted down the runway wearing t-shirts showcasing Mason’s design as the winning artist of the annual “I Love CCISD” Kindergarten Art Contest.  This year’s design was a star showcasing “Why CCISD Shines.”
Student entertainment groups including the Clear Falls Jazz Ensemble, led by Russell Zavalla; the  Clear Lake High School Soundwaves, led by Raul Dominguez; Clear Springs High School Audio Video and Production, led by Amber Pecsenye; and Clear Springs Theatre, led by Mark Stonebarger; wowed the audience.

McWhirter kindergartner, Mason Creger and his teacher, Leena Elmore, left, and mother, Tina Creger, come down the runway wearing T-shirts showcasing Mason’s design as the winning artist of the annual “I Love CCISD” art contest that were sold throughout the district.
Photos by Elizabeth McCarty.

The event was planned by a 22-person volunteer committee that included: CCEF Executive Director Kaci Hanson, Fashion Show Chairman Kay Lee Benoit and committee members Kim Barker, Katy Bastedo, Marshall Bennett, Summer Brauer, Amanda Eaves, Melinda Emmons, Paige Fahey, Kimberly Fleming, Tisa Foster, Ann Hammond, Midge Herrod, Holly Hughes, Ellen King, Elizabeth McCarty, Donna McMartin, Sarah Moutz, Claudia Pardivala, Sonia Ponchak, Jill Reason, Deena Rigby, Skyler Rossacci and Elizabeth Wang.

“This event,” Hanson pointed out, “would not be possible without the support of our generous sponsors — Mercedes-Benz of Clear Lake, Ron Carter Clear Lake, Andrews Kurth, JSC Federal Credit Union, Dillard’s Baybrook, Memorial Hermann Southeast, The Reserve at Clear Lake City, UTMB, Awards of Distinction, Ann Hammond, The Ditta Family, The DeMasie Family, Greer, Herz & Adams, LLP, League City Councilman Nick Long, Dr. Mitch Foster, DDS, Ron Carter Autoland, Oral Surgery Associates, The Tanzberger Family, and food vendors Double Dave’s Pizza Works, Grazia Italian Kitchen, HEB, Jackie’s Brickhouse, Luka’s BBQ Steakhouse, Main St Bistro, Merlion Thai Restaurant, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Rise Cupcakes.”

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