Children’s Safe Harbor celebrates 25 years, announces groundbreaking of new ‘gateway’ facility

THE WOODLANDS, TX – Children’s Safe Harbor recently celebrated its 25th anniversary at a fundraising luncheon held at the April Sound Country Club. On hand were community leaders, elected officials, staff and board members of the nonprofit organization, members of the media, and interested attendees from the public.

Children’s Safe Harbor’s mission is to achieve justice and healing for every abused child and engage our community. In 2022, the organization provided services to more than 2,303 children ages 2-17, across Montgomery, Walker and San Jacinto counties. Additionally, in 2022, Children’s Safe Harbor reviewed 8,271 reports of child abuse across the three counties that it serves in order to streamline investigations, a 9% increase from 2021.

Executive Director Victoria Constance, Ph.D., welcomed guests as the luncheon kicked off. Dan Michalk of Waterway Wealth Management gave the presentation. Then the co-chairs of the event, Kim and Scott Perry, gave a heartfelt presentation. Kim is a certified court manager form the 418th Judicial District Court, and her husband Scott is the City of Conroe’s assistant director of Parks and Recreation. They talked of how their daughter had been a victim of sexual abuse. “Our journey began in 2009, when our daughter was molested by someone she trusted, someone we knew; her uncle,” said Scott.

The Perrys talked about how Children’s Safe Harbor was there for their child. “They saved our daughter’s life,” said Kim. “She and we wouldn’t be here today without this wonderful organization.”

Referencing CSH’s new lighthouse-based logo, Scott said, “It’s a lighthouse that guides children safely in to harbor from the treacherous waters of child abuse.”

The keynote speaker for the event was former Olympic swimmer Margaret Hoezler, who herself is a survivor of child sexual abuse and has taken her story public as an advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Texas State Representative Will Metcalf spoke next, but was so moved by Hoezler’s words that he jettisoned his prepared written speech and instead just spoke from his heart, thanking all those who help make CSH what it is. He also happily announced that the efforts of Woodforest National Bank and the Woodforest Charitable Foundation, along with the estate of Barbara DeVaney and others, had raised enough funds to the tune of $5 million for the organization’s long-planned new ‘gateway’ facility. The new training center will be named in DeVaney’s honor.

Taking the podium again, Dr. Constance talked about the history of the planned facility. “The first ideas for the gateway came in 2015. After years of sketches and plans and watercolors like you see here, we prepared to kick off our capital campaign in 2020. Of course, that was when Covid hit.”

Constance went on to describe the ongoing issues they faced; a vital 2021 board meeting was canceled due to the devastating ice storm in February of that year. But in November of 2022, things finally came together thanks to the Woodforest Charitable Foundation’s donation of $2 million. From there, the ball rolled to the point that she was able to announce to the luncheon attendees that financing had been secured and the groundbreaking for the new facility would be scheduled for late November or early December of this year.

“We have a thirteen-month timeline to complete this project, from groundbreaking to finish,” she said.

The event concluded with some words from board president Matthew Ridrigue, who is also Chief of Police for Spring ISD Police Department. He brought gasps to the audience as he described the sheer numbers of abused, neglected, molested, and trafficked children who have come to the Harbor for help – averaging to three children a day every day for 25 years – and applause as he talked of the organization’s future.

Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough spoke with Woodlands Online after the event. “Children’s Safe Harbor is an amazing organization. They’ve done such a good job under Victoria. They create an environment for our county to love kids and help kids that have had issues. This is really awesome, and I’m very excited about it.”

Dr. Constance also spoke directly with Woodlands Online about the luncheon and the organization that she assured everyone she was nowhere near retiring from yet. “There is so much joy because in 25 years, 26,350 children to date have had an opportunity for this community to make that difference for them. There are heroes all around us; the sheer mix of heroes with us in this house today for lunch is exceptional. This is also our first opportunity to talk about the new facility and what it means; it’s not just a building, it’s a gateway. It’s permanent and it’s going to happen. So we’re celebrating this today.”

In an exclusive interview with Woodlands Online, Margaret Hoelzer was forthcoming about her passion for the subject and organizations like Children’s Safe Harbor. “I work with advocacy centers all over the country, and I’m excited to be here to work with Children’s Safe Harbor today. I wanted to use my platform as an Olympian after being sexually abused myself as a child, and so after the 2008 Olympics I came forward with my information. After that, one thing led to another and now I’m a speaker,” she said. “I’m excited to be here and the work that they do is so important. I myself went to an advocacy center, which is why I’m connected to the movement. I can personally attest as to how important the work they do is.”

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