Events

BRIDGING THE GAP:

Connecting youth sports to STEM & Career pathways.

Reggie Rusk

Reggie Rusk is a former NFL defensive back, entrepreneur, author, and youth mentor dedicated to empowering the next generation both on and off the field.

His athletic career took off at the City College of San Francisco before he transferred to the University of Kentucky, where he distinguished himself as an All-American, a two-time Team Most Valuable Player, Outstanding Defensive Back, and All-SEC Conference player. Rusk was selected in the 1996 NFL Draft and played six seasons in the league, earning roster spots with the Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and San Diego Chargers.

Following his retirement from professional football in 2001, Rusk transitioned into entrepreneurship. Over the past two decades, his primary passion has been youth mentorship, guiding countless student-athletes toward academic and athletic success while helping them secure pathways to college.

Currently, Rusk serves as the Vice President of the NFLPA Houston Chapter and is the Founder and Executive Director of Stay Recruited, an organization focused on youth development, education, and career readiness. He is also a three-time Amazon bestselling author, utilizing his experiences to inspire athletes, students, and community leaders.

More Than Groceries: The H-E-B Story

Lisa Helfman
Managing Director of Public Affairs, H-E-B
Founder, Brighter Bites

Lisa Helfman is the Managing Director of Public Affairs – Greater Houston Region for H-E-B Grocery Company.  Prior to joining H-E-B in 2014, Lisa served as Director of Real Estate Services at Texas Children’s Hospital and as an Attorney at Vinson & Elkins.

In the fall of 2011, Lisa and her family took part in a weekly fruit and vegetable co-op, and she watched her children’s eating habits transform.  So much so that Drew rejected a piece of cake at a birthday party for being too sweet, asking instead for fresh fruit.

She was inspired to replicate this type of positive change in underserved communities where obesity was high and access to fresh produce was low.  Lisa’s vision was to bring a produce co-op to schools in these neighborhoods that included an educational component while also making it fun. In partnership with Dr. Shreela Sharma at the University of Texas School of Public Health, they launched Brighter Bites in 2012.  Fourteen years later, Brighter Bites has delivered over 90,000,000 pounds of fresh produce and 100,000s of education materials to more than 1M individuals (including teachers!) in twelve cities across the nation.

Lisa has received many awards for her work with Brighter Bites, among them: the Humanitarian of the Year from the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship, Newcomb College at Tulane Community Service Alumni of the Year, Kinkaid Alumna of the Year and Business Insider named her to their list of top 100 Coolest People in Food and Drink.  In addition to being on the Board of Brighter Bites, Lisa also serves on the Boards of The Kinkaid School, City of Houston Civic Events and Buffalo Bayou Partnership.  Lisa received her JD Magna Cum Laude from the University of Houston Law Center and her BA Cum Laude from Tulane University.

Bill King

Baker Institute Fellow in Public Finance, Author, Former elected official, Public Policy Expert, Rotarian

Many of us read Bill's varied articles on Public Policy on issues from Electric Transmission, Apartment Rents, FEMA, Immigration, HCAD Taxes, and U.S. Population. His analysis on ramifications for mid term elections is sure to clarify some of the rhetoric we have been hearing. 

Join us to hear the latest news on October 15, 2026.

Bill King is a lifelong resident of the Houston area, earning undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Houston. He has enjoyed a varied business and legal career, including serving as national managing partner of Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson and president of Southwest Airport Services Inc. Currently the managing director of a real estate investment firm, King is also on the board of Methodist Retirement Communities.

He wrote for the Houston Chronicle from 2005–15, authoring a biweekly column and serving on the editorial board. King has also written two books, including “Unapologetically Moderate: My Search for the Rational Center in American Politics” (Bright Sky Press, 2014). He is a regular contributor to Real Clear Politics and publishes his own blog at www.BillKingBlog.com.  

King’s community involvement includes numerous public service and volunteer organizations. From 1992–2005, he held various positions with the city of Kemah, including City Council member and two terms as mayor. King chaired a regional task force on the disastrous Hurricane Rita evacuation and its recommendations formed the basis of new regional evacuation plans. In 2015 and 2019, he was a candidate for mayor of Houston.

He has also participated in many charitable and civic organizations, including Interfaith Ministries, Methodist DeBakey Heart Council, Houston ISD Foundation, Crime Stoppers, Galveston Bay Foundation, Memorial-Hermann Foundation, and Trees for Houston. 

Dear Rotarians and Friends,

Please join us for a special reception honoring patients and their family members who are staying at the Rotary House Hotel while receiving cancer treatment.

