Owls United for Houston

2024-25 Rice United Way Campaign

Right here in Houston, 31% of households are working hard but can’t afford the basic necessities of life, and another 13% of households are living below the federal poverty threshold. Together, that makes 44% — nearly half your fellow Houstonians!

I know what it’s like to be in need. When I was a child, my family benefited from organizations like the United Way, and it had a huge impact on my life. It helped me to realize, even as a young kid, that there are people who care and who want to help, and that was life-changing.

Ruth López Turley
Director, Kinder Institute for Urban Research
Faculty Chair, Rice United Way Campaign Committee

Contributions to the Rice United Way Campaign can help make a momentous difference in the lives of these neighbors in need, and helping them helps improve our community for all who live and work here.

Will you help today?

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Our Vision

Team Rice co-chairs Ruth López Turley and Clemente Rodriguez share their vision for the 2024-25 Rice United Way Campaign.

Watch their message and learn how you can make a difference in Houston.

Owls United for Houston thumbnail
Click the image to watch the latest campaign video.

Our Mission

Developing children and youth to their full potential.

Strengthening families and neighborhoods.

Sustaining senior independence.

Supporting those who are rebuilding their lives.

Our Committee

Reginald DesRoches
Reginald DesRoches

Honorary Chair


Ruth López Turley
Ruth López Turley

Faculty Chair


Clemente Rodriguez, Staff Chair
Clemente Rodriguez

Staff Chair

Diana Strassman
Diana Strassmann

Lead Donors Co-Chair


Paula DesRoches
Paula DesRoches

Lead Donors Co-Chair


Greg Marshall
Greg Marshall

Campaign Manager

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Our Captains

Division Captain(s) Email
Academic Affairs Jennifer Wilson jsw@rice.edu
Architecture John Casbarian jjc@rice.edu
Athletics Stacy Mosely and Davon Robb mosely@rice.edu, davon.robb@rice.edu
Baker Institute Ben Stevenson ben.stevenson@rice.edu
Business Barbara Bennett Ostdiek, Duane Windsor ostdiek@rice.edu, odw@rice.edu
Continuing Studies Kim Raptis kim.raptis@rice.edu
Development & Alumni Nhung Tran nt50@rice.edu
Doerr Institute Lillie Besozzi lillie.besozzi@rice.edu
Engineering -
Enrollment Reghan Ward rw83@rice.edu
F&CP Sylvestre Cantu, Florence Tang scantu@rice.edu, florence.k.tang@rice.edu
Finance & Administration Hollie Evans hollie.evans@rice.edu
Fondren Library Keith Chapman and Anna Xiong kochpman@rice.edu, axiong@rice.edu
General Counsel Colleen Mosley-Hunt cmosleyhunt@rice.edu
Global Meredith Bonner meredith.bonner@rice.edu
Graduates & Postdocs Elizabeth Tippee elizabeth.tippee@rice.edu
Housing and Dining Diana DeSantiago desantiago@rice.edu
Humanities - -
Information Technology Nicole James nicole.james@rice.edu
Investments Darren Britt dbritt@rice.edu
Kinder Institute Lena McCarver lena.mccarver@rice.edu
Moody Center Joel Thompson jpt4@rice.edu
Music Jennifer Overton overton@rice.edu
Natural Sciences Karl Eklund karl.ecklund@rice.edu
President Ryan Kirksey rkirksey@rice.edu
Provost Brad Blunt bblunt@rice.edu
Public Affairs Kim Lawrence klawrenc@rice.edu
Research William Turner william.turner@rice.edu
Social Sciences Abbey Godley agodley@rice.edu