Local project wins national contest

A project that was developed and grown in Houston – Good Neighbor Day – has won a national contest.

Houston Community Betterment and Arts Council of Houston Inc. last October was recognized at the state competition with the “Good Neighbor Award,” which allowed the local project to be entered into the National Good Neighbor competition organized by Neighborhoods, USA (NUSA), of Beaverton, Ore.

Delbert and Elaine Campbell of the community betterment group and Shari McCallister of Houston gave a presentation and aired a video in an allotted 15-minute period before a panel of judges. As one of Mr. Rogers’ seven points of neighborliness, the presentation was entitled “Gratitude.”

The group won the national honor, presented by NUSA at the recent National Good Neighbor gathering in Lubbock, Texas.

The community betterment organization last year helped organizer McCallister with a project that involved the distribution of 5,000 roses on “Good Neighbor Day” and sponsorship of a movie at the Melba Performing Arts Center in downtown Houston.

USA is a national, non-profit organization committed to building and strengthening neighborhood organizations. Created in 1975 to share information and experiences used to build stronger communities, NUSA continues to encourage networking and information-sharing to facilitate the development of partnerships among neighborhood organizations, government and the private sector for the ultimate goal of strengthening every neighborhood.

ABOUT THE LOCAL PROJECT

More than 15 sponsors joined in to help finance the distribution of the 5,000 roses. The program has grown over the years and first originated about 20 years ago.

Participants pick up a dozen roses, keep one and pass out the rest to express appreciation for being a good neighbor.

Community Betterment and Arts Council of Houston and Texas County Library joined McCallister and other volunteers with the distribution last year. Preparation is a huge job: The roses are divided into dozens, a sponsor card and movie night invitation are added along with a ribbon.

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