BEAR officially launched the start of its BEAR Back-to-School Program on June 23 with the first volunteer group of the season.
Employees from J.M. Huber Corporation, joined BEAR at our warehouse to help prepare for one of the organization’s busiest and most impactful times of year. During their volunteer time, Huber also presented BEAR with a $35,000 check to support its work providing essential resources to children who have experienced abuse, neglect or crisis.
It was such a special way to begin the season!
Each year, BEAR’s Back-to-School Program helps ensure children served through DFPS – Texas Child Protective Services (CPS) have the supplies they need to start the school year with confidence. For many children, a new backpack, school supplies and basic essentials are more than items on a list. They are reminders that their community sees them, supports them and believes they deserve to walk into the classroom prepared.
Huber employees spent the morning volunteering inside BEAR’s warehouse, where donations are sorted, organized and prepared for children and families across Harris County and surrounding communities. The group also took part in a check presentation celebrating the company’s $35,000 grant to BEAR through Huber Helps, J.M. Huber Corporation’s global philanthropic initiative.
“We are grateful to J.M. Huber Corporation, the volunteers who are giving their time to support BEAR and Jim Klein, the Huber employee who first nominated our organization for this meaningful grant,” said Tammy Hetmaniak, Executive Director of BEAR. “This generous support will help us continue providing dignity, comfort and essential resources to children who have experienced abuse, neglect or crisis. When companies and employees step forward in this way, it makes a direct difference for children and families across our community.”
The grant comes through Huber Helps’ Impact Your Community funding program, which allows employees to nominate nonprofit projects that can create long-term community benefit. BEAR was selected as a grant recipient thanks to the nomination and support of Jim Klein, a Huber employee who helped bring our mission to the company’s attention.
For BEAR, the timing could not have been more fitting. The start of the Back-to-School Program marks the beginning of weeks of preparation, volunteer support and community giving. With Huber serving as the first volunteer group of the season, BEAR began this effort with momentum and a powerful reminder of what happens when companies and employees choose to invest in children.
BEAR is grateful to J.M. Huber Corporation, Huber Helps, Jim Klein and every Huber volunteer who helped make the morning so special!
As BEAR continues preparing children for the new school year, community support remains essential. Click Here to learn more about how to get involved with BEAR’s Back-to-School program.
At BEAR, we see firsthand what social workers carry every single day.
They are often the first call when a child is removed from an unsafe home. They are the steady presence in moments of crisis. They are the advocates, the protectors, and sometimes the only constant in a child’s life during an incredibly uncertain time.
During National Social Work Month, we want to pause and recognize the critical role social workers play in the lives of children across the greater Houston area, and why their work is so deeply connected to our mission.
The Reality Facing Children in Our Community
Right here in our region, the need is significant.
At any given time, more than 16,000 children are under the supervision of Child Protective Services in the greater Houston area, and over 1,000 of those children are removed from their homes under emergency conditions.
These are not just numbers to us. These are children who may leave everything they know with little more than the clothes on their backs.
In those moments, social workers step in immediately. And often, so do we.
Through our BEAR Necessities program, we provide emergency essentials like clothing, diapers, hygiene items, and comfort items, the very first things a child may receive after entering care. We do this because we believe their dignity matters, their comfort matters, and feeling seen matters.
Supporting the People Who Support Children
Social workers are navigating complex caseloads, emotional decisions, and urgent timelines every day. Their job requires both compassion and resilience.
That is why BEAR exists not only to serve children, but to support the caseworkers who are on the front lines.
When a social worker needs immediate resources for a child, they don’t have time to wait. They need access. They need support. They need a system that works. We are proud to be part of that system.
By providing direct, tangible resources, we help lighten the load so social workers can focus on what matters most, protecting and guiding children toward stability and hope.
Because of this partnership, real impact is happening.
In 2025 alone, BEAR served more than 39,000 children through our programs, providing essentials, school supplies, and holiday gifts to ensure children feel supported year-round.
That kind of impact only happens when a community shows up, and when social workers continue to advocate for every child, every day.
Why This Month Matters
National Social Work Month is about awareness and about understanding the challenges children face when they enter the foster care system, and recognizing the people who step in to help them navigate it.
