Houston Health Foundation

HONORING BILLY BURGE

FIRESIDE CHAT WITH ANDRE JOHNSON

15 YEAR 

ANNIVERSARY
LUNCHEON  

April 11, 2025 | The Thompson Hotel

HONORING
BILLY BURGE

Join us for our 15th Anniversary Luncheon

At The Houston Health Foundation, we are rooted in the belief that every child deserves a healthy start. Through our Brilliant Futures programs, we provide youth with the resources necessary to reach their full potential.

Brilliant Futures programs address urgent community health and educational needs in Houston, providing vital support for vulnerable youth and families. Community Gardens combats obesity and food insecurity by offering accessible fruits and vegetables, promoting healthy diets, and providing interactive education on nutrition. The Basics Houston equips families facing systemic inequities with tools for early childhood brain development, fostering resilience in underserved children. See to Succeed and Project Saving Smiles serve as safety nets for students lacking vision and dental care, critical for academic success. My Brother’s Keeper empowers young men of color to overcome social inequities through support in education, workforce development, and health outcomes. These programs collectively create pathways to brighter, healthier futures in our community.

Our inaugural Luncheon fundraiser will provide vital support for the children and families we serve. With your sponsorship, you will help ensure that thousands of young ones across the Greater Houston area continue receiving access to quality health care services that allow them to lay the groundwork for brilliant futures.

Please consider joining us as a sponsor of this important event. Your support directly impacts our children and our community. Underwriter benefits and opportunities are detailed on the enclosed form. We want to hold a table for you, so please let us know your intentions as soon as possible. 

Helyna Bledsoe Thompson,
Host Committee Co-chair
HELYNA BLEDSOE THOMPSON V2
Kirsten Galtney,
Host Committee Co-chair
KIRSTEN GALTNEY V2

15 Year Anniversary Luncheon Committees

Host Committee

Helyna Bledsoe, Co-Chair

Kisten Galtney, Co-Chair

Wendy Lewis Armstrong

Shems Mimi Blomberg

Sukey Fegnolio

Lauren Gray

Ann Mason

Rodney Nathan

Amanda Orr

Joey Romano

Mark Zeidman

Luncheon Committee

Roberta Bentley, Co-Chair

Jeni Burge Delaney, Co-Chair

Wendy Lewis Armstrong 

Sukey Fenoglio

Rodney Nathan

Shawn Sellers-Rouege

woman playing with her son
Jeff Van Gundy

Andre Johnson

Andre Johnson is among the most decorated wide receivers in NFL history. Johnson spent 12 of his 14 NFL seasons with the Houston Texans, becoming a seven-time Pro Bowler and a two-time first-team All-Pro. 


Johnson was the first player to ever have 60 or more catches in each of his first eight seasons. He is one of less than 50 players in league history to go over 10,000 receiving yards in a career. 


The Texans drafted him third overall in 2003 out of the University of Miami. While with the Canes, Johnson was co-MVP of the 2002 Rose Bowl game, in which the program captured its fifth national championship. 


Johnson was inducted into the Miami Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014. He became the first member of the Texans Ring of Honor in 2017 and was the first player who spent the entirety of his career with the franchise to enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024. 

The Basics Houston

As a nationally-recognized affiliate of the Basics Learning Network, The Basics Houston is a collective movement supporting early learning and development. We offer training and resources that integrate five simple principles to foster healthy brain development.

Launched by the Houston Health Department, The Basics Houston aims to improve the quality of life for Houston’s children. With a public health perspective, we focus on family and community while incorporating the latest research to address disparities and implement innovative solutions. Through partnerships, The Basics Houston offers tools and resources to support parents in nurturing their baby’s brain development with love. 

See to Succeed

See to Succeed works with over 16 Houston-area school districts in improving the academic performance and social well-being of the region’s most vulnerable children with a vital tool for lifelong health: eyeglasses.

Approximately 80% of a child’s early learning relies on visual processing. Despite this, only 5% to 14% of children receive a comprehensive eye exam before starting school. This is especially true for children from lower-income families and minority communities, who are less likely to have vision problems diagnosed. In fact, 1 in 5 school-aged youth has some sort of vision problem, highlighting the importance of early eye care for a child’s education and development. 

