Steve Hall, Houston Alumni Organization (HAO) president and CEO (left), is joined by Eddie Elizondo, 2005 Operation School Supplies (OSS) committee member; Jeff Fuller, past OSS chair; Kathy Anzivino, 2005 OSS campus campaign chair; and Tonja A. Jones, director of HAO’s Cougar Connections. Photo courtesy of Houston Alumni Organization

At the University of Houston — where learning and leading are the trademarks of excellence — one Cougar program definitely is leading the way in community outreach.

And because of the success of the15th Annual Operation School Supplies (OSS), the Houston Alumni Organization (HAO), Houston Coca-Cola Bottling Company and H-E-B received a 2006 Leadership in Action Award in the education category for the campaign.

The award recognizes corporate and community organizations that have made extraordinary contributions toward the betterment of life in the greater Houston area. Leadership Houston, a nonprofit corporation, selected OSS from among 12 nominated programs, including CenterPoint Energy’s Texas Scholars and Dow Chemical Company’s Comeback Kids.

“The award acknowledges the leadership and commitment that University of Houston alumni and the University of Houston demonstrate on behalf of the community,” said Steve Hall, HAO president and chief executive officer.

Hall added that HAO and its partners have received awards from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education for the program, but that Leadership Houston was the first organization in the city to honor OSS.

Since its inception, OSS has raised $1,121,000, benefiting more than 100,000 children. Last year, OSS helped more than 17,000 elementary students from 181 schools in 24 school districts in the Houston area. The campaign, which usually ends in August, re-opened in late September in response to the needs of children affected by Hurricane Katrina, raising an additional $5,181 for a total of $150,000.

FOX 26 KRIV-Houston, UPN 20, the Houston Zoo, Clear Channel (Sunny 99.1), the Houston Astros, the United Way of Texas Gulf Coast and Houston Community Newspapers sponsored the program.

Francine Parker
fparker@central.uh.edu