It is also a reminder that social workers cannot do this work alone.
They need partners. They need resources. They need a community that understands the urgency and responds with action.
How You Can Support This Work
At BEAR, we believe every child deserves to feel safe, supported, and valued, especially in their most difficult moments.
This month, we invite you to stand with social workers and the children they serve:
Donate essential items like clothing, diapers, and hygiene kits
Volunteer your time to help prepare resources for children entering care
Support BEAR programs that provide year-round assistance
Share our mission and help raise awareness in the community
Across Texas, thousands of children in foster care are waiting for something many people take for granted: a permanent family. For some children, that path home is complicated by age, medical needs, or the need to keep brothers and sisters together. Programs like the Heart Gallery of Greater Houston, operated locally through BEAR, exist to help these children be seen, heard, and connected with families ready to love them.
As BEAR expands its impact for children involved in the child welfare system, the Heart Gallery of Greater Houston stands proudly as the organization’s fourth core program, working alongside BEAR Necessities, BEARing Gifts and BEAR Back-to-School to provide hope and help for children who need it most.
Our program, as part of Heart Galleries of Texas, serves as a powerful adoption recruitment tool that transforms the futures of hundreds of children across the state by helping them find permanent homes.
What Is the Heart Gallery?
The Heart Gallery concept began as a creative way to help children in foster care connect with adoptive families. Through professional portraits and personal stories, children who are waiting for adoption are introduced to their communities. These images are shared through exhibits, websites and outreach efforts designed to spark both awareness and meaningful connections between children and families.
In Texas, the model has grown into one of the most advanced and effective systems in the country.
Heart Galleries are recognized as a national model, and Texas is considered a national leader in implementing best practices that prioritize both child safety and permanency outcomes. Our belief is that every child deserves a permanent, loving family.
Why Programs Like the Heart Gallery Matter
Every year, thousands of children in Texas are waiting to be adopted from foster care. Many of these youth need additional advocacy to help them find the right family.
Nearly 5,000 children in Texas are waiting for adoption from foster care, and approximately 1,500 of these children require targeted advocacy beyond traditional recruitment methods.
These often include older youth, sibling groups who want to stay together, and children with complex medical needs.
Without programs designed to actively recruit families, many of these children remain in foster care for years.
The consequences of aging out of foster care can be dire. Youth without permanent family connections face significantly higher risks of homelessness, exploitation, incarceration and early mortality. Programs like the Heart Gallery directly address this reality by giving these children visibility and a voice.
The Power of Visibility
When people see a child’s story, something changes.
Instead of a statistic, the public sees a young person with dreams, talents and a personality that shines through a portrait and biography. These galleries spark conversation and encourage families who may never have considered adoption to explore the possibility.
Across Texas, hundreds of children have found permanent homes through Heart Galleries. In one recent year alone, 324 youth were removed from Heart Galleries because they were adopted by loving families.
One of the most important aspects of the Heart Gallery model is that it centers the voice and choice of young people themselves. Children are not simply photographed and placed into a program. Participation is voluntary and guided by a robust consent process developed with input from youth with lived experience.
Young people who participate help develop their own narratives, select images they feel represent them best, review their biographies before they are published, and can withdraw from participation at any time. This trauma-informed approach ensures youth are empowered rather than spoken for.
Safety and Privacy Are Priorities
Protecting the safety of children in foster care is always the top priority. Heart Galleries operate with safeguards to protect children’s identities and locations. Personal details that could reveal where a child lives are not shared publicly. Programs also use protections such as time-limited postings, watermarking and removal of images once a child is matched with a family.
Research shows that youth without permanent family connections face far greater risks of exploitation. Programs that help them find adoptive families are an important protective factor.
Texas Leads the Nation
In 2023, the Texas Legislature created Heart Galleries of Texas, establishing a statewide structure that strengthens consistency, accountability and best practices. Today the state works with regional nonprofit partners to operate local Heart Galleries. These organizations receive training, support and resources to ensure strong standards and quality across programs.
This coordinated structure allows communities across Texas to work together toward the same goal: finding families for children who need them.
About The Heart Gallery of Greater Houston
Locally, the Heart Gallery of Greater Houston plays a vital role in connecting children in the Houston region with adoptive families. Through this program, BEAR collaborates with caseworkers, child placing agencies and community partners to identify youth who want to share their stories and be considered for adoption.