This gathering is an opportunity to extend Rotary fellowship, offer encouragement, and share meaningful conversation with those facing challenging circumstances. Your presence can make a difference by providing a warm welcome, a listening ear, and a reminder that they are supported by a caring community.

Enjoy an evening of fellowship featuring complimentary food, drinks, and entertainment as we come together to create a warm and uplifting experience for our guests. Whether you stay for a few minutes or the entire event, your participation will help make the evening memorable for patients and families during their treatment journey.

Thank you for living Rotary's motto, Service Above Self, and for helping bring comfort, connection, and hope to those who need it most.

We look forward to seeing you there and sharing good food, great company, and the spirit of Rotary in a truly meaningful way.

Warm regards,

Rotary Club of Houston
Service Above Self

Volunteer Opportunity-more information to follow

Judy WIlliamson, author, former travel editor of the Houston Chronicle

"Before Google maps and selfies....there was Paper Girl on the loose."

Paper Girl's World - Adventures of a Globetrotting Travel Writer in the 80s (2025 Coffee Table Book of the year by tge editors of ENTREE)

Dear Rotarians and Friends,

Please join us for a special reception honoring patients and their family members who are staying at the Rotary House Hotel while receiving cancer treatment.

This gathering is an opportunity to extend Rotary fellowship, offer encouragement, and share meaningful conversation with those facing challenging circumstances. Your presence can make a difference by providing a warm welcome, a listening ear, and a reminder that they are supported by a caring community.

Enjoy an evening of fellowship featuring complimentary food, drinks, and entertainment as we come together to create a warm and uplifting experience for our guests. Whether you stay for a few minutes or the entire event, your participation will help make the evening memorable for patients and families during their treatment journey.

Thank you for living Rotary's motto, Service Above Self, and for helping bring comfort, connection, and hope to those who need it most.

We look forward to seeing you there and sharing good food, great company, and the spirit of Rotary in a truly meaningful way.

Warm regards,

Rotary Club of Houston
Service Above Self

Dear Rotarians and Friends,

Please join us for a special reception honoring patients and their family members who are staying at the Rotary House Hotel while receiving cancer treatment.

This gathering is an opportunity to extend Rotary fellowship, offer encouragement, and share meaningful conversation with those facing challenging circumstances. Your presence can make a difference by providing a warm welcome, a listening ear, and a reminder that they are supported by a caring community.

Enjoy an evening of fellowship featuring complimentary food, drinks, and entertainment as we come together to create a warm and uplifting experience for our guests. Whether you stay for a few minutes or the entire event, your participation will help make the evening memorable for patients and families during their treatment journey.

Thank you for living Rotary's motto, Service Above Self, and for helping bring comfort, connection, and hope to those who need it most.

We look forward to seeing you there and sharing good food, great company, and the spirit of Rotary in a truly meaningful way.

Warm regards,

Rotary Club of Houston
Service Above Self

Dr. Melissa Joyner

Osteoarthritis and Low-Dose Radiation Therapy

Wow-who would have thought this type of treatment could help reduce swelling and relieves pain and stiffness. Similar to getting an X-ray? Targeting the joint that needs relief? Do I have to modify daily activities during treatment? You will hear about one more therapy from MDA.

Melissa Joyner is a Professor in Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and specializes in Breast and Gynecological cancers. She serves in the administrative role of Associate Director of Clinical Operations at the West Houston campus. She is board certified and uses IMRT, VMAT, SBRT, and brachytherapy to effectively treat cancer. She is passionate about educating residents and medical students on delivering high quality and compassionate care. She is a fierce patient advocate and committed to involving the patient in their own care.

She customizes each patient’s care to their specific needs. Her research interest focuses on

education and innovative approaches to treating breast and gynecologic cancers. She was chosen to work on the American Brachytherapy Society’s 300 in 10 initiative with a mission to improveand strengthen resident brachytherapy training across the United States. As a wife and mother who believes that all patients should have access to outstanding and affordable medical care, she has direct personal experience with the impact of cancer on her family. Dr. Joyner serves on the Finance and Government Relations committees for the American Society of Therapeutic Radiation Oncologists (ASTRO).

The Rotary Club of Houston seeks up to 20 volunteers among Club members and their spouse/guest for The 15th Annual Rotary-Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Hearts for Children Festival.  The Adoption Fair introduces children in the state foster care system availalbe for adoption with prospective parent(s) who have already completed the process to become an adoptive parent in a fun -filled and relaxed atmosophre.  The Fair will include acitivity and game booths, a DJ, Photo Booth, Charicuture Artisit, Toro the Texans Mascot (unless Texans are in the Super Bowl) and lunch.  

Camp Enterprise

High School Juniors
Application information will be available during the Fall 2026.