Our Beginning
In 1989, a group of citizens created Dallas Community Partners to assist Child Protective Services caseworkers in meeting the needs of abused and neglected children. Their efforts resulted in a volunteer program that have served as a model throughout the country. In 1996, Nancy Neild was asked to attend informational meetings in Dallas and Austin. She saw how this program would help families in Beaumont and asked Bonnie Madden to help her bring together a group who might be interested in starting a program in our area.
The first meeting of the Interim Executive Committee was held January 5th, 1997. Nancy Neild, Evelyn Lord, Bonnie Madden, Lee Mann, Randy Voight, Kristi Knauth, and Patti McSpadden attended.
An Organizational Board Meeting was held February 10th, 1997 in the Executive Dining Room of Texas Commerce Bank in downtown Beaumont. The adopted slate of officers was: Evelyn Lord, Chairman; Bonnie Madden, Vice Chairman; Barbara Bookner, Treasurer; Patti McSpadden Recording Secretary; Lee Mann, Chairman of Nominating Committee. Those also attending included Larry Thorne, Marie Broussard, Louise Troy, Shirlene Cook, Shari Johnson, Kevin Roy, Dora Nisby, David Fisher, Lori Cain, Linda Clark. Louise Troy chaired the Rainbow Room. Shirlene Cook and Shari Johnson co-chaired the Adopt-a-Caseworker program.
Seed money was received from the Jefferson County Child Welfare Board through the efforts of Larry Thorne and from the Estate Committee of First United Methodist Church of Beaumont.
The dedication of the Rainbow Room was on November 19th, 1997 with the First Lady of Texas, Laura Bush, in attendance.
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Wanda Jean Cooper
VOLUNTEER COODINATOR
Worked with Laura Bush to create
nine Rainbow Rooms throughout
Region 5.
Beaumont Community Partnership for Children, Inc. (BCP)
A very generous all-volunteer, non-profit, 501 C-3 organization in our community.
The greatest challenge for our Board of Directors is to keep the needs of the children before the public so that this “giving spirit” may benefit children in crisis, who cannot help themselves.
BCP has a spirit of “doing for others as you would do for yourself.” Cities throughout Texas have come together in an effort to help abused and neglected children.
The State of Texas currently has over 130 Rainbow Rooms, all sharing ways of meeting the children's needs more effectively. The most basic needs of a child or family in crisis are often unavailable, therefore the Rainbow Rooms became a reality in Texas. Their main mission is to help their local DFPS Caseworkers assist those in crisis immediately.
Find us and Like us on Social Media
Facebook - 'Like' us: Beaumont Rainbow Room
Instagram: #beaumontrainbowroom - or - beaumontrainbowroom
Twitter: @BmtRainbowRoom
Every child removed from their home due to abuse or neglect has very little to bring with them. Whatever they do have is carried in a trash bag! The Beaumont Rainbow Room keeps Blue duffle bags in stock - and one is given to every single child. No longer will an abused child have to carry their belonging in a trash bag!
“It’s great to know that kind-hearted people are willing to help start Community Partners Boards around Texas… Children are incredibly resilient. With love and support, they can hurdle great obstacles. The sooner we begin taking care of them - and the more we work together as a community - the brighter our children’s futures will be.”
Mrs. Laura Bush
Dedication of Beaumont’s Rainbow Room; January 1997