Professional photographers donate their time and talent to capture portraits that reflect each child’s personality. Community exhibits bring those portraits into public spaces where families and supporters can learn more about adoption and the children waiting for homes.
For many youth, the gallery experience is empowering. It allows them to share who they are, what they love and what they hope for in the future.
A Program That Aligns with BEAR’s Mission
For decades, BEAR has focused on meeting the immediate needs of children in the child welfare system. The Heart Gallery of Greater Houston expands that mission in an important way. While other BEAR programs provide clothing, essentials and holiday gifts for children experiencing crisis, the Heart Gallery focuses on the ultimate goal: helping children find permanent families.
Together, these programs create a continuum of care that supports children at every stage of their journey.
Adoption stories that begin with the Heart Gallery often become lifelong connections that transform entire families. Families who adopt frequently say they first learned about the child through a portrait, an exhibit or a story shared through the program.
Each adoption represents stability, belonging and a future built on support.
How the Community Can Help
Programs like the Heart Gallery rely on the power of community. BEAR works closely with community partners, photographers, volunteers and advocates who believe every child deserves the opportunity to grow up in a safe and loving family. These partnerships help elevate the stories of children waiting for adoption and connect them with families who may be ready to welcome them home.
There are several ways individuals and organizations can support the Heart Gallery and make a meaningful difference for children in foster care:
Volunteer as a photographer.Professional photographers donate their time and talent to capture portraits that highlight each child’s personality and spirit. These portraits are often the first introduction a potential adoptive family has to a child.
Host a Heart Gallery exhibit.Businesses, community centers, places of worship and public venues can host photo exhibits that help raise awareness and introduce waiting children to the community.
Support the program through donations.Financial contributions help sustain the program, fund photography sessions and exhibits and expand outreach efforts that connect children with adoptive families.
Here at BEAR, the work continues every day to support children in foster care, so they are seen, supported and given the opportunity to belong. From our 💚 to yours, thank you for your support!
BEAR announces an expanded partnership with 90.5 KJIC and Tide Cleaners to increase community awareness and support for children in foster care across greater Houston, with a shared focus on amplifying the impact of BEAR’s Heart Gallery of Greater Houston.
The Heart Gallery is one of BEAR’s four core programs and serves as a powerful outreach initiative that connects children in foster care with potential adoptive families through professional photography and storytelling. Nationally, children who are legally free for adoption face significant barriers to finding permanent homes, particularly older youth, sibling groups and medically fragile children.
Why the Heart Gallery matters:
Children without Heart Gallery exposure have roughly a 1% chance of adoption before aging out of foster care
Communities with active Heart Gallery programs see adoption rates increase to more than 60%
In Texas alone, more than 5,000 children and youth are currently waiting to be adopted
Through volunteer photographers, the Heart Gallery captures dignified, professional portraits and personal profiles that are displayed in high-traffic community spaces. These exhibits help humanize the foster care experience and invite the public to see children not as statistics, but as individuals deserving of stability, connection and belonging.
“The Heart Gallery helps tell the stories of children who deserve stability, connection and hope,” said Tammy Hetmaniak, Executive Director of BEAR. “Tide Cleaners has been a long-standing partner by opening its neighborhood locations to help raise awareness about foster care and adoption. The addition of 90.5 KJIC allows us to extend that impact even further. Through in-store visibility and on-air messaging, we are reaching more families, inviting greater community involvement and creating new opportunities for people to support children in foster care.”
BEAR currently hosts Heart Gallery exhibits in all 34 Tide Cleaners locations throughout the greater Houston area, using highly visible community spaces to showcase professional portraits and brief personal profiles of children in foster care who are waiting for permanent, loving homes.
