Message from the Executive Director
Lou’s Letter
Walk of Hope
Tour
Curious about life on our campus
and in our cottages? Would you
like to see first-hand the warm,
family-oriented home your support
makes possible?
Come join us for a tour of our campus and
cottages. It’s an hour of wonderful stories,
great information and an inside look at where
our children live. This is not a fundraising
event. Bring only an open heart and a friend.
Saturdays at 10 a.m.
Below are the dates for 2016. You can find
more information on our website.
•May 7–Spring Festival •October 1
(ticketed event)
•November 5
•September 3
it felt like everyone was just treading
water.” Yet, every Tuesday just before
lunch, Mr. Tommy and Mr. Jack met and
“Whatever you think you can or can’t took weekly steps to get the program
do…..”
in place, closer to the dream they
had in mind. Between the Robinsons’
What a miracle Boys and Girls Country
business sense, their partners’ investis still here, still teaching and nurturing ments in the program (who became
kids in a Christian family home 45 years our board) and Mr. Tommy’s expertise
after our founders started Boys
in building and developing properties,
Country. At each anniversary we reflect Boys Country emerged “unlike anything
and are grateful for those who went
else available,” both then and now.
before us.
We still share the big dreams of our kids
In 1971, Tommy and Jean Robinson
and their families. We still pray every
wanted to do more for kids than what
day and encourage our kids to know all
their sponsorship of a Christian
their limits are self-imposed. We still
after-school program was accomplishlive out our belief that serving God,
ing. This bright couple pulled their
coupled with hard work, will pay many
friends and business acquaintances
dividends. We teach our kids we don’t
together, donated the land and started guarantee equal outcomes, but we do
the dream of a “Christian home for
guarantee them an equal opportunity
children.” They knew Christianity
and the road to opportunity begins in
wasn’t about fighting over ideologies.
the classroom. Finally, we know for
It’s about all Christians working togeth- many problems there are no answers,
er to serve others. Mr. Tommy wrote
but there are people who answer. We
that he and Ms. Jean wanted the
are so grateful for 45 years of sacrifices
“spiritual activities to be the most
made by all of you. Ms. Jean always
important effort at Boys Country.” Just
tells me, “Remember to tell them Lou,
as their new program was starting, Mr. no gift is too small. All of this was
Tommy and Ms. Jean would go after
started with a $25 donation.” And so it
church to the Houston bayous and
continues. We strive to remain
dig up little saplings and drive to Boys
worthy of the sacrifice of those who
Country. They would get down on their went before us and know heroic things
hands and knees and plant the beautistill happen when people get involved.
ful trees which you see on our campus We all have the power to make a
today. They made so many personal
difference in the lives of children.
investments!
“Whatever you think you can or can’t
The first executive director was Jack
do, you’re right.” - Henry Ford
Brewer. Jack and his wife, Carolyn,
have since retired to Tomball, Texas and
visit the campus every Spring Festival
as well as visit with me several times
Lou Palma
during the year. Jack takes no credit
Executive Director
for the program’s longevity and turns
all recognition to the Robinsons. “They
were the key,” he states. The first years
were such a challenge and “sometimes
Make your contribution online! Give securely online at www.boysandgirlscountry.org/donate
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Boys and Girls Country News | Spring 2016