Gift of $4 million shared by 20
As much as Rockets owner Leslie Alexander knew from the start that there were groups in Houston in need of help, three months examining the charities that had applied to receive a share of his $4 million pledge revealed how great the need was.
Alexander on Monday announced the names of 20 local charities to receive shares of the $4 million donation he announced in December, giving to more than twice as many groups as originally planned.
“It’s a pleasure to do this,” said Alexander. “Once you’re lucky enough to be in the position I am and how much the Houston community has given me through support for the team and the arena, I think you have an obligation to do something like this. I’m going to try … to do something like this every year. I’m thrilled to do this.”
Groups will receive donations of varying amounts. Charities were selected based on Alexander’s personal priorities and where the funds would go directly to those most in need, rather than building campaigns.
“Everybody has their own personal agenda, what they think is the most needed in society,” Alexander said. “I just whittled it down to my own agenda, which is animal rights, kids, the last few years it’s become refugees because you see the Syria refugees. You see the kids, real young people in such distress it breaks your heart, and hospices.”
Recipients will be Amaanah Refugee Services, Animal Justice League, BEAR (Be a Resource for CPS Kids), Child Advocates, Inc, Citizens for Animal Protection, Healthcare for the Homeless, Home of Hope, Houston Area Women’s Center, Houston Hospice, Houston Public Library Foundation, Kids’ Meals Inc., Legacy Community Health, Noah’s House, ProVision, Inc., PugHearts of Houston, Rescued Pets Movement Inc., San Jose Clinic, SNAP (Spay-Neuter Assistance Program), The Beacon and YMCA of Greater Houston’s Sports for All Campaign.
Alexander and the Rockets Clutch City Foundation have donated $35 million to local charities since he bought the team in 1993.
“It’s a really big deal,” Sonya Galvan, the CEO of Child Advocates, Inc., said. “We were just looking at the names of the people. All the charities are really doing great things for so many. The opportunity that is coming this way as a result of this donation I think is going to help everyone.”
Rockets CEO Tad Brown said more than 90 groups applied for the donations, leading to the expansion of the list of recipients from the original plan to donate to roughly eight local charities.
“We knew there were groups out there that may not have been in the mainstream,” Brown said. “We wanted to find out what they were all about and be able to contribute and help.
“It was a great process to go through, to see all the worthy groups that were out there doing so much good for the City of Houston. Our goal is to help the underserved and to reach out and lift them up, whether it be children or the elderly or those that have been abused or neglected, animals, refugees, folks who may have fallen through the cracks in certain respects throughout society.”