“Since December 2019, Tide Cleaners of Houston has proudly partnered with BEAR, beginning with a 34-store toy drive to support children in CPS care. Over the years, our commitment has expanded to include a school supply drive and collaborative gift initiatives with Cy-Fair ISD Athletics. What I find most rewarding about this partnership is seeing our entire team rally behind a cause that transcends our daily retail operations. Service is deeply embedded in our corporate DNA; it is a privilege to witness our staff go above and beyond to provide meaningful support for children in the CPS system. In addition to our internal efforts, we must also recognize the incredible generosity of the Cy-Fair ISD athletes, their families, and our Tide Cleaners guests. Their consistent year-over-year contributions are the cornerstone of these initiatives. I have often said that our guests are among the most selfless individuals in the community, and their continued support truly makes these programs possible, said Kyle E. Nesbit, President, Houston at Edit TX, LLC – a Franchisee of Tide Cleaners.
“At Community Radio, Inc. 90.5 KJIC, our mission is to provide comfort, encouragement, and spiritual strength. Partnering with BEAR and The Heart Gallery of Greater Houston allows us to help ensure children in foster care are seen and their stories are shared. As James 1:27 reminds us, caring for orphans is at the heart of genuine faith, and this partnership reflects our belief that every child deserves a safe home, a stable future, and the hope found in knowing they belong,” said Amber Cole, KJIC Outreach Director.
As part of the expanded collaboration, 90.5 KJIC will provide on-air promotion for BEAR through January 2027, reinforcing the Heart Gallery’s message and helping BEAR reach families, advocates and supporters across the greater Houston area.
The 2025 holiday season was one for the books at BEAR. Our annual BEARing Gifts program once again showed the power of community and what it means to show up for children who need it most in the greater Houston area! If you were part of BEARing Gifts, whether you donated, volunteered, hosted a drive, or shared our mission, please know this first: you made a real difference.
Thanks to the overwhelming support of donors, volunteers, and partner organizations:
BEAR served 32,334 at-risk and CPS-involved children during BEARing Gifts 2025, making this one of our most impactful years to date.
BEAR welcomed a whopping 1,500 volunteers over the holidays!
From toys and books to clothing and essentials, these donations helped ensure children involved in CPS across the Houston area felt seen and valued during the holidays… one gift at at a time.
What made this year especially meaningful was the level of community involvement. We saw more volunteers, more toy drives, and more first-time supporters than ever before. Businesses, schools, faith-based groups, families, and individuals stepped up in a big way, many organizing their own collection drives or spending time volunteering in our warehouse to sort and prepare gifts.
And we have to pause for a special shoutout to our Holiday Heroes:
These incredible organizations went above and beyond to help make BEARing Gifts possible this season:
ExxonMobil
Brookfield Properties
Cheniere Energy, Inc
IKEA
KPRC 2
Harris County Precinct 2
Kinetik
Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center
Tide Cleaners
American Furniture Warehouse
NAVA Law Group
Experimax
Your generosity, leadership, and willingness to rally your teams helped bring joy to thousands of children who needed it most. We truly could not have done this without you! Community support is what makes this work possible.
WHAT IS BEARING GIFTS?
The BEARing Gifts program is about dignity, normalcy, and joy for children who have experienced trauma and uncertainty. Every gift represents a reminder that their community cares and that they are not forgotten, especially during a season that can be difficult for children in foster care. BEARing Gifts is one of the four core programs of BEAR. Learn more about it here.
BEAR (BE A Resource) is proud to announce a generous $100,000 Chairman’s Gift from ExxonMobil to support the 2025 BEARing Gifts program, which ensures children under the care of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services receive holiday gifts tailored just for them. For thousands of children experiencing abuse and neglect, BEARing Gifts is often the only holiday celebration they receive.
“This gift from ExxonMobil makes an immediate and meaningful difference for the children we serve,” says Tammy Hetmaniak, Executive Director of BEAR. “BEARing Gifts is a reminder to children in CPS care that they are seen, valued, and deserving of joy. ExxonMobil’s support helps us honor every child’s wish list and ensures they experience compassion during a difficult time in their lives. We are incredibly grateful for their partnership.”
The contribution marks the 20th annual ExxonMobil Chairman’s Gift, which is given during the holiday season in support of a deserving nonprofit organization.
“For 20 years, we’ve made a special holiday contribution to a local charity,” says ExxonMobil Chairman and CEO Darren Woods. “I’m honored to present this year’s gift to a very deserving organization: BEAR. Every day, they champion the well-being of Houston’s most vulnerable youth. Their work is noble, it’s vital, and its changing lives for the better.”
