Texans Community | Houston Texans - HoustonTexans.com

Each season, the Texans celebrate first responders during the Liberty White Out home opener. During this year's game, first responders from the Pearland Police Department, the Katy Fire Department, the Houston Police Department (HPD), the Houston Fire Department, and the Harris County Sheriff's Office served as Texas state flag holders. Santa Fe High School ISD Police Department chief Walter Braun, assistant chief Gary Forward, and officer John Barnes led the Texans onto the field as Homefield Advantage Captains, and the Texans held a reunion between a fan and the first responders who saved his life at a Texans preseason game.

The Houston Texans and Apache are proud to partner to honor a local first responder with the Star of Courage award. In 2013, the Star of Courage award was created to recognize a first responder who has demonstrated excellence in leadership, bravery, and a commitment to Houston.

Nominations are now open! One winner will be selected to receive the Star of Courage award at a Texans game and a $10,000 donation in their name to the 100 Club of Houston, which supports the dependents of heroes lost in the line of duty. Monthly winners will also be selected and receive an award from the Texans and Apache and a tree planted in their honor.

The Houston Texans Social Justice Fund, created with donations from players and the Foundation, assists nonprofits in the greater Houston area that support youth and provide legal services for underprivileged citizens. Restoring Justice, 8 Million Stories, and the YMCA of Greater Houston's teen leadership programs received $104,000 in grants from the fund. The Social Justice Fund is part of the NFL's Inspire Change initiative, which focuses on three areas: improvements to police and community relations, improvements to education and economic advancement, and criminal justice reform. Texans players engage with these organizations and the individuals they serve through programming held throughout the year.

The Texans' continuing partnership with the HPD supports the department's relational policing initiatives and community outreach. The partnership has led to players learning more about officers' day-to-day jobs via ride-alongs, accompanying officers on hospital visits through the Badges & Bears program, and funding from the Texans to support youth mentorship by officers through the Greater Houston Police Activities League (GHPAL). The Texans also co-branded HPD and Texans giveaway items for officers to use for positive interactions with youth in the community.

The Texans Rookie Class hosted 50 kids from the Greater Houston Police Activities League (GHPAL) for a PLAY 60 field day. Police officers and members of the Texans rookie class were stationed at different drills. The Texans donated $10,000 to the GHPAL program to help the organization further its mission of preventing juvenile crime and violence by building positive relationships among kids, cops, and community through positive engagement. Texas Children's Hospital, the Texans official sponsor of PLAY 60, was on hand to offer tips about healthy eating and staying active.