The Champion Project now runs 11 mentoring programs for youth in foster care group homes, up from nine in April. Co-founder Elizabeth Chappell shared the growth with nearly 100 guests at the nonprofit's Night of Champions gala Oct. 20 at The Blue Magnolia in The Woodlands, as first reported by Woodlands Online.

The organization's tutoring reach has jumped from about 50 youth in four schools to roughly 70 youth across 15 schools and residential facilities. Church partners backing the mentoring work grew from five to six over the same period.

"Behind every one of those numbers is a child," Chappell said. "And they are the real story."

The nonprofit pairs children living in 24-hour staffed group homes with stable mentors, one-on-one tutors and a traveling Book Bus. The Book Bus delivers books, Bibles, Legos and stuffed animals directly to kids in care across the Greater Houston area, and it opens doors to new group homes and communities, according to Woodlands Online.

Assessments of 60 youth found that the average seventh-grade participant performs at a third-grade level in both math and reading, according to the organization's data shared at the gala. During a summer pilot, students who received two hours of weekly tutoring over eight weeks advanced an average of one full grade level in both subjects, the organization reported.

Waste Connections served as title sponsor for the evening, which featured food by Cocina Tradicional, décor by Woodland Style House and music by David Collins.

Mentors commit to one year and meet with youth twice a month for shared meals, activities and church services, according to the organization's volunteer page. Tutors meet with students twice a week for one hour at their school. The Book Bus has a growing waitlist of group homes requesting visits and needs groups of six to 10 volunteers per outing.

The Champion Project posted on Facebook that many sponsorships for its next major event have sold out, though a few opportunities and event tables remain available. That event, Love Big 2027: Every Story Matters, is set for April 1, 2027, at The Blue Magnolia. Will and Nicole Murphy will be honored at the gala.

The organization's long-term goal is to serve all Texas group homes within 10 years.

Coming up in The Woodlands:

  • April 1, 2027 — Love Big 2027: Every Story Matters gala, The Blue Magnolia. Limited sponsorships and tables remain. Details at TheChampionProject.org.