In 2021, The Woodlands Charities, Inc. selected five charities to support during the 4th Annual Into the Woods Halloween Party and Fundraiser. Below is information about each charity. Community Assistance Center (CAC) is a non-profit social services organization with a mission to provide resources to meet basic needs and improve the quality of life for our neighbors in Montgomery County, Texas. CAC provides basic needs and financial assistance with rent and mortgage, utilities, food, clothing, emergency shelter vouchers, prescriptions, back-to-school assistance, transportation vouchers, education, and disaster recovery. In addition to basic needs, CAC provides case management services focused on long-term solutions, promoting self-sufficiency and improving quality of life for our neighbors in need. With support from our community, CAC provides relief to residents throughout all of Montgomery County threatened by an unexpected crisis while ensuring an inviting, supportive environment. Yes to Youth Montgomery County Youth Services mission is to strengthen the emotional and mental health development of youth and families by providing crisis intervention, counseling, and suicide prevention services. They provide a safe and nurturing home where abused, battered, sex-trafficked, homeless, and at-risk youth begin healing from the past and become empowered for the future. They offer the BridgeWay Emergency Youth Shelter for ages 10 - 17, as well as, outreach for homeless teens. Yes to Youth provides all services at no cost to the teens or their families. Founded in 2005, New Danville serves adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and those needing similar services, in a rural environment promoting dignity, respect and the opportunity to live enriched and purposeful lives. Our day program and residential community were developed to empower and maximize personal independence by offering learning opportunities that reinforce personal growth and freedom of choice. It is the vision of New Danville that our clients and residents will have the opportunity to live, learn, work and grow in communities of their choice. New Danville is a Texas nonprofit, 501(c)3 charitable organization. The Rotary Club of The Woodlands was founded in 1975 and focuses on service in the community and throughout the world. The organization builds goodwill and peace, provides humanitarian service, and encourages high ethical standards in all vocations. The Rotary Club is founded on four pillars: Is it the TRUTH? Is it FAIR to all concerned? Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned? The Rotary club rings the bells for the Salvation Army at Christmas, collects food and funds for the Montgomery County Food Bank, works to improve a home for a local needy family yearly, conducts literacy campaigns and participates and volunteers in other local fundraisers and programs. The Rotary club also provides thousands of dollars in scholarships each year. The Woodlands Family YMCA focuses on building community and investing in kids through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. For over 135 years, The Y has been bringing meaningful impacts to our communities and bringing people together. The organization believes that everyone should have the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. Thanks to the YMCA, more young people are taking a greater interest in learning and making smart life choices. Working with caring Y staff, children and teens are able to realize their potential by improving their educational readiness and closing achievement gaps. By building confident kids today, the Y is helping to assure that they will become contributing and engaged adults tomorrow.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Into The Woods Halloween Party and Fundraiser was cancelled.

In 2019, after considering requests from numerous local charities, The Woodlands Charities, Inc. selected the Assistance League of Montgomery County and their Operation School Bell project as our 2019 focus. Operation School Bell provides school children in need with new clothes for school in a dignified way. Children shop with an Assistance League volunteer at partner stores to get their new clothing for around $100.00 per child. Assistance League helps a large number of children, but cannot fund clothing for all of the children in need. The Woodlands Charities, Inc. is excited to assist with Operation School Bell.

In 2018, The Woodlands Charities, Inc. held its first “Chef Showdown” featuring community leaders entertaining guests and cooking to help raise funds for a new Texas Children’s Hospital, The Woodlands “Family Fund.” By combining the funds from the Chef Showdown with funds from its 2018 “Into The Woods” Halloween party, The Woodlands Charities, Inc. is excited to create the Family Fund to help families with children fighting cancer.

In 2017, as The Woodlands Charities, Inc. was in the final stages of planning its “Into The Woods” Halloween party in order to create a “Family Fund” for Texas Children’s Hospital, The Woodlands, Hurricane Harvey caused an incredible amount of damage to the Greater Houston area. To support other charities’ efforts to help Harvey’s victims, The Woodlands Charities, Inc. postponed its 2017 work until 2018. Despite the weather, The Woodlands Charities, Inc. still helped boost spirits at the Texas Children’s Hospital, The Woodlands campus by blanketing it with gold ribbons in support of Children’s Cancer Awareness Month.

In 2016, immediately after coming into existence, The Woodlands Charities, Inc. was the first outside organization to benefit Canopy. Our charity provided funds to Canopy and raised awareness about Canopy in the community as it opened to the public. Canopy is a warm and welcoming place, with a calm and relaxing atmosphere for those who visit. Canopy offers a wide variety of free programs to address the emotional, physical and social needs of those touched by cancer. For more about Canopy, visit its website at https://www.memorialhermann.org/canopy/