Fort Bend Lifestyles and Homes Magazine Jun 2009: Fort Bend, People, Events, Business 1

First Colony Swim Team Masters Makes a Splash at Open Water Swim. Twelve members of First Colony Swim Team Masters swam in the Rice Aquatics Open Water Carnival at Twin Lakes in Manvel.

Swimmers who won their event are: Audrey Earley, Mike Engelking, Steve Long, Mike Offner and Karl Schuler.

the ladybugs honored for volunteer service. The Ladybugs, a social/civic group in the Fort Bend County area, was honored and recognized with other volunteer organizations by the mayor of Rosenberg.

The Ladybugs flutter about entertaining or spreading cheer to the disabled, mentally challenged and elderly and also hold social functions or go on mini excursions. For more information on how to become a Ladybug, contact Vicki Latham at vmlatham@yahoo.com or call 281-384-4006.

WCMC presents scholarships. The Woman’s Club of Missouri City presented its annual Legacy Scholarship awards ($1,000 each) at the May 2009 meeting. All four of this year ’s recipients are from Elkins High School: Lewis Gray, Timothy Lai, Ryan Russell and Mariah Turner.

CAFB hosts Annual Light of Hope Ceremony. The Exchange Club of Sugar Land and Friends of Child Advocates of Fort Bend joined forces in April to blanket the county in blue for Child Abuse Prevention Month. The groups kicked off April Child Abuse Prevention Month with their annual Light of Hope Ceremony.

Rep. Pete Olson was the emcee for the ceremony that featured 159 life-sized cut-outs of children, representing the 159 children who enter the foster care system in Texas each month. A former foster child spoke about her experience in the foster care system. County Judge Bob Hebert and Sugar Land City Councilman Russell Jones also participated in the ceremony, which featured several inspirational songs performed by local recording artist Debbie Fancher and former Sugar Land Mayor David Wallace.

In addition, Child Advocates of Fort Bend’s expanded blue ribbon quilt was unveiled. The quilt, spread over the steps of Sugar Land City Hall, was made by volunteers, supporters, members of the community, Girl Scouts and children served by CAFB.

The quilt, which was started last year, has more than tripled due to a donations by Cameron and Nicole Hill Realtors as well as area Girl Scout troops who decorated squares as part of a competition set up by CAFB. Sections of the blue ribbon quilt were on display in area businesses throughout the month of April.

artreach named crystal award winner. The Texas Association of Partners in Education recognized ARTreach as the 2008-09 Crystal Award winner for innovative Art Partnerships in Fort Bend ISD.

Children in FBISD benefitted this year from numerous ARTreach programs in underserved schools made possible by donations from the Fort Bend Junior Service League, Fort Bend Partnership for Youth, Houston Endowment and individuals from the Fort Bend County, Sugar Land area.

ARTreach partners with schools to bring the arts to students who may not otherwise have an opportunity due to limited PTA funds and low parent involvement. The organization seeks funding for each project. In Fort Bend ISD, Monica Meade is the active liaison and social worker behind the scenes supporting the Fort Bend ISD ARTreach projects.

“She opens the door for us,” says Terri Bieber, ARTreach executive director. “Her involvement helps to identify the neediest campuses, and the children who will benefit. She also connects us to the campus principals and teachers who will support our evaluation process. Our successful Fort Bend ISD partnerships are what earned ARTreach the TAPE Crystal Award for the most innovative partnerships in Texas. ”

local artist donates painting. Local artist Melissa Gates presented an oil painting of activity in Afghanistan during Enduring Freedom. The picture was given to Jim Hoelker, president of Impact A Hero. Impact A Hero is a nonprofit helping wounded soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan return to society. Impact A Hero weekend is May 30-June 1. For more information, go to www.ImpactAHero.org.