When H-E-B’s Group Vice-President for Public Affairs, Winell Herron heard the stories of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Houston, she knew she’d found a way to make a big impact in the Houston community.

“H-E-B takes pride in being part of the community and we are very committed to education and youth," said Winell Herron.  “We feel that Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Houston provides a tremendous opportunity to make a lasting positive impact on the lives of young children."

As a Vision Maker sponsor, H-E-B's gift of $125,000 will support matching 25 children with mentors for the next five years. According to national research, each of those one-to-one mentoring relationships will help those children stay in school, avoid the dangers of drugs and alcohol, and help them get along better with their families.

“When I looked at the opportunity to support to Big Brothers Big Sisters, there were three dimensions that aligned with what H-E-B feels is important: The focus on youth, education, and the diversity of the program,” Herron said.

Herron made the gift after she attended the agency’s “Plant the Seed. Grow BIG With Us” fundraising breakfast in November 2006. The breakfast featured testimonials about the BBBS program from current and former Bigs and Littles. When the opportunity came to make a pledge, she demonstrated H-E-B's commitment to the greater Houston community by choosing the biggest sponsorship available. Herron felt it was a perfect fit with H-E-B's strategic focus. “We feel our sponsorship will help make a BIG difference long-term,” she explained.

Herron has also joined the Board of Directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Houston, and is excited about getting more involved with the agency.

About H-E-B

H-E-B was founded in Kerrville, Texas in 1905 with a single grocery store. For more than 100 years, H-E-B has been an innovative retailer known for low prices, fresh food, quality products and convenient services. The company has grown to more than 300 stores in Texas and Northern Mexico with more than 60,000 employees. It conducts a wide range of efforts geared toward helping the community and the environment. Each year, H-E-B donates five percent of its pre-tax earnings to charitable organizations that are committed to making a positive difference in Texas communities in the areas of education, hunger prevention, disaster relief, diversity, volunteerism and the environment. H-E-B is one of the largest food chains in the United States, with annual sales more than $12.5 billion, and is the largest privately held company in Texas.