This year’s annual Color Box initiative – a donation-based holiday gift drive powered by the nonprofit organization CoolxDad – will take place November 1 to 30, 2022. CoolxDad encourages businesses and individuals throughout the Houston area to donate Christmas presents to underserved kids in the Project Row Houses community. A number of businesses will host drop-off sites for donations. CoolxDad is specifically asking for kids’ toys, electronics, and new clothing (all sizes) with a value of up to $75.00. Color Box will feature a series of events this year, including a kick-off ceremony, a gift-wrapping event, and a fundraiser, with all funds to go toward future initiatives.

This year, in addition to the gift drive, five young fathers from the Project Row Houses community will receive an opportunity to participate in a 30-day internship with select Color Box sites. Participating dads will gain work experience toward career paths in hospitality, art business and programming, and entrepreneurship. Select businesses that will host the internships include Mo’ Better Brews, Muscleheadz, Art is Bond, Kindred Stories, and Contemporary Arts Museum Houston. Internship recipients will be announced at the invite and media-only Color Box Kick-Off at Art is Bond gallery, 7 to 10 p.m., November 4, 2022.

After donations have been collected, CoolxDad members will host gift-wrapping event on December 8, 2022, 6 to 9 p.m. at Contemporary Arts Museum Houston to prepare the gifts for distribution within the Project Row Houses community.

Details:

Color Box gift drive

November 1 to 30, 2022

Where to donate

Participating Color Box locations (listed below) in the greater Houston area

To support

Children and families in the Project Row Houses community

Color Box kick-off event [for members of the media only]

7 to 10 p.m., November 4, 2022, Art is Bond, 4411 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77006

Gift-wrapping event [open to public]

6 to 9 p.m., December 8, 2022 at Contemporary Arts Museum Houston

Participating Color Box Locations

The List | Kindred Stories | YBJ Studios | Kele Kloset | Mo’Better Brews | Muscleheadz | Art is Bond | Houston Grand Opera | Ellio Fine Art | Contemporary Arts Museum Houston | Toyota Center

The Mission

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, out of 19.7 million African American and Latinx children in the country, more than one in four live without a father in the home. CoolxDad’s mission is to combat the epidemic of fatherlessness in American households by providing opportunities for men of color to engage in their families and communities. In pursuit of that goal, CoolxDad curates family focused events an organizes community service initiatives. Each year, Color Box is one of the organization’s most impactful programs.

Full details of Color Box events, including sponsors

November 1 to 30, 2022: Participating businesses (see full list above) will host Color Box donation drop-offs where donors can leave gifts.

November 4, 2022: MEDIA & INVITE ONLY, CoolxDad will host the Color Box Kick Off event and announce the internship recipients with invited guests including the Color Box locations and sponsors, Toyota, H-E-B, Mattress Firm, and Paper City Magazine.

Time: 7 to 10 p.m.

Location: Art is Bond - 4411 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77006

November 10, 2022: MEDIA & INVITE ONLY,

CoolxDad and Ellio Fine Art will host a fundraiser geared toward supporting future CoolxDad initiatives.

Time: 6 to 8 p.m.

Location: Ellio Fine Art, 3201 Allen Pkwy STE180, Houston, TX 77019

November 27, 2022: OPEN TO PUBLIC, FREE Family Portraits Day for underserved families

Time: TBA

Location: Sanman Studios - 1109 Providence St, Houston, TX 77002

December 8, 2022: OPEN TO PUBLIC, CoolxDad members will wrap donated gifts to prepare for distribution to underserved families.

Time: 6 to 9 p.m.

Location: Contemporary Arts Museum Houston - 5216 Montrose Blvd, Houston, TX 77006

We invite the media to cover the Color Box initiative in its entirety. For more information including media inquiries please contact Jordan Lee Harris by phone 281.935.8339 or email whoswhopr@gmail.com.

ABOUT COOLXDAD

Vision: Eradication of negative stigmas surrounding fathers of color and their children, through fellowship, enlightenment, and action. Mission: CoolxDad’s mission is to aid and uplift all fathers of color striving to build a better world for their children and serve their communities.

ABOUT COLOR BOX

Color Box is CoolxDad’s sponsored, annual signature program, highlighting community and philanthropy during the months of November and December. Thanks to participating local businesses and underwriters, this holiday program places colorful boxes at strategic locations to collect new or unwrapped toys and monetary donations and partners with other non-profit organizations and government agencies for disbursement to families in need in the community. Color Box will also have an online option for donating to the toy drive.