Charity Guild of Catholic Women Awards $789,830 to Over 60 Houston Children’s Charities for 2025–2026 Grant Year
In a meeting room on Lovett Boulevard, surrounded by volunteers who have spent months sorting donations and staffing a neighborhood shop, the Charity Guild of Catholic Women presented nearly $790,000 to organizations serving children across Greater Houston.
On February 10, 2026, the Charity Guild of Catholic Women awarded $789,830 to more than 60 local children’s charities for the 2025–2026 grant year. The funds, raised primarily through the Charity Guild Shop in the Montrose area, will support programs focused on arts, Catholic education, enrichment, health and well-being, hunger relief and social services across Greater Houston.
For families, educators and nonprofit leaders throughout Houston, the grants represent more than a ceremonial check. They help fund tutoring programs, medical services, food assistance, youth mentorship and school-based initiatives that directly affect children from the time of conception through age 18.
A Houston Tradition That Continues to Grow
The Charity Guild of Catholic Women has distributed more than $10 million to over 200 children’s charities since 1996, with this year’s total following last year’s $819,000 awarded to 75 organizations for 2024–2025.
The Guild’s mission is rooted in both service and faith: assisting children in need in the greater Houston area while fostering the spiritual growth of its members under the patronage of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Grants are provided without regard to race, ethnicity, gender or creed, though recipient organizations’ goals must align with the teachings of the Catholic Church.
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This year’s grantees serve children in critical areas such as:
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Arts: Main Street Theater, Partner Schools, Prelude Music Foundation, Young Audiences, Inc. of Houston, Girls on the Run, Gracewood, Inc., Project One Day, Teen and Family Services
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Education & Catholic Schools: Barkley’s Bookshelf, College Community Career, Frassati Catholic High School, Holy Ghost Catholic School, House of Amos, Incarnate Word Academy, Literacy Now, Nativity Academy, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School, Resurrection Catholic School, St. Ambrose Catholic School, St. Augustine Catholic School, St. Christopher Catholic School, St. Francis de Sales Catholic School, St. Joseph Catholic School, St. Mary’s Catholic School, St. Peter Catholic High School, St. Pius X High School, St. Rose of Lima Catholic School, St. Theresa Early Childhood Center
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Health & Well Being: All Ears! Listening and Language Center, Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, Be An Angel, CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare, Cardinal’s Circle – C.R.O.S.S. Academies, San Jose Clinic
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Hunger Relief: Blessings in a Backpack, Inc., East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry, Harbor Christian Academy, Humble Area Assistance Ministries, Second Servings, Small Places
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Social Services: Boys and Girls Country of Houston, Children’s Transplant Initiative, Cy-Fair Helping Hands, Cypress Assistance Ministries, Dress for Success, Epiphany Community Health Outreach Services (ECHOS), Foundation for Life, Houston Coalition for Life, Houston Furniture Bank, Project Joy and Hope, Raise Up Families, Spectrum Linx Foundation, The Periwinkle Foundation
The presentation ceremony highlighted the scale of community reach, with organizations spanning Houston, Fort Bend County, Cypress, Humble and surrounding areas.
The Shop That Makes It Possible
At the center of the Guild’s fundraising efforts is the Charity Guild Shop, located at 1203 Lovett Blvd, Houston, TX 77006. Open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Montrose resale and consignment shop has become a neighborhood fixture.
Visitors are greeted by Guild members in signature pink aprons, and free parking is available for shoppers and consignors — a small but practical detail that regular customers appreciate. Proceeds from clothing, home goods, kitchenware and unique finds are directed back into the community through the annual grants program.
The volunteer-powered operation is substantial. The Charity Guild of Catholic Women currently includes 576 women representing 71 parishes in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, with more than 600 active volunteers serving across 25 committees. In 2020–2021 alone, members contributed 89,441 volunteer hours — even with the shop closed for part of that year.
Those volunteer hours account for 96% of the shop’s labor force.
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A Mission That Began in 1922
The Guild’s story began more than a century ago when 59 Houston women each contributed $1 to establish a charity fund for disadvantaged children. At the request of Monsignor George T. Walsh of The Church of the Annunciation, the women also began sewing layettes for infants served by what is now San José Clinic — a partnership that continues to this day.
By 1952, the Charity Guild Shop opened on Westheimer Road. Over the decades, the Guild purchased property on Lovett Boulevard, expanded operations and steadily increased grant distributions. In 2004, the shop surpassed $1 million in gross sales for the first time; by 2013, that figure had doubled to $2 million.
In 2022, the Charity Guild of Catholic Women celebrated 100 years of service to the Houston community.
Today, its Latin motto — “Deus est caritas” or “God is love” — remains central to its work. The Guild’s logo features the Star of David, symbolizing the Jewish heritage of Christianity, alongside the Sacred Heart of Jesus superimposed on the cross.
Who Can Apply for Charity Guild Grants?
For nonprofits in Greater Houston serving children in need, the annual grant application period runs March 15 through June 15.
Agencies must:
- Serve children from conception through age 18
- Have an active Charity Guild member sponsor
- Align their goals with Catholic teachings
- Complete required verification documentation
The Guild’s Children’s Charities Committee reviews applications and conducts site visits from mid-June through mid-September before final funding decisions are made.
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What It Means for Houston Families
While the numbers are significant — nearly $790,000 this year alone — the broader impact touches classrooms, clinics, food pantries and counseling offices across the region.
For Houston parents seeking educational support, healthcare access, safe housing or enrichment opportunities for their children, many of the programs funded through the Charity Guild are woven into the daily fabric of the community.
And for shoppers browsing racks in Montrose, the connection is direct: purchases translate into grants, and grants translate into services for children who might otherwise lack access to food, healthcare, clothing, education or restorative support.
As the Guild moves into its next century of service, its model remains simple and community-driven: volunteer, serve, shop and give.
Residents interested in shopping, donating or learning more about membership can visit the Charity Guild Shop on Lovett Boulevard. Those wanting to support Houston children directly may also make donations through the organization.
For continued coverage of Houston nonprofits, community grants and the local initiatives shaping Greater Houston, follow My Neighborhood News for updates.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.