Evelyn Kennedy has been giving generously of her time to the La Porte community for most of her adult life. She was part of a committee that selected Neighborhood Centers to provide summer youth programming in the early 1950s – a decision that led to an association with us for nearly 60 years.
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Evelyn Kennedy receives a painting in
recognition of her dedication from
board member Mike Ballases, Chairman
of Houston Region for JPMorgan Chase. |
Evelyn is the type of person who always steps up whenever there is a need. She started the first emergency corps in La Porte and she and her late husband marshaled the resources for the city’s first swimming pool – and then her husband ran it.
Until just recently, she led exercise classes at the appropriately named "Evelyn Kennedy Civic Center," right next door to the La Porte Neighborhood Center, and she served for decades on the La Porte center’s local Advisory Board.
She is a perfect example of how one person can make a difference – even if, in her own words, she says "All I did was love people."
The Board of Directors, the agency, and fellow community members are glad to be able to give some of that love back by recognizing Evelyn Kennedy as Neighborhood Centers’ Outstanding Volunteer for 2010.
Amparo Flores
Amparo Flores knows the value of a good education and being involved with her community. In high school, she was selected to be an intern with INROADS, an organization dedicated to increasing minority representation in corporate America. That fueled her desire to earn her college degree – the first in her family to do so. In fact, that achievement was so inspiring that her older sister went back to school to complete her degree in information science. "If you can do it, there’s no reason I can’t," her sister said.
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Amparo Flores receives recognition as an
Outstanding Volunteer of the Year from
board member John Hernandez, Senior
Vice President for Amegy Bank of Texas. |
Amparo is now the Marketing and Risk Director for Watermill Express, but she’s also the chair of the Baker-Ripley Advisory Board where she provides valuable perspective and guidance. Amparo used to live in one of the high-density apartment complexes in Gulfton and has seen firsthand both the challenges and inherent assets of the community. That’s what led her to come to us asking, "How can I get involved?"
She’s been involved ever since, and is especially excited to see how integrated the Promise Community School is with the other services offered at Baker-Ripley. As she’ll tell you, her most important job isn’t with Watermill Express and it’s not her role as a community leader with Neighborhood Centers – her most important job is being a good mother to her 13-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son.
She has a terrific "anything is possible" attitude, and for all that she does for the community, we are proud to recognize Amparo Flores as Neighborhood Centers’ Outstanding Volunteer for 2010.