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Sixty Thousand Thanks – A Special Report from Community Projects Specialist Meleah Jones

Our fourth annual The Secret’s Out was a resounding success! Due to the generous support of our guests on October 7, almost $60,000 was raised for MCC’s annual funding. We are very proud that 90 cents of every dollar will go directly to client services. On behalf of MCC’s clients, staff, volunteers, and Board of Directors, I want to thank everyone who attended for taking the time to learn more about the services we offer. Equally important to the fundraising aspect of the event is spreading the word about our services. Thank you for helping us get “the secret out!”

The Secret’s Out would not have been the success it was without the generous support of our event sponsors. Huge thanks go out to the following companies and individuals for being an integral part of its success:

Brad Odom & David Harris

Every year, I look forward to The Secret’s Out because it gives us the opportunity to invite community members to reconnect with our mission and how our programs help improve quality of life for so many. This year, in response to the tragic deaths of gay teenagers throughout the nation, and to pay special tribute to thirteen-year-old Asher Brown of Cy-Fair, we felt compelled to highlight our HATCH youth services’ suicide prevention and anti-bullying efforts. In order to do so, we created and premiered the new video Too Many Empty Shoes. If you haven’t seen it, or the original HATCH video Walk in My Shoes, I encourage you to do so. In each, the HATCH youth share their experiences and how HATCH has improved their situation.

Council Member Lovell invites our support

The Secret’s Out would not have been possible without the support of key individuals, and I want to take this opportunity to thank them. I want to extend my gratitude to the event’s Table Captains and Advocates, who shared their enthusiasm for our work by inviting people to the event. I also want to thank the evening’s speakers—the Honorable Judge Steven Kirkland, Council Member Sue Lovell, Board Member Brendan Mikeska, Executive Director Ann J. Robison, PhD, and testimonial speaker Pressley—whose words inspired our guests’ generous investment in our work. I also want to thank the many volunteers who helped us prepare for and work the event and the Event Planning Committee for all of their hard work.

Judge Steven Kirkland greets guests

In addition, I want to thank our resident organizations, who make their home in the GLBT Cultural Center on our first floor, for participating in the Open House that preceded the dinner and program portion of the evening. In particular, I’d like to thank the Gulf Coast Archive & Museum of GLBT History, Inc. (GCAM), for debuting new exhibits at the event. If you haven’t visited the GLBT Cultural Center recently, I encourage you to do so to see the new exhibits. Feel free to visit us during the working hours of the David Bohnett Cyber Center, a free computer lab for all members of Houston’s GLBT communities, Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays 5:30 – 7 p.m., and Tuesdays & Thursdays 3 – 5 p.m.

To learn more about the variety of services Montrose Counseling Center offers, I hope you’ll join me for a behind-the-scenes tour. Please contact me at 713.800.0872 or by email to schedule a tour at your convenience. If you are available on Monday, November 15, I hope you’ll come by to visit us.


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