Champion Project: Stable Home for Texas Foster Youth

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

**The Champion Project Launches Ambitious $50 Million Initiative to Create 100-Acre Therapeutic Community for Foster Youth in Montgomery County**

**MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TX – [Insert Date of Publication]** – A groundbreaking initiative poised to fundamentally transform the lives of foster youth across Texas, The Champion Project, has officially launched a $50 million capital campaign to build a comprehensive 100-acre therapeutic community in Montgomery County. This ambitious endeavor aims to provide a stable, empowering, and healing environment for some of the state’s most vulnerable young people.

Conceived in 2021, The Champion Project officially kicked off its fundraising efforts on April 10, 2024. Its central mission is to address the significant challenges faced by Texas’s foster care population, particularly the more than 2,000 youth who “age out” of the system annually without a permanent home. These young adults frequently face grim statistics, including heightened risks of homelessness, incarceration, and human trafficking. Currently, over 17,000 children are in foster care across the state.

“We envision a future where every young person aging out of foster care has the tools, support, and community to thrive, not just survive,” said Kelly S. Phillips, co-founder of The Champion Project. “Our model goes beyond basic housing; it’s a holistic ecosystem designed to heal past traumas and equip these youth with the resilience and skills they need for a successful independent life.”

The therapeutic community will specifically serve foster youth aged 12 to 18, with continued support for those transitioning out of care up to 21 years old. The program is built on a trauma-informed care approach, integrating individual and group therapy, comprehensive life skills training (including financial literacy and independent living skills), robust educational support (from GED completion to college and vocational pathways), job training, dedicated mentorship, and spiritual development. The goal is to cultivate a strong sense of purpose, belonging, and self-sufficiency.

Co-founded by Phillips and Kim Hughes, The Champion Project boasts a strong leadership team, including notable board members like Joe Turner, former Houston City Council member and Parks and Recreation director. “My career in public service has shown me the profound impact that stable environments and comprehensive support systems can have on individuals and communities,” stated Turner. “The Champion Project offers a desperately needed, innovative model that has the potential to break cycles of vulnerability and truly change trajectories for these young Texans.”

Construction of the 100-acre site is planned in strategic phases, with Phase 1 slated to begin in late 2024, contingent on funding. This initial stage will include the development of a Welcome Center, administrative offices, and a dedicated therapy wing. Phase 2 will introduce state-of-the-art academic and vocational training facilities, followed by Phase 3 which will focus on recreational amenities to promote physical and emotional well-being.

The residential core of the community, Phase 4, will feature up to 12 residential cottages built over approximately five to seven years. Each cottage is designed to house eight youth, fostering a stable, family-like environment with a dedicated live-in house parent providing consistent care and guidance. The entire 100-acre project is expected to reach full completion within three to five years once sufficient funding is secured and all phases are fully underway.

The Champion Project represents a monumental step forward in addressing the critical needs of foster youth in Texas. Its success hinges on strong community partnerships, philanthropic support, and dedicated volunteers.

For more information about The Champion Project, to make a donation, or to learn how to get involved, please visit their official website at [Insert The Champion Project Website Here, e.g., www.thechampionproject.org] or contact [Insert Contact Information/Email Address].

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