Project Saving Smiles

Project Saving Smiles is a vital initiative dedicated to improving the oral health of underserved children in Houston. Through free dental screenings, sealants, fluoride varnish, and oral health education, we are combating tooth decay and breaking down barriers to learning. Our program focuses on at-risk second graders in schools with a high percentage of students enrolled in the Free and Reduced Lunch Program, ensuring that those most in need receive our services.

By addressing dental issues early, we help prevent serious problems such as pain, infection, and difficulties with concentration. The program also fosters better oral health habits, improves access to care, and tackles disparities among children, connecting them to a long-term dental home for continuous care. Our ultimate goal is to empower every child to smile confidently and thrive in school.

MBK Houston

MBK Houston is a community-driven initiative dedicated to improving outcomes and reducing opportunity gaps for boys and young men of color, from birth to 24 years old. Through a collaborative approach, we bring together diverse organizations and individuals to leverage their strengths and resources, working together to implement effective solutions.

Our strategy focuses on fostering partnerships between schools, community organizations, businesses, and other stakeholders. By working together, we can address the complex challenges faced by boys and young men of color, such as educational disparities, limited access to opportunities, and systemic barriers. 

First Family Garden

With a particular focus on vulnerable families and children, the Houston Health Foundation’s first family garden was created to provide an opportunity for all community members to build food security systems through collaboration in an urban garden setting. The garden welcomes those who wish to contribute to the collective knowledge and skills of sustainable food networks. By involving children and youth in food production, we help future generations understand the value of fresh produce, develop a love for outdoor activities in a social context, and acquire skills that nourish them for a lifetime.

Our initiative promotes healthy eating by encouraging community gardening and supporting farmers’ markets. By providing access to fresh, affordable produce, we are helping to improve the health and well-being of individuals and families in our communities.

Sustainable funding for sustainable communities

We recognize the importance of establishing sustainable funding in order to sustain our important programs. Our inaugural luncheon will be the first of many to provide needed financial diversification, ensuring our programs will continue to impact more individuals each year. 

$20,000

Vitality Sponsor

200 individuals Sponsored

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Table of 10 with 
prominent seating at event

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Written & Verbal 
recognition at event

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Logo & Name on 
promotional materials

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Featured on homepage 
of HHF website

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8 social media impressions 
LinkedIn, Instagram, & Facebook

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Half Page advertisement 
in event program

$15,000

Resilience Sponsor

150 individuals Sponsored

through our programs

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Table of 10 with 
prominent seating at event

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Written & Verbal recognition at event

Check Icon

Logo & Name on promotional materials

Check Icon

Featured on homepage of HHF website

Check Icon

6 social media impressions 
LinkedIn, Instagram, & Facebook

Check Icon

Quarter Page advertisement 
in event program

$20,000

Strength
Sponsor

100 individuals Sponsored

Check Icon

Table of 10 with 
prominent seating at event

Check Icon

Written recognition at event

Check Icon

Logo & name on promotional materials

Check Icon

Featured on homepage of HHF website

Check Icon

6 social media impressions 
LinkedIn, Instagram, & Facebook

Check Icon

Quarter Page advertisement 
in event program

$7,500

Nourishment
Sponsor

75 individuals Sponsored

Check Icon

Table of 10 with 
prominent seating at event

Check Icon

Written recognition at event

Check Icon

Logo & name on promotional materials

Check Icon

Featured on homepage of HHF website

Check Icon

6 social media impressions 
LinkedIn, Instagram, & Facebook

Check Icon

Quarter Page advertisement 
in event program

$5,000

Care
Sponsor

50 individuals Sponsored

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Table of 10 with 
preferred seating at event

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Written recognition at event

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Logo & name on promotional materials

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3 social media impressions 
LinkedIn, Instagram, & Facebook

$3,000

Support Sponsor

30 individuals Sponsored through our programs

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Table of 10 at event

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Written recognition at event

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Logo & name on promotional materials

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2 social media impressions 
LinkedIn, Instagram, & Facebook

Friend Ticket

$500

Seating for 1 with premier seating at event

Name recognition at event 
Name recognition in promotional materials 

Supporter Ticket

$300

Seating for 1 at event

Name recognition at event

Name recognition in promotional materials

Our Proud Houston
Health Sponsors

Vitality Sponsors

Resilience Sponsors

Strength

Sponsors

Nourishment
Sponsors

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