Golf for Greater Houston and Fluor Impact Foster Youth  

Fort Bend foster youth will receive thousands of hours of specialized services provided by Child Advocates of Fort Bend thanks to the generosity of Fluor Corporation and all of those who took part in the 10th anniversary Golf for Greater Houston Golf Tournament. Event co-chairs April Nemec and Tracey Mooney led employees of Fluor in the year-long effort to raise more than $400,000, with $73,000 going toward CAFB’s NEST and WINGS programs for aging-out foster youth. Nine other Fort Bend charities received a share of the proceeds.

Shown, front row (L to R) are: Child Advocates of Fort Bend Development Officer Jessica Jubin, and CEO Ruthanne Mefford with Fluor Event Co-Chairs Tracey Mooney, April Nemec, Fluor Senior Manager of Community & Public Affairs Barbara Jones and Jennifer Smith. Back row (L to R) are: Kurt Wendt, Rebecca Schoenherr, Victor Vann and Paul Miller.

“It’s been such a challenging year for everyone in Fort Bend County, which is why this incredible gift means so much. With so many needs and deserving charities, we are especially grateful to Fluor and the tournament participants for remembering the children. More than 1,200 foster youth across Texas were displaced by Hurricane Harvey. While many of them are now back in stable environments, we are here to make sure each child has his or her needs met for the long-term, as they continue to move past hurdles on their path toward healing,” said Child Advocates of Fort Bend CEO Ruthanne Mefford.

“Fluor has supported the WINGS and NEST Programs for foster youth for a very long time. This year, we had the opportunity to do something special by providing for them in an extraordinary way,” said Barbara Jones, senior manager of community and public affairs at Fluor. “We hope the funds will leave a huge mark on these youth and change many lives.”

“We do whatever it takes to help each child succeed in life,” stated Child Advocates of Fort Bend CASA Program Director Metoyer Martin. “As the only CASA Program in the state of Texas that is able to match every child in foster care with a CASA Volunteer to advocate for their needs, we have eyes and ears on every child and are able to identify their individual needs. In addition to helping with advocacy throughout their time in school, we model healthy choices, encourage them in school, teach life skills, guide them toward stable employment or careers and help them with whatever else they may need to keep them from becoming a statistic. Thanks to Fluor’s generosity, we are able to continue these efforts and ramp up these programs to ensure that they are able to move past their abuse and find success.”

About Child Advocates of Fort Bend:

Child Advocates of Fort Bend is a non-profit agency that has been making a difference in the lives of abused and neglected children for 26 years. Its mission is to provide a voice, heal the hurt, and break the cycle of child abuse in Fort Bend County. Through its Court Appointed Special Advocates Program (CASATM), Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) and more than 200 trained community volunteer advocates, Child Advocates of Fort Bend improves the lives of more than 400 children each month and has served more than 14,500 children since opening its doors in 1991. Volunteers are needed to help in the agency’s Children’s Advocacy Center and in the

Court Appointed Special Advocates Program. For more information on Child Advocates of Fort Bend or to become a volunteer, go to www.cafb.org or contact Lauren Jordin at ljordin@cafb.org or 281-344-5259.

About Fluor Cares and Golf for Greater Houston:

Fluor Cares, Fluor’s formal employee volunteer program is the heart of the company’s community involvement efforts. Started in 1976 by J. Robert Fluor, the program engages and empowers employees to make a difference in their communities, magnifying and extending Fluor’s philanthropic impact. Since its founding, Golf for Greater Houston volunteers have dedicated countless hours in the planning and execution of this event. With the support of valued sponsors, Fluor Cares has donated more than $2,100,000 in connection with Golf for Greater Houston. In celebration of its 10th anniversary, Golf for Greater Houston selected 10 local charities: B.I.G. Love Cancer Care, The Ballard House, Child Advocates of Fort Bend, The Monarch School, Fort Bend Community Partners Rainbow Room, Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land, Cullinan Park Conservancy, LifeHouse Houston, Lunches of Love, Shelter Providers of Houston, Inc. dba HomeAid America, Inc. to receive proceeds from the event. With the support of its sponsors and other donors, they have donated $400,000 to these charities.