GCP Founder Wins International Prize from British Airways

British Airways selected Gulf Coast Philanthropy founder Shannon Prudhomme as a recipient of its international 2010 Face of Opportunity Event Prize. She is one of 250 organizations chosen based upon elevator-pitch style essay submissions and public votes.

Her award-winning essay demonstrated a focus on helping local businesses create socially responsible initiatives. Prudhomme learned about the competition through British Airway’s sponsorship of the Houston Black Professionals Meetup group, an organization to which she belongs.

On February 2, 2011, The Face of Opportunity nominees will participate in an exclusive British Airways Face-to-Face Global Entrepreneur Conference in New York City, which will focus on providing small businesses with information and resources to develop a global presence. Following the conference, British Airways will take the nominees to a private networking reception in London, where they will be presented with a complimentary roundtrip ticket to any destination serviced by British Airways. 

After participating in the events organized by British Airways, she plans to travel to Uganda to volunteer with the Uganda Village Project. Prudhomme plans to chronicle her experience on the site upon returning from the trip.

Cleaning & Organizing Business Supports Cancer Patients

Jacqueline Wright browsed the internet one day in 2008 and read an article that changed her life. As a result, she now has the ability to impact the lives of many Houston residents. “The article quoted the Department of Commerce as stating that 80% of domestic homes would seek outside assistance to manage their homes,” she said. “I took that information and ran with it!”

Within months of reading the article, Wright said she launched Neena’s Maid and Organizing Service in Houston, Texas. The company reflects both Wright’s love of organizing homes, as well as her lifelong charitable spirit.

“As a child I always enjoyed cleaning the homes of the older family members and neighbors in the fifth ward community of Houston,” she said. “I absolutely loved it!”

Today, Wright still donates her time and talents to others, as well as encourages other businesses and individuals to think broadly about ways to give. “Philanthropy is not just about money,” she emphasizes. “It’s about giving of yourself, your time.”

Her company has provided sponsorships for numerous community events, and recently partnered with the Cleaning for a Reason Foundation, a national organization that provides cleaning services for women undergoing cancer treatment. Through this partnership, patients can apply for services through the Foundation's website.

As a five-year breast cancer survivor, Wright said this new partnership is especially meaningful because she understands the challenges of battling the disease. "A person appreciates you doing something they can’t physically do themselves,” she said. “Cleanliness is especially important for cancer patients since their open wounds cause them to be susceptible to infection.”

While Wright focuses the majority of Neena’s philanthropic efforts on breast cancer initiatives, she also donates her time to various other organizations throughout Houston. Wright says she believes all people have the ability to contribute to their communities in some way. “Find something you can give to someone else and start there,” she says. “The power of giving is that it illustrates that you truly have to give to receive in life.”

Those interested in volunteering with the partnership program to serve cancer patients should contact Jacqueline Wright at (832) 489-4459.