Children’s Safe Harbor celebrates ‘topping-out’ ceremony on its new facilities

THE WOODLANDS, TX – Six months ago, Children’s Safe Harbor broke ground on its new facility. Set to open this September in Conroe at 3006 North Loop 336 E., the new $10 million building will provide much-needed expanded space for the nonprofit organization’s co-located services to abused children. This week, a substantial landmark was observed as executive director Victoria Constance, PhD, hosted a ‘topping-out’ ceremony at the construction site.

A topping-out ceremony is a traditional event in construction that marks the placement of the final beam at the highest point of a building, signifying the completion of the main structural framework and celebrating a significant milestone in the project; it often involves placing a small tree or evergreen on top of the beam, with roots in ancient Scandinavian traditions where trees were seen as symbols of good luck and protection for the building and its occupants.

At this particular outdoor luncheon ceremony, Constance hosted members of the media, special guests, and board members as she updated them on the facility, the subject of a significant capital campaign designed to cement the organization’s mission to achieve justice and healing for every abused child and engage our community. Each year, the organization provides services to approximately 2,300 children ages 2-17, across Montgomery, Walker and San Jacinto counties.

Though funds are still being raised through the capital campaign in order to finish the facilities on time, Constance is confident in the collective philanthropy of the community.

“I keep saying this is God’s House. This is the community that has come forward to make such a difference. Healing happens when kiddos and their families know that the harm that happened to them isn’t their fault, but hope is all over this space,” said Constance.

As part of the ceremony, attendees were given a tour of the to-be-completed facility. Each of them was then given the opportunity to write messages on the steel girders and beams in a flourish of legacy.

“We’ve written our names on these beams; whatever we’ve said will stay here forever for future hope and life,” said Constance.

Situated on 17 acres amidst clusters of mature trees in Conroe, the new forever home will serve as a sanctuary to the children in need and the heroes that are called to protect them. The first floor will house a law enforcement area and a Conference & Training Center for community events. Embedded around the first floor is a Healing Garden. The second floor will be a light-filled haven, enabling children and families to tell their stories and be provided with healing and restoration through CSH’s counseling program. To support the staff and multidisciplinary team, the second floor will have a gym and dining center.

Linking the two levels is a large staircase dubbed the ‘Steps to Healing.’ As part of the fundraising campaign, donors can have a dedicated step from this staircase for $20,000. To date, 11 of the 27 steps have been sold.

Of particular note, Robert and Kim Marling of The Woodforest Charitable Foundation in 2016 seeded Children’s Safe Harbor with money for the land.

“We have a passion for children and family, and we believe that all children should be able to live a life without trauma, pain, and suffering,” said Kim Marling. “The most important reason we’re doing this is we feel it’s crucial to have community support and awareness of Children’s Safe Harbor’s mission to assist families and victims to come forward and go after the prosecutions. Those prosecutions and counseling are so important because they can start to help the healing process – the longer it waits, the more it’s buried, so it’s critical to seek that help. We felt we had to help, and we hope others do as well.”

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