The H.E.A.R.T. Program welcomes you to the 2020 Annual Silent Auction.

Auction starts on Friday, December 4th at noon and ends on Friday, December 11th at noon.

Mission

Promote structured independence for individuals with developmental disabilities by providing innovative education, training, housing and employment programs. 

2020 PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS

H.E.A.R.T. VENDING AND CONCESSIONS 

For the past 14 years, H.E.A.R.T. has been teaching hundreds of adults with I/DD to service 88 vending machines in the region and work in 180 concessions stands. H.E.A.R.T.’s partnerships have created training and employment opportunities for over 187 trainees annually, which resulted in over $130,000 earned by special needs adults in 2019.  For 2020, while the trainees have not been able to earn money by working at these sites due to the COVID-19 pandemic, H.E.A.R.T. has been providing the training for these programs virtually using Zoom and has committed to support these trainees financially.

HISD-H.E.A.R.T. TRANSITION PROGRAM

The goal of the HISD-H.E.A.R.T. Transition Program is to provide job training to individuals with I/DD before they leave high school at age 22. Students receive classroom education overlapped with vocational training at the Houston Food Bank. Last year, over 100 application were received and 58 individuals were admitted to the program. For the 2020-2021 school year, 33 students began September 8, 2020 with all virtual training using Teams. Beginning October 19th, 25 students returned for in person instruction at the Houston Food Bank. These students have been learning how to work in project areas at the Food Bank, how to tend the garden at the front of the building, and how to prepare meals.

H.E.A.R.T. SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

The H.E.A.R.T. Summer Internship Program provides youth leadership and self-advocacy training to individuals 14 -22 years old with I/DD.  This summer, 21 interns participated in one of two four-week long sessions that are offered each summer (June-August). Each session interns were introduced to H.E.A.R.T.’s curriculum on the Zoom platform.  Because this summer’s program was offered virtually, H.E.A.R.T. was able to open up the enrollment state-wide.  As a result, individuals with I/DD from areas that would not have previously been able to access H.E.A.R.T.’s facility were now able to participate in the program. 

H.E.A.R.T. / CVS HEALTH TRAINING PROGRAM

A new program in 2020, H.E.A.R.T. now offers a 10-week retail training program in partnership with CVS Health. This program is ideal for adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities who are interested in working in a retail environment.  Participants receive classroom instruction, hands-on training in a CVS “Mock Store” as well as an on-site internship at a local CVS store. This program has transitioned to a virtual training program during the pandemic, with 26 students currently enrolled in the Zoom classes.  Once it is safe to do so, we look forward to these students having the opportunity to learn to work at a local CVS. As with all H.E.A.R.T. programs, there is no cost to attend this program.  

The H.E.A.R.T. Program would like to thank our  Annual Sponsors for their support:

HEB

Jacobson Family Foundation

Jack In the Box / El Pollo Loco

CVS Health

ExxonMobil

Alisa O'Leary

CenterPoint Energy

United Airlines

Comcast

Amegy Bank

Anheuser Busch / Silver Eagle Distributors

Daily Court Review

Infinity Power Partners

Muneera and Mansoor Dhanani

Amy and Rob Pierce

Pappas Restaurants