TECH CORPS Texas

HOUSTON, Texas (September 23, 2009)-On the morning of Friday, September 11, more than 50 guests, players, and volunteers gathered at Houston’s Wildcat Golf Club to play in the 4^th annual TECH CORPS Texas Charity Golf Tournament.  This year’s tournament was staged as part of the Bytes & Birdies fundraising events which honored the contributions of Philamena and Arthur Baird in support of education.

The winning team, comprised of local golf writers including Todd Hveem of the Houston Chronicle, was presented with an award for their low score of 61 at a ceremony immediately following the tournament. Further recognition was given to Clay Rutan for winning the longest drive competition, and Scott Crain, winner of the closet to the pin contest. The tournament and awards ceremony were captured thanks to Ronnie Boswell and Shoots Photography.

Sponsors included Bud Light/Silver Eagle Distributors, Computer Tech, The Breakfast Klub, Turning Point Group, Floodbreak, Governor Mark White, Content Active, among others. All proceeds from the Bytes & Birdies tournament benefited TECH CORPS Texas, a local non-profit that supports technology education and provides low cost computers and technology services to underprivileged schools, community organizations, returning military veterans, and other individuals in need.

_{For more event photos, please click here.}

HOUSTON, Texas (September 23, 2009) - On the evening of Thursday, September 10, 200 guests gathered to attend the first annual Bytes & Birdies Honors Gala and Cocktail party at the Hotel ZaZa in Houston’s museum district.  The event benefited local nonprofit TECH CORPS Texas, and was chaired by Honorary Chairman Denis DeBakey, and Event Co-Chairs Leisa Holland Nelson and Brian Gaubert.  Philamena and Arthur Baird were recognized for their years of dedication in support of education in Texas.

The event supported TECH CORPS Texas’ technology education programs and computer redistribution efforts, and sponsors included media partner Health and Fitness Magazine, Arthur and Philamena Baird, Bud Light/Silver Eagle Distributors, Content Active LLC, Pennino and Partners, Bill and Susanne Pritchard, Computer Tech, Tiffany and Co., Melanie Gray, The Capital Grille, Exchange Club of East Dallas, and many other friends and supporters of TECH CORPS Texas.

The evening was emceed by Emmy award winning news anchor, Linda Lorelle, whose own charity, The Linda Lorelle Scholarship Fund, was acknowledged as a proud recipient of TECH CORPS Texas’ generosity.  “I am happy to be here tonight,” said Lorelle, “TECH CORPS Texas is a non-profit I have worked with and believe in.”

To view more images from the Bytes & Birdies Gala, please click here.

TECH CORPS Texas, in association with the Houston Public Library WeCAN Works initiative, the City of Houston, the Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program, and the Houston Worksource; and with funding support from H-E-B, are pleased to announce the successful launch of the Community Help Desk Program. This program is the latest in TECH CORPS Texas’ continuing commitment to deliver meaningful, timely programs to meet students’ and communities needs. The Community Help Desk Summer Program was designed for high school students, college students, and young adults possessing the potential and desire to succeed. Through the program, these eager but often disadvantaged youth, were armed with positive skills and experiences to overcome employment barriers. Students were encouraged to aim for higher education, degrees, and certifications, in order to become independent, productive members of the growing technology-driven workforce.

Involving 40 students, the 30-hour program ran from June 26 to August 7, and included basic skills tutoring, various technology topics (Computer hardware, troubleshooting basics, basic networking, emerging technologies and technical writing, digital media, databases, and programming), interactive technology workshops, life skills workshops, career exploration, and professional development guest speakers representing companies in the Houston area.

Guest speakers included Leon Collins, Director of Development at Phelps-Stokes Foundation, Perry Busby, Change Control Manager at The Planet, Gina Clarke-Anderson, Metro Marketing Director-Texas at DeVry University, Leisa Holland-Nelson, President/COO of Content Active LLC, and Doug Erwin, President/CEO of The Planet. These speakers helped the students to develop key relationships with technology mentors who shared their experiences and perspectives. Participants also developed collaborative problem solving skills with hands-on projects, increased their math and were demonstrated educational and employment pathways into the technology arena.

The TECH CORPS Texas Community Help Desk Summer Program has proven to be a valuable educational resource that can be utilized on behalf of the entire community. TECH CORPS Texas plans to offer an expanded, 32 week version of the program in fall 2009.

If you would like more information on this or other TECH CORPS Texas programs, please call us at (713) 895-3775, or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

TECH CORPS Texas is a Houston-based, 501(c)3 organization that believes in order to ensure America’s technologically literate workforce of tomorrow, we must take a holistic approach to growing, nurturing, and supporting students today.  Our mission is to enhance K-12 education through the innovative use of technology, which we achieve by recruiting, training and supporting tech-savvy volunteers, and moving them into schools to support teachers, students, infrastructure, and programs.