BEARing Gifts serves more than 29,000 children in the greater Houston area, providing personalized wish-list items such as toys, clothing, books, and essential items. ExxonMobil’s contribution will help BEAR meet this season’s growing needs, ensuring every child referred by CPS receives the joy, dignity, and comfort of a holiday gift chosen specifically for them.
BEAR celebrated a record-breaking evening at the 4th Annual Stetsons & Stilettos Gala on October 12, 2025, held at the Royal Sonesta Houston Galleria. The “Deep in the Heart of Texas”-themed event raised more than $750,000 to support Houston’s at-risk and CPS-involved children through BEAR’s year-round programs.
This year’s event featured a spirited “Deep in the Heart of Texas” theme, welcoming nearly 600 guests for an evening of gourmet dining, live acrobatic entertainment by The DB Duo, and an exciting live auction. Guests also participated in various engaging activities throughout the evening, including a Wine and Whiskey Pull, Kendra Scott Jewelry Pull, the Branded Hat Bar, and a one-of-a-kind AI Photo Booth experience. The luxurious Tenenbaum Jewelers Champagne Wall offered guests a chance to win sparkling prizes while supporting BEAR’s mission, with winners announced throughout the night.
The event honored Betsy Mercer, a Legacy Chair and BEAR Board Member of over 20 years, and Kori Gough, Director of Heart Galleries of Texas, for their lasting dedication to improving the lives of Houston’s most vulnerable children. Former NFL player and children’s advocate Quan Cosby delivered a powerful keynote, sharing his personal journey and passion for supporting youth in foster care. Additionally, guests heard moving testimony from a foster mother of six children who were served by BEAR.
“Each year, this event reminds us how strong our community is when it comes together for children who need us most,” said Tammy Hetmaniak, Executive Director of BEAR. “The funds raised from Stetsons & Stilettos allow BEAR to stock emergency BEAR Rooms with clothing, shoes, diapers, hygiene kits, and comfort items, like the teddy bears that often become a child’s first sense of security after entering care. But more than that, these donations help children feel seen, valued, and supported. Every clean outfit, every backpack, every wrapped gift is a message that their lives matter and that this community cares deeply about them.”
The evening was chaired by Meredith and Ben Marshall, Amy and Rob Pierce, and Kelli and John Weinzierl, whose leadership, along with the presenting sponsors Kinetik and Vitol, helped make the night BEAR’s most successful fundraiser to date. Additional sponsors included Vanessa and Chuck Ames, Dylan and Jordan Seff, and numerous generous underwriters and donors recognized throughout the night.
In 2024 alone, BEAR provided more than 90,000 services to children across the Greater Houston area, ranging from basic necessities and school supplies to holiday gifts and adoption support. This fundraising event supports the organization’s unwavering commitment to helping children in crisis find stability, comfort, and hope.
BEAR is proud to announce that Executive Director Tammy Hetmaniak has been named one of the Houston Business Journal’s 2025 Most Admired CEOs. This prestigious honor recognizes outstanding business leaders across Greater Houston who demonstrate visionary leadership, foster thriving workplace cultures, and make a meaningful impact on both their organizations and the broader community.
Now in her eighth year leading BEAR, Hetmaniak has transformed the organization into a vital resource for at-risk and CPS-involved children in Harris County. Since assuming the role of Executive Director in 2017, she has driven strategic growth, expanded access to basic necessities and spearheaded program innovations that have improved outcomes for thousands of children in crisis. She also launched the BEAR Mobile, a mobile outreach initiative that delivers critical items like diapers, clothing and hygiene products directly to families and partner agencies, and she enhanced programming to include the Heart Gallery of Greater Houston and the Greater Houston Permanency Collaborative.
“Being recognized among such an inspiring group of leaders is truly an honor,” said Hetmaniak. “At BEAR, our mission is to bring dignity, hope and essential resources to children experiencing crisis. This recognition reflects the dedication of our entire team, and I’m especially grateful to our Board of Directors for their belief in our mission and for nominating me for this award. Their support has been instrumental in everything we’ve achieved together.”
Hetmaniak’s career in child advocacy spans more than 25 years, with prior roles in CPS investigations and forensic interviewing. As executive director at BEAR, she continues to lead through compassion, strategic vision and an unwavering commitment to children’s well-being.
The Houston Business Journal’s Most Admired CEOs list is determined by an independent panel of judges who evaluate nominees on leadership style, company performance, innovation and civic engagement.
We’re still glowing from an unforgettable night in New York City, where BEAR was recognized on a national stage for the powerful impact of our mission. BEAR, in partnership with FAR Public Relations, received a 2025 PRSA Anvil Award of Excellence in the Public Service – Associations/Government/Nonprofit category at the Public Relations Society of America’s (PRSA) annual awards ceremony.
This prestigious award celebrates outstanding strategic public relations programs that improve communities and inspire meaningful change. For us, this award isn’t just about the work; it’s about the children we serve, the stories we share, and the Houston community that continues to rally behind BEAR.
A Campaign Rooted in Purpose
The award-winning campaign focused on raising awareness of BEAR’s mission to provide basic necessities and seasonal support for children involved with Child Protective Services. Through strategic storytelling, media outreach, and community engagement, BEAR was able to bring more visibility to the urgent needs facing these children and how Houstonians could help.
The campaign was about amplifying hope and action, including spotlighting our programs and partnerships to launching new initiatives like the mobile van and back-to-school drives.
What This Means for BEAR
Winning an Anvil Award of Excellence puts BEAR in the company of some of the most impactful nonprofit campaigns across the country. More importantly, it shows what’s possible when a mission-driven organization teams up with strategic communicators to drive real change.
We’re incredibly proud and deeply grateful. Thank you to PRSA for this honor, to FAR PR for being our partners in purpose, and to every supporter who believes in BEAR’s work.
When a child is removed from their home due to abuse or neglect, they often leave with little to nothing in their arms. In many cases, it is BEAR that provides that child’s first clean outfit, their first toothbrush, or a stuffed animal to hold onto during a time of deep uncertainty. These small but powerful moments matter. They offer comfort, dignity, and a sense that someone cares.
May is National Foster Care Awareness Month, and at BEAR, we are using this time to remind our community that every child in foster care deserves to feel safe, seen, and supported. With your help, we can continue to serve the thousands of children involved with Child Protective Services (CPS) in the Greater Houston area.
Here are five meaningful ways you can make an impact this month.
1. Donate Essentials to Children in Foster Care
Every year, BEAR provides critical resources to thousands of children through our BEAR Necessities program. These items include new clothing, diapers, hygiene kits, and comfort items for kids who often enter care with nothing.
You can help by donating directly or shopping our Amazon Wishlist. Items are shipped straight to BEAR’s warehouse and go directly into the hands of children in need.
Most requested items include:
• Diapers and wipes
• Pajamas and new clothes for all ages
• Shampoo, deodorant, toothbrushes
• Backpacks and school supplies
2. Volunteer Your Time in Houston
If you are looking for volunteer opportunities in Houston, BEAR is a great place to start. Volunteers help sort donations, assemble care packages, prepare for seasonal drives, and support events throughout the year.
Volunteering is a great way to give back and make a hands-on impact in the life of a child.
3. Support BEAR’s Core Programs
BEAR operates four key programs that meet children at different stages of their journey in foster care:
• BEAR Necessities provides emergency items like clothing and hygiene kits.
• BEARing Gifts fulfills holiday wish lists for children who would otherwise go without.
• BEAR Back to School ensures children start the school year with new backpacks and supplies.
• The Heart Gallery of Greater Houston raises adoption awareness for children waiting to find their forever family.
When you support any of these programs, you help create moments of comfort and joy during times of stress and uncertainty.
4. Raise Awareness in Your Community
You can make a difference simply by sharing our mission. Spread the word about BEAR, repost Heart Gallery profiles, or talk to your workplace, school, or church about hosting a supply drive.
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook at @bearesourcehouston and tag us when you share. Awareness leads to action, and every voice helps.
5. Become a Monthly Donor
One of the easiest and most impactful ways to help is by becoming a monthly donor. Recurring gifts help BEAR plan ahead and ensure we are ready to respond when children need us most.
Even a gift of $25 a month can provide consistent support like school supplies, a warm blanket, or hygiene items for a child entering care.
