New leadership. New direction. New hearts. Welcome to our new website.
About Civic Heart
Rooted in Houston.
Since 1989.
Since 1989, Civic Heart has stood with Houston families working toward housing and health.
Our story
A new name. The same heart.
Founded in 1989 as Families Under Urban and Social Attack (FUUSA), and most recently known as Change Happens!, Civic Heart Community Services has a thirty-five-year proven track record in working with vulnerable and disadvantaged populations to create life-altering impact.
Through our programs, we provide services to over 65,000 individuals annually. We take a holistic approach to providing programs and services, uniquely positioning Civic Heart to work with populations that experience the greatest disparities in social determinants of health.
Our mission
To help people empower themselves.
Our vision
To be the fearless heart of the community where lives are valued and elevated, inclusion is celebrated, and our community is inspired.
01
Be Accountable.
02
Openly Collaborate.
03
Be Bold.
04
Radiate Empathy.
05
Personify Integrity.
06
Strive for Excellence.
Our people
Leadership Team
Anita Bates
Chief Executive Officer
Demarcus Foster
Program Director
Wellness and Prevention
Terrance Frazier
Program Director
Rescue Youth
Abdi Hassan
Program Director
Jeremiah Lewis
Compliance and Data Manager
Francis Rodriguez
Operations and Communications Manager
Jeness Sherrell
Program Director
ACA Health Navigator and Rescue in Motion
Calvin Vannoy
Program Director
Fathers First
Vanecia Weathersby Gray
Program Director
Health in My Hands
Board of Directors
Reva Witherspoon
Interim Board Chair
President, Principled Outcomes, LLC
Debbie Salazar
Board Secretary
Senior Vice President – Corporate Head Teller, IBC Bank
Deborah Boone
Outside Board Representative
The Junior League of Houston
Marian Cabanillas
Board Member
Health Plan CEO, UnitedHealthCare Community Plan of Texas
Tim Stuhlreyer
Board Member
Managing Director, PwC
Anita Bates
CEO
Civic Heart Community Services
100,000+
direct services delivered, FY 2024–25
2,000+
community events, FY 2024–25
37+
years serving Houston
6
free programs
Our impact · FY 2024–25
Six Programs. One Heart.
What your support made possible.
Health Coverage for Families
1,187
children & adults enrolled or renewed in Medicaid/CHIP
Jul 2024 – Jun 2025
Wellness and Prevention
100%
of HIV-positive individuals linked to care — both years
Sep 2024 – Aug 2025
ACA Health Navigator
61,043
Houstonians educated on coverage basics — 203% of goal
Sep 2024 – Aug 2025
Rescue in Motion 2.0
95.6%
housing retention — above 95% all four quarters
Sep 2024 – Aug 2025
Rescue Youth
27,561
reached — 21,838 of them youth ages 6–18
FY 2025, Harris & Waller Counties
Mortgage Education Program
100%
gained stronger understanding of homeownership finance
2025, TX SML grant
With support from CDC · Texas Department of Savings & Mortgage Lending · University of Houston · CenterPoint · Comerica Bank · Acres Homes Barber College · The Normal Anomaly Initiative · Young Women’s Preparatory Network · Multicultural Center · Bright Minds Thrive
Financial reports
See the work behind the mission.
Read our audited financial statements and Form 990.
Audited financial statements
Civic Heart in action
The monthly newsletter
Program news, client stories, and upcoming events in your inbox once a month.
Support our mission
Every dollar stays in Houston.
Every program is free, and every client leaves with a next step. Pick an amount to see what it helps make possible.
$25
helps provide free, confidential testing in the community.
$50
helps a family get one-on-one help enrolling in health coverage.
$100
helps a father through the full nine-week cohort.
$250
helps a neighbor move from the street into a home of their own.
501(c)(3) nonprofit · EIN 76‑0297531 · Gifts are tax‑deductible as allowed by law.
Our mission
Helping People Empower Themselves.
For 37+ years, Civic Heart has walked alongside Houston neighbors with free programs and a real next step. There’s a place for you in that work.
