Mark your calendar:

March 10-14 - Spring Break, no school

April 11, 2025 - The 4th Annual Embracing Autism Evening, Hear our Voices

September 25, 2025 - The 6th Annual Bingo Bash

The Month of Love: Recapping our Valentine's Day Celebrations

We love our program participants! Our day school students enjoyed a fun and educational outing to Chuck E. Cheese in celebration of Valentine’s Day! Students practiced essential life skills, including serving food to one another, using proper dining etiquette in public, respecting personal space, managing emotions, and redeeming their E-tickets for prizes at the gift shop. It was a heartwarming day of learning and laughter!

We love our volunteer community! Thanks so much to National Charity League Post Oak Chapter for providing yummy desserts for our adult program participants! Our participants enjoyed them at their Valentine's Day lunch, sponsored by one of our amazing parents.

Join us for The 4th Annual Embracing Autism Evening, Hear our Voices!

We are delighted to invite you to join us for the 4th Annual Embracing Autism, Hear Our Voices Evening. Mark your calendar for Friday, April 11, 2025, at River Oaks Country Club.

This unforgettable evening will feature a live performance by three of Nashville’s #1 hit singer-songwriters—Phillip White, Brice Long, and Grady Block. These celebrated artists will perform their chart-topping hits and share the unique stories behind them, offering a rare "behind the music" experience. 

Guests are encouraged to don their best western chic attire and get ready to hum along to their favorite country tunes, all while making a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals with autism. You won't want to miss this beloved event!

Secure your sponsorship today or make your pledge by contacting Valerie.

Can't attend as a guest, but still want to give back? We're looking for dynamic volunteers to join us and help with event logisitcs throughout the evening. If you're interested, please reach out to our Volunteer Manager, Emma.

Thank You, IICF!

We are incredibly grateful to the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF) for their generous $25,000 grant in support of Avondale House’s Adult Day Program. This vital funding helps us continue providing essential services, life skills training, and meaningful community engagement opportunities for adults with autism. We truly appreciate their commitment to making a lasting impact on the lives of those we serve!

Announcing the Retirement of Patti Kelly

It is with mixed emotions that we announce the retirement of our long-time Chief Operating Officer, Patti Kelly. After 30 years of dedicated service and leadership to Avondale House, Patti will be stepping down from her role effective February 28, 2025. Patti’s impact on our organization has been immeasurable. She has been a driving force behind our growth and success, shaping our operations, mentoring countless members of our team, and making a profound difference in the lives of our participants and their families. Her unwavering commitment and remarkable leadership will leave a lasting legacy.

Please join us in expressing our deepest gratitude to Patti for her 30 years of dedicated service.

Welcome our new Cheif Operating Officer, Kevin Kern!

Before his tenure at Avondale House, he was the Chief Operating Officer at The Center for Pursuit and has occupied roles such as Chief Operating Officer, Chief Program Officer, Senior Director of Operations, and Director of Residential Services. With over 25 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, Kevin has dedicated his career to the fields of intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism. He is also an active member of the Board of Directors for Bloom Fitness, a nonprofit organization focused on supporting athletes with disabilities and participates on the Planning and Advisory Council for The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD. Additionally, Kevin is a member of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) and has previously served on both the Texas Chapter of AAIDD and the Private Providers Association of Texas (PPAT).

Kevin holds a Bachelor of Science in Human and Social Services Administration and a Master of Public Administration from Bellevue University. He is also a Certified Assisted Living Administrator.

Please join us in welcoming Kevin to our team! We look forward to the continued success of Avondale House under his leadership.

Run for a Reason with Avondale House!

Now is the perfect time to join team Avondale House and register for the 2026 Chevron Houston Marathon, Half Marathon or 5K! From now until Global Running Day in June, open registration is closed, but runners can still register exclusively through the Chevron Run for a Reason charity program and support Avondale House.

Each year, 60+ local charity organizations become partners through Run for a Reason (RFAR) as a way to raise support for their missions. Members of the community who are interested in participating in the full marathon, half marathon or 5K are encouraged to make their miles matter through representing a charity and fundraising on their behalf as they prepare to run. We'd love to have you join Team Avondale House!

Run for a Reason Team Avondale House Perks:

• Avondale House covers the race registration fee for Chevron Marathon, Aramco Half Marathon and 5k runners.
• The top fundraiser will win a two-night stay at Hilton Americas-Houston before the big race! The marathon will be just steps from your hotel room.
• Receive a custom Avondale House bib and running shirt for race day
• Receive Avondale House swag to rep that you run for autism acceptance.
• A fan squad cheering you on at the Avondale House Hoopla Station located at mile 6.5!

Corporate Partnership Program (CPP)

Corporations can show their support for local charity organizations by becoming official corporate partners for the Chevron Houston Marathon. Find more on the corporate partnership program HERE and reach out to Kylie if you feel that your company may be interested in supporting Avondale House, or have another nomination.

Congratulations to our February Team Member of the Month!

Congratulations to our February Team Member of the Month, Ron! Ron has been a dedicated special education teacher in the day school for many years. Ron's colleague says "he has stepped up to assist with the Food Bank, works with all school students medicine including PRN and always makes a difference in the lives of the students when he is on campus. He is active, no matter inside the building or outside the building engaging with students."