Helping Hand Home for Children

Congratulations to our May Employee(s) of the Month! 🌟 This month, we’re excited to recognize not one, but TWO incredible team members: Omar Macedo and JD Castilla!

As part of our maintenance team, Omar and JD consistently go above and beyond to help ensure our campus remains safe, welcoming, and running smoothly for both the children we serve and our staff. Whether it’s tackling unexpected challenges, jumping in wherever needed, or solving problems with efficiency and care, they approach every task with a positive attitude and commitment to excellence.

Beyond the important work they do behind the scenes, Omar and JD bring kindness, dependability, and a friendly spirit to campus each day. We are so grateful to have Omar and JD on our team helping keep our facilities top-notch — just like them! 🛠️👏

Helping Hand Home is incredibly grateful to have been selected as a Charles Schwab Volunteer Week partner! Across the country, more than 8,500 employees supported 350 nonprofits through 10,000+ volunteer opportunities. 🤝💙

20+ Charles Schwab employees joined us on campus to help create a more welcoming, joyful space for the children we serve as well as our staff to enjoy each day. From painting projects to refreshing shared spaces, their impact was felt throughout our campus.

Thank you, Charles Schwab, for investing in our children, families, and community!

A huge thank you to White Construction for another incredible “We Care Classic” at Avery Ranch Golf Club benefiting Helping Hand Home! ⛳💙

Thanks to the generosity of sponsors, players, and supporters, this year’s tournament raised a record-breaking $168,000 to support the children and families we serve.

We were honored to have HHH Community Advisory Board members Buck Cody, Jeff Ervin, Greg Meserole, and Mark Thannisch, along with 2026 Champions for Children Event Chair Seth Johnston and HHH adoptive parent Kevin Sooch, join us on the course in support of this meaningful event.

Special thanks to White Construction Company Chairman and HHH Community Advisory Board Member Neel White and his wife, Pam, a longtime HHH Society Member, for more than 20 years of support of our mission and their continued commitment to giving back to the Central Texas community. We are so grateful for White Construction Company’s longstanding partnership and commitment to bringing hope and healing to those we serve. ✨

Congratulations to our April Employee of the Month, Amanda Moreno! 🌟

Amanda has been part of Helping Hand Home for more than 20 years, growing from a Therapeutic Childcare Specialist into a Licensed Therapist and Case Manager on our Clinical Team.

She has helped shape play therapy on our campus, continuously finding thoughtful ways to better support the children in our care. Her work reflects deep expertise and a genuine commitment to helping every child feel safe, seen, and loved.

Amanda’s creativity, compassion, and leadership make a lasting impact on the children and families we serve. We are so grateful for her dedication and the difference she makes in bringing our mission to life each day. 💙

We’re thrilled to celebrate Tamela Lott, one of our incredible educators at our on-site University of Texas Charter School, for being recognized with the Whole Child Champion Award by the UT Charter School System, an award honoring outstanding educators across the state of Texas. 🧡🏫⁠
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Ms. Lott is recognized for the way she brings trauma-informed practices to life, creating a learning environment where every student feels safe, valued, and supported.⁠
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With 33 years in education, she has devoted her career to serving children who need individualized support, making it her mission to better the lives of every child she encounters. She consistently goes above and beyond to nurture the whole child, meeting each student where they are and helping them grow and thrive.⁠
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We are incredibly grateful to have her talents and heart on our campus as she champions the children we serve every day. ✨⁠
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We’re wearing blue in honor of National Child Abuse Prevention Month—a reminder that when communities come together to support and strengthen families, we can help reduce the risk of child abuse and neglect. 💙

Through trauma-informed, therapeutic care, including residential, foster, adoption, and support services, we walk alongside children and families to build safe, nurturing environments.

This month, raise awareness, get involved, and wear blue. Together, we’re building a network where every child feels safe, seen, and loved. 🫶

Community Partner Shoutout ❤️

Through our partnership with Wendy’s Wonderful Kids, a program of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, we’re proud to have two dedicated recruiters serving youth in our community. Recently, Ali, one incredible teen we serve, had a dream of celebrating her quinceañera—and thanks to our amazing community partners, that dream became a reality. 💫

We’re so grateful to our community partners who made it all possible:

Bake A Wish, Foster Angels of Central Texas, Heart Gallery of Central Texas, Highland Baptist Church, Partnerships for Children, and Pop-Up Birthday.

Because of our amazing partners, she experienced a night filled with joy, culture, and love, surrounded by people who showed up just for her. Together, they honored her heritage and created a meaningful celebration of this important milestone in her life.

Easter weekend was so special thanks to Horizon Bank and Texas Gas Service! 💛🐰

We’re so thankful to Horizon Bank, who generously provides Easter baskets each year for all of the children who live on our campus. We’re also incredibly grateful to Texas Gas Service for donating supplies and Easter baskets for our foster & adopt families.

Because of their ongoing support over the years, so many children and families have felt seen and loved!

Congratulations to our March Employee of the Month, Traci Battle! 🌟⁠
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As Manager of Family Development & Outreach on our Foster & Adoption team, Traci consistently goes above and beyond to support children and families on their foster and adoption journey. She’s a driven leader, a dependable teammate, and brings a positive, can-do attitude to everything she does.⁠
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Traci’s dedication shines through in every interaction. She has a gift for connecting with others, helping them feel inspired, supported, and confident as they navigate their journey and take the next step toward becoming foster or adoptive parents.
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We’re lucky to have her heart and talents on our team. 💙⁠
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We’re so excited to share that Helping Hand Home is participating in the Champions fore Charity program for the first time as part of the Valero Texas Open. ⛳️💙

Supporters can give directly to Helping Hand Home while being part of one of Texas’ most impactful charitable events.

🗓️ March 30 – April 5
💻 Donations open NOW through April 13
✨ 7% match once we reach our $1,000 goal

As we expand our services into San Antonio, this opportunity helps us reach and provide hope and healing to more children and families.

Help us spread the word. Every share and donation makes a difference. 💛
https://valerotexasopen.com/championsforecharity/donate?code=HelpingHandHome