Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas

The Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas presented a check for more than of $90,000 to DePelchin Children’s Center at the Center’s annual spring luncheon today.  The donation came from the proceeds of the 2010 bowl game.

Bowl executives also announced today that the 2011 Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas will be played on December 31 at 11:00 A.M. CST at Reliant Stadium.  This marks the second time the bowl has been played on New Year’s Eve.  The 2009 game between Navy and Missouri was also played on December 31 in front of a record-breaking crowd of 69,441.

Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas executive director Heather Houston and Houston Texans president Jamey Rootes were on hand to present the bowl’s donation to DePelchin’s president and CEO Dr. Curt Mooney.

“When we initiated the game, we wanted a charity partner that would represent children and families, had been around for a while and had a lot of credibility,” Houston said prior to the luncheon.  “DePelchin fit that and through the game we’ve been able to give them nearly $400,000 and a huge amount of promotional support.”

DePelchin Children’s Center was named as the bowl’s official charitable beneficiary in 2006.  Over its five-year history, the game has donated almost $400,000 to DePelchin and has generated over $8.5 million in promotional support and publicity.

“It’s been a great thing for our children.  They get to go to the game; they get excited about DePelchin being featured.  It’s a wonderful situation that they brought to us five years ago and we’re so excited about the bowl game,” said Dr. Mooney.  “Everyone associated has done a tremendous job of helping to raise the profile of our organization and to raise money for our work.”

Founded in 1892 by Kezia Payne DePelchin, the Children’s Center is the largest and most comprehensive provider of children’s social and mental health services in the Houston area.  DePelchin Children’s Center serves 16,000 children and family members annually through 30 programs, including adoption, foster care, counseling and drug and alcohol prevention.

The agency was originally founded to serve as a shelter for orphaned children, and has grown and changed over its century-plus history to continue to meet the needs of the greater Houston community.  Today, DePelchin Children’s Center has over 60 locations in Harris, Montgomery, Brazoria, Galveston, Ft. Bend and Waller counties.

Last year’s 2010 bowl game matched Illinois and Baylor in the first year of the bowl’s partnership with the Big 12 and the Big Ten.  In front of a crowd of 68,211, Illinois steamrolled to a 38-14 win to become the first Big Ten champion of the game.