Texans Inspire Change | Houston Texans - HoustonTexans.com
The entire NFL family is committed to conversations and actions that move us towards a more equal and just tomorrow. Inspire Change showcases how NFL players, clubs, and the league are joining together to ensure that access to opportunity is a reality for all and to create progress in police-community relations, criminal justice reform, education and economic advancement, poverty alleviation and other important issues. The mission of the Houston Texans Foundation is to be Champions for Youth. The Texans Foundation is committed to supporting local organizations that are building a more equitable and just community today, so that Houston's youth may thrive as champions in the future. Since 2018, the Houston Texans Foundation has committed more than $1 million to Inspire Change efforts since 2018. We are excited to work with our friends and partners in Houston to create opportunities for all.
Texans celebrate 2023 Inspire Change Grant recipients
The Houston Texans, ConocoPhillips, Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages and Ashley awarded $400,000 through the Inspire Change Grant Fund to 15 local nonprofits and educational programs working to make a difference in the Houston community.
Grant recipients were celebrated at a reception at NRG Stadium with Texans President Greg Grissom, Vice President of the Texans Foundation Hannah McNair and Texans Legends.
2023 Inspire Change Grant Opportunity
The Inspire Change Grant, supported in partnership with the Texans, ConocoPhillips, Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages and Ashley, will award grants to fund programs, seed projects and create partnerships that unlock pathways to new opportunities and support social justice and racial equity efforts in Houston. The Texans and partners will award $400,000 in grants to nonprofits and educational programs that are making a difference in Houston.
2023 Texans Care Volunteer Day | Casa de Esperanza de Los Ninos
Houston Texans players, Texans Cheerleaders, Legends and fans volunteered at the 11th annual Texans Care Volunteer Day presented by Chevron at Casa de Esperanza de Los Ninos!
Worthy of Love Celebration at the Santa Maria Hostel
Houston Texans Cheerleaders helped celebrate birthdays at the Santa Maria Hostel with non-profit Worthy of Love. Santa Maria Hostel received a $40,000 Inspire Change Grant from the Texans, ConocoPhillips, Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages, and Ashley to support women and families.
Bo's Place Inspire Change Grant Visit
In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, Texans WR Alex Bachman, LB Neville Hewitt and DE Dayo Odeleye joined Inspire Change Grant recipient Bo's Place at Gallegos Elementary School to visit with youth in a school-based grief support program. Bo's Place received a $40,000 grant from Inspire Change partners Houston Texans, ConocoPhillips, Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages and Ashley.
2022 Inspire Change Grant
It Takes All of Us. The Inspire Change Grant, supported in partnership with the Houston Texans, ConocoPhillips, Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages and Ashley, was created to fund programs, seed projects and create partnerships that support social justice and racial equity efforts in Houston. The Texans and partners will award $400,000 in grants to nonprofits and educational programs that are working to make a difference in Houston.
2022 Inspire Change Changemaker Award
The Houston Texans announced that Coach Cameron Campbell is the team's recipient for the 2022 Inspire Change Changemaker Award. This inaugural award was created by the NFL to recognize individuals who are making a difference in their communities through social justice work across each of the NFL's 32 club markets. Known as "Coach Cam," Campbell received a $10,000 grant and four tickets to the Super Bowl.
2021 Inspire Change Grant
In 2021, the Texans, partnering with ConocoPhilips, Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages and Miller Lite, announced the creation of the $400,000 Inspire Change Grant to aid programs, seed projects and create partnerships that support social justice and racial equity efforts in Houston.
Inspire Change Grant Recipient Breakfast
On Giving Tuesday, Nov. 30, the Texans, ConocoPhillips, Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages and Miller Lite awarded $400,000 through the Inspire Change Grant Fund to 15 local nonprofits and educational programs working to make a difference in the Houston community. The recipients were surprised at a breakfast at NRG Stadium with Texans players, Vice President of the Houston Texans Foundation Hannah McNair and Texans Legends. The Texans announced the creation of the Inspire Change Grant Fund in September to aid programs, seed projects and create partnerships that support social justice and racial equity efforts.
Kwanzaa Celebration at SHAPE Community Center
The Texans helped celebrate Kwanzaa with Inspire Change Grant recipient, SHAPE Community Center. SHAPE was recently the recipient of a $50,000 grant from the Texans, ConocoPhillips, Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages and Miller Lite to support their work in the community with underserved youth. Texans Cheerleaders took part in the short presentation about Kwanzaa centered around the principal of Kujichagulia (Self-Determination) and joined kids for special activities. The Texans also provided giveaways, lunch and an ice cream truck for attendees.
Inspire Change Grant Recipient Book Donation with Books Between Kids
Texans players and Cheerleaders helped students at DeAnda Elementary School pick six books to take home and keep free of charge thanks to Books Between Kids. Books Between Kids helps to get books in the hands of at-risk students across the city and is one of the 15 nonprofits that received funds through the $400,000 Inspire Change Grant presented by the Texans, ConocoPhillips, Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages and Miller Lite.
B.O.L.D. Awards presented by Coca-Cola
The Texans B.O.L.D. Awards presented by Coca-Cola recognizes Black Outstanding Leaders and Doers who are making a significant impact in the Greater Houston area. Five winners were selected and $25,000 in grants were awarded to their local nonprofits. In addition to the contribution, each winner was highlighted on Texans social media channels and recognized at Texans gameday.
Police Activities League Sports Kits Giveaway
Texans Legend Wade Smith, Chief of Police Troy Finner, Houston Texans Cheerleaders and TORO joined Houston Police Officers and Youth to give away 300 kits in total to youth in the community at Emancipation Park through the HPD PAL program. Kits were filled with footballs, jump ropes, sidewalk chalk and more.
YMCA Freedom Tour
Texans DB Justin Reid joined YMCA Teen LIFE participants on the YMCA Freedom Tour to tour landmarks in the Historic Third Ward community. The Texans are proud supporters of the YMCA Teen LIFE program.
Emancipation Park Tour
Houston Texans Legend Cecil Shorts III visited Emancipation Park, the oldest park in Texas, to learn more about Juneteenth and the role it has played in the life of African Americans.
Houston Texans Social Justice Fund
The Houston Texans Social Justice Fund was established in 2019 alongside the NFL's Inspire Change initiative. The fund was created to assist nonprofits in the Greater Houston area that support youth and provide legal services for underprivileged citizens. In 2020, the YMCA of Greater Houston, Restoring Justice, 8 Million Stories and Texas Civil Rights Project were selected as grant recipients, receiving $100,000 in grants. Throughout the year, the Texans organization engages with these nonprofits and the individuals they serve through programming and events.
Rent Relief Fund Donation
Texans co-founder and senior chair Janice S. McNair donated $1 million to the Houston Rent Relief Program. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner established the fund with city council in August to help the most vulnerable families who are unable to pay rent because of financial problems caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The fund provided quick assistance to help families avoid evictions and keep the most in-need families housed.
We are Texans, We are Voters
During the 2020 Election season, the Texans created the We are Texans, We are Voters initiative. The purpose of the initiative was to help Season Ticket Members, fans and the community be informed around the election and to encourage participation in local, state and national elections. In partnership with Rock the Vote, Texans players and staff were able to register to vote, learn more about what would be on their ballots and identify nearby polling locations. To further encourage participation across the organization, executives, players, cheerleaders, coaches and staff received We Are Texans, We are Voters kits that included a VOTE t-shirts, an "I Voted" sticker, hand sanitizer and other things that could be used to cast their vote. The Texans also held a drive-through voting registration drive at the Houston Texans YMCA to help residents in the Third Ward get registered.
Youth for Change National Town Hall
DB Michael Thomas participated in a panel discussion with the NFL and Boys & Girls Clubs of America on social justice. Thomas served on the panel with DB Justin Simmons of the Broncos, Jason Wright, president of the Washington Football Team, Houston Texans Teen Club member Reggie and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston member Aerial from the Johnny Mitchell Club in Galveston to talk about criminal justice reform, police relations and issues facing teens.
Black History Month
In observance of Black History Month, the Houston Texans hosted "Celebrate Black History," an initiative aimed at educating its staff on the role and impact African Americans have made in our local community, businesses, education and sports. With the help of local historians, community leaders and elected officials, Texans employees learned about African Americans migration to Houston, local efforts during the Civil Rights movement, the effects of segregation and integration and the impact local Houstonians have had on sports, music and business. To close out the three-day series, staff received a giftbox, filled with over 20 items and offers from local black-owned businesses, a meal from local restaurant Lucille's and a sweet treat from the Funnel Cake House.
Houston Texans & GHPAL Virtual Dialogue on Social Justice
DL Jacob Martin and Legend ND Kalu joined Houston Police Department Executive Assistant Chief (and now HPD Chief) Troy Finner, and Greater Houston Police Activities League (GHPAL) officers for a virtual dialogue with teens on social justice. The teen participants, who are a part of the GHPAL Program, had the opportunity to ask the panelists questions about criminal justice and police relations. More than 50 local teens tuning in to watch the conversation.
The McNair family introduces a new video series titled, "Conversations for Change," aimed to continue the dialogue about racism and social injustice. Led by Houston Texans Co-founder and Senior Chair Janice McNair, Chairman and Chief Officer Cal McNair and Houston Texans Foundation Vice President Hannah McNair.
