“Shelter for Shelter” raises over $44,000 for YES to YOUTH – Montgomery County Youth Services Youth Shelter and Counseling Programs

THE WOODLANDS, TX - Not even the coronavirus could keep generous hearts from supporting the youth shelter and counseling programs provided by YES to YOUTH – Montgomery County Youth Services.

In its fourth year, this year’s fun and popular “Shelter for Shelter” fundraising event benefiting YES to YOUTH shifted to a festive hybrid event, held on June 18, 2020. Hosted at Zach and Rachel Richmond’s home in The Woodlands (which was fumigated against COVID-19 by Boone’s Restoration Technology), guests had the option of attending outside – mingling socially distanced along the tropical pool patio deck and backyard lawn, inside the house in designated spaces that featured TV monitors for watching it broadcast live – or attending virtually from their computer, tablet or smartphone.

Guests devoured nibbles of the best offerings from area restaurants which included Zanti Cucina Italiana, Kirby’s Prime Steakhouse, Avenida Brazil, Chick-fil-A, and Tommy Bahama.

The fabulously charismatic emcee Hunter Strong took the stage to rally up live-streaming donations from virtual guests. Adorning the stage was a huge YES to YOUTH logo sign donated by Jen Moore of Moore of Everything, who teamed up with The Wolford Group to facilitate the event’s logistics.

In a whimsical fundraising incentive, teams were formed to raise money for which Zach Richmond had to show some sweat equity by walking on an inclined treadmill for one minute for every dollar raised. The top team winners were Rotary Club of The Woodlands at $4,355, Home for Good at $2,930, and Leadership Montgomery Class of 2019 at $1,690. As the largest fundraising team, Rotary Club of The Woodlands chose to shave Richmond’s beard. Tom Cox, Jr. did the honors of shaving only half of his face. Richmond agreed to leave his newly-shaved style intact for a full week.

In no time, the original goal of raising $25,000 was far surpassed. In fact, up to $40,000 was raised before the event even started, and at its close more than $44,000 was recorded!

Presented by the Richmond Realty Group RE/MAX The Woodlands & Spring, proceeds from “Shelter for Shelter” ticket sales and sponsorships benefitted YES to YOUTH, which strengthens the emotional and mental health development of youth and families by providing crisis intervention, counseling, and suicide presentation services. We 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.

“The youth in our county are in need of our lifesaving services now more than ever,” explained Dannette Suding, CEO of YES to YOUTH - Montgomery County Youth Services. “In this time, YES to YOUTH’s mission has been in critical need of funding after so many canceled events. The Wolford Group was vigilant in ensuring an enticing virtual component was available as well as safety measures were in place for the limited in-person attendance. We were thrilled that so many of our sponsors and donors joined the program to help support our youth!”

Zach Richmond, who serves on the Board of Directors for YES to YOUTH – Montgomery County Youth Services, created the “Shelter for Shelter” fundraising event in 2017 along with his business partner (and mother-in-law), Marlys Mulkey, both of Richmond Realty Group RE/MAX The Woodlands & Spring.

“Since its inception, Shelter for Shelter has raised more than $200,000 for YES to YOUTH, which is such a valuable non-profit that provides vital services and resources to at-risk youth in our community,” said Richmond. “For every home we sell, our real estate group gives back a percentage of our commissions up to a total of $25,000 to YES to YOUTH’s temporary shelter home. We are proud to support such a worthwhile cause and we appreciate all of the generous participants this year.”

YES to YOUTH (formerly called Montgomery County Youth Services) is a non-profit organization that provides crisis counseling, shelter programs, prevention services and empowerment to young people to strengthen families, teach the youth that they are worth it, they deserve safety and security, and that they will succeed in life.

Services include individual, group and family mental health counseling; presentations and school counseling, crisis situations counseling; suicide prevention for youth and families; BridgeWay Emergency Youth Shelter (for ages 10-17); street outreach for homeless teens; and Healthy Support Program for pregnant and parenting teens.

Suding added, “The statistics are staggering. Almost 40 percent of homeless people in the United States are under eighteen years of age, and 187 Texas children are subjected to abuse daily. In the U.S., as many as 20,000 children are forced into sex trafficking networks every year. More children and young adults die from suicide than all other diseases combined.”

She continued, “The reality is all of this is a tremendous problem right here in Montgomery County. Currently, we are having to turn away 100 kids each month who need shelter. We desperately depend on the support from the local community to serve our kids … who are our future. Funds we raise are being used to build additional shelter space for local abused, neglected, sex trafficked and homeless youth. We are here to save the lives of our youth. TOGETHER, we save lives.”

This year’s $1,000 industry-specific “Shelter for Shelter” sponsors included: America’s ER, Anonymous Friend of YES to YOUTH, Avenida Brazil, AVRG PRO, Blanton Advisors, Boone’s Restoration Technology, Budget Blinds, Chick-fil-A, Derrick Bryant Photography, The Everson Family, Frontrunner Consulting Group – The Human Side of Business Success, Constable Ryan Gable, Gracepoint Homes, Dr. Guy Facial Plastic Surgery, Haynie & Company, Steve & Linda Head, Hunter Lee Strong, I Promote You, The J. Beard Real Estate Company, Kean Miller, Kierdon Fitness, Kirby’s Prime Steakhouse, Link Magazine, Liz Grimm Public Relations, The Madalyn Cooke Foundation, MamaLycha Foods, Moore of Everything, Nebular Films, Prime Lending, RE/MAX The Woodlands & Spring, Michael & Vicki Richmond, Dr. Lucian & Patti Rivela, Rosemary Rodd, Southern Title Texas, Spinal Care Chiropractic, Spirit of Texas Bank, Starfox Financial Services, Stull Inspections, Stull Pest Control, Superior Home Renovations and Construction, Texas Engineered Roofing, Tommy Bahama, Waste Connections, The Wolford Group, Woodforest by Johnson Development, and Zanti Cucina Italiana.

To learn more about YES to YOUTH - Montgomery County Youth Services visit www.sayyestoyouth.org and visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/sayyestoyouth/ or call 281.292.6471 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. YES to YOUTH also offers a 24/7 Crisis Hotline at 1.888.756.8682.

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