SAN ANTONIO WOMAN RECEIVES STATEWIDE VOLUNTEER AWARD

HOUSTON – San Antonio resident Cathy Hamilton is being recognized here today as statewide Volunteer of the Year by the Texas Network of Youth Services (TNOYS) at its annual conference. TNOYS, which is dedicated to supporting critical services for Texas youth and their families, presented the award in recognition of Hamilton’s work to make the San Antonio Threads boutique for teens a reality – giving new clothes and a boost of confidence to teen girls in foster care.

“Cathy puts great effort into the details of the boutique to make sure each of the girls feels welcome and worthy,” said Janie Cook, executive director of Boys Town Texas, which hosts the boutique. “She knows that appearance and clothing are extremely important to adolescents and that teens in the foster care system have already had several blows to their self-esteem, and she intends to impart confidence to each young woman who enters the boutique.”

San Antonio Threads is not Hamilton’s first experience serving youth – she previously volunteered for five years as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer, representing in court children who had been abused or neglected. She was inspired to start the boutique after meeting a teen through the program whose confidence suffered from issues related to her appearance. Hamilton spent months collecting clothing donations and hosting “pop-up shops” for teen girls in local group home settings before her dream became a reality and she officially opened the San Antonio Threads boutique at the Boys Town Texas offices in downtown San Antonio.

“TNOYS is committed not only to assisting — but also empowering — young people, and Cathy’s work at San Antonio Threads does just that,” said Christine Gendron, executive director of TNOYS. “Her efforts provide the kind of support that can help young adults become more confident, successful leaders. We’re grateful for her work and excited to present her with the Volunteer of the Year award.”

The award is being presented to Hamilton during a reception at TNOYS’ 33^rd annual conference at the Westin Galleria, which is attended each year by hundreds of youth services professionals from across the state and the nation. Along with Hamilton, TNOYS is also recognizing other individuals and organizations in Texas who have shown leadership and dedication in serving youth, including Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, the Community Youth Outreach Alliance, Yannin Marquez of Texas Panhandle Centers and Mary Green of Harris County Protective Services. All awardees are highly deserving of the honor and embody the conference’s theme of being “Stronger Together.”