From the Heart of the Community: Julie Verstuyft Steps Into Her Vision for the Children's Coalition
If you've lived in Rockport-Fulton for any length of time, you already know the Children's Coalition. And if you don't, let me introduce you. The Children's Coalition started right after Harvey in 2017. It was initially a 3-week camp that some volunteers put together, including former Executive Director, Dianne Nielsen. The goal was to have a place for the children to go while the parents cleaned up the mess Harvey left.
Fast forward 9 years. You've seen Backpacks and Blue Jeans and Santa's Workshop. So you know what happens when a community decides that no child gets left behind. But what you may not know yet is that the organization has a new Executive Director at the helm, and she is ready to take things to the next level.
Julie Verstuyft stepped into the Executive Director role with a vision that is equal parts practical and bold. She's ready to take the Children's Coalition to the next level. I sat down with her to learn about her vision for the organization. And when I left, I couldn't help but feel that Aransas County's kids were still in great hands.
Room to Grow
Julie Verstuyft is a former elementary school administrator. So she is more than qualified to lead the organization. Her humility and humbleness are what strike you first, but don't let that fool you. Julie knows exactly where she's taking this organization. And when I asked her about her vision for the Coalition, she didn't hesitate. Space. That's the word that kept coming up.
Right now, the organization is doing extraordinary work out of a space that, frankly, wasn't built for the scale of what they've become. Julie's dream, alongside the board, is a dedicated facility with a real clothing boutique where families can come in and shop with dignity, a private intake space for families navigating assistance programs like SNAP and TANF, and a meeting center that can serve as a hub for the network of nonprofits already working together in this community.
"We just sort of push things aside and make room for them at the table," she told me. And that right there tells you everything you need to know about the organization. But Julie is ready to stop pushing things aside and start building something that fits the mission they've already outgrown.
The Coastal Bend Child Development Center Is On The Move
The vision doesn't stop at the Coalition's front door. The Coastal Bend Child Development Center, which operates under the Coalition's umbrella, recently earned national accreditation, which is no small thing. That kind of recognition takes years of dedication from staff and families, and it means families in this county have access to a nationally recognized early childhood program right here at home.
But Julie isn't stopping there either. The Center is in the final stretch of a physical expansion, with a goal to have it complete by the end of June, just in time to announce an expanded after-school program before back-to-school season. There's already a waiting list. And looking a little further ahead, Julie shared that the Coalition is laying the groundwork for a private kindergarten. Parents have been asking for it. The need is real. And if you know anything about how the Center approaches early childhood education — play-based, exploration-driven, creativity-centered — you already know it's going to be something special.
Why the Fashion Show Matters
All of that vision costs money. And that's where you come in.
This July, the Children's Coalition hosts its 5th Annual Fashion Show, and it is shaping up to be their biggest yet. The event returns to the country club in partnership with Castaways, and this year features a silent auction, a live auction, and a runway show, all hosted by none other than KIII TV news anchor Leslie Adami.
Last year's event sold out completely. They're on track to do it again this year, which means if you want a seat, you need to move now.
Here are the details:
Table of 9: $600
Open Seating: $75 per ticket
Goal: $25,000
And here's the good part: the Coalition has an anonymous underwriter covering the venue and all food costs. That means every single dollar raised at that event goes straight to the mission. Every table. Every bid. Every ticket.
How to Help
You don't have to wait for the fashion show to make a difference. The Children's Coalition runs on community support year-round: through donations, partnerships, and people who show up. But if you want to celebrate this organization and everything it's building for the kids of Aransas County, buying a table or a ticket to the fashion show is one of the best ways to do it.
Reach out to the Children's Coalition directly to purchase your tickets before they're gone.
