President Claudia Ortega Hogue receives award from Houston Texans

This post is from AVANCE Houston. AVANCE works with families through a proven two-generation, family engagement approach that combines early childhood development and parenting education. The cornerstone of our programs is the Parent-Child Education Program (PCEP), a national model of early intervention that focuses on the welfare of children, families and the community, and that they are all mutually reinforcing. AVANCE also offers programs that feature additional resources designed to fully prepare students to transition to college and to help adults prepare for the workforce.

On Friday, Oct. 13, the Houston Texans’ mascot, Toro, and the team’s cheerleaders visited AVANCE-Houston’s Dacoma II Center to surprise GED students with an announcement – Claudia Ortega-Hogue, AVANCE-Houston’s vice chair of the Board of Directors, won the Houston Texans 2023 Campeón de la Comunidad Award presented by Modelo and $15,000.

She donated the prize amount to AVANCE-Houston’s Adult Education Program. This donation will help AVANCE-Houston provide programs for adults lacking basic work skills or a high school credential and will be a source of college scholarships for GED graduates.

The celebration continued on Sunday, Oct. 15, when Ortega-Hogue was recognized at the NRG Stadium before the Houston Texans vs. New Orleans Saints game, where she received a commemorative check on the field.

Ortega-Hogue is an outstanding leader in the Hispanic community whose expertise and commitment to advancing Houston’s underserved communities has positively impacted the city through service and dedication to several other local nonprofit organizations, especially AVANCE-Houston.

“I am deeply honored to receive this title and be recognized alongside esteemed past honorees. Their contributions to our city’s diversity have been remarkable, and I feel humbled to be included in the same category. This award reminds us that much work still needs to be done in our communities. I am grateful to continue working alongside AVANCE-Houston to continue advocating for everyone to have equal access to resources and opportunities to achieve their fullest potential,” expressed Ortega-Hogue, Vice Chair of the AVANCE-Houston Board.

“We are thrilled to have Claudia as part of our Board of Directors, and we are extremely happy for her, as she deserves this recognition. She brings great energy, new perspectives, and strong leadership skills. Claudia is a woman of action with a vision to transform lives daily through her constant community advocacy, public service, civic engagement, and passion to empower those around her,” said AVANCE-Houston Executive Director Luz Flores. “We are also thankful to the Houston Texans for recognizing individuals who are forces of change in the community,” she added.

Ortega-Hogue’s vision to transform lives through community advocacy, public service, and civic engagement is a driving force for AVANCE-Houston.

The award she generously donated provides a unique opportunity for teachers, staff, and students to create pathways to economic mobility and opportunities to build their social and economic capital.