Articles

HCC Esthetician students provide pampering as part of Texans Mother’s Day event

By Donald Sparks, HCC Central Communications Director

May 14, 2025

Above: HCC Esthetics students and Cosmetology staff pose with Houston Texans offensive guard Kenyon Green (#59), and center Juice Scruggs (#70) before providing facials and hand massages to Family Houston clients during a pre-Mother’s Day community outreach event sponsored by the Houston Texans to pamper deserving local mothers. Below: HCC Esthetician Student Alyssa Medrano applies a hot towel to a Family Houston client as part of a pre-Mother’s Day community outreach event sponsored by the Houston Texans to pamper deserving local mothers. Photos by Donald Sparks.

Last month, Alyssa Medrano was watching the NFL Draft to see who her beloved Houston Texans would pick to join her favorite football team. She enjoyed watching the future stars praise their moms on TV for their dedication and perseverance to make it to that pinnacle point in their lives.

Now a student in HCC’s Esthetician Program, Medrano met some players from the Texans and provided pampering to local mothers as part of a community service awarded by the Houston Texans Inspire Change Grant Fund.

“I love taking care of people, helping people feel relaxed, so to be able to be a part of this event is an honor,” Medrano said. “These ladies deserve it and it’s special that the Texans are doing this for them.”

Texans Community Impact Manager Taylor Ashford heard about HCC Facial community volunteer activities and reached out to HCC Professor of Facial Esthetics Dr. Alissa de