Lutheran Social Services, Inc.

BP volunteers building a fence at Krause
BP volunteers built an eight foot wooden fence in front of the Krause Center's new recreation area to ensure the children's privacy from passing cars.

BP volunteer brought lunch for everyone at Krause
BP volunteers surprised residents and staff at Krause by bringing lunch for everyone at the center: more than 250 boxed lunches!

BP volunteers painted the gym and five classrooms at Krause
Three BP volunteers cover an eagle on the gymnasium wall before they begin painting. The eagle is the Trinity Charter School mascot.
 

Krause Center gets extreme home makeover
and more through partnership with BP
June 22, 2006

Katy, Texas - More than 70 volunteers from BP's North American Gas & Power Marketing division came to the Krause Center in Katy, Tuesday, June 20, to begin the first of several service projects to renovate and improve the center for abused and neglected children.

The BP employees made aesthetic and structural improvements to the Krause Center. On their task list: painting classrooms, bathrooms and the gymnasium, building a fence, constructing book cases, installing a sprinkler system, creating window treatments and spending time with the residents. They also provided lunch for all residents, staff and volunteers.

"It's not just about the wonderful things that they are doing for the center," said Philippa Ashford, chief executive officer of Krause. "It's what they are doing for the kids. These are boys and girls who have been removed from their families because they are neglected and abused. It encourages them when they know that there are people out there who care for them."

"It was cool to see how much they did in one day," said Maggie, a Krause resident. "I can't wait to see what they do next time!"

BP's NAGP division has committed to completing four service projects at the Krause Center over the next two years. The service projects, said Krause Director of Volunteer Services Joy Castner, are just some of many ways that the company is making a difference in the lives of the children at Krause.

"The BP employees have taken us under their wing," said Castner. "Their involvement continues to grow. They are becoming mentors, volunteers and have inspired their families to make Krause a part of their lives. The partnership between the Krause Center and NAGP has the potential to make a long-term impact on the children and the center."

"This is something our employees want to do," said Orlando Alvarez, Senior Vice President of the group's West marketing region. Working side by side to make a difference in our community offers us the opportunity to get to know our colleagues on a deeper level while carrying our commitments forward, We are confident that our long-term partnership with the center is off to a good start."

BP's North America Gas and Power is a leading natural gas and power marketing and trading entity. Click here to learn more about BP and how they serve surrounding communities.

Krause Children's Center serves boys and girls, ages 11 to 17, who suffer from severe emotional and behavioral problems, mostly as a result of past abuse and neglect. Krause provides specialized care in a secure, structured environment where residents can receive therapy, attend school, enjoy recreational activities and are offered voluntary spiritual care.

Krause Children's Center is an affiliated ministry of Lutheran Social Services, the social service arm of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. LSS annually serves nearly 30,000 children, elderly and poor in Texas and Louisiana regardless of religious beliefs, ethnicity, gender or age. Its ministry includes children's centers, therapeutic foster care, adoption, adult day care, health care and retirement centers, emergency assistance and disaster response.

For more information about the Krause Center, click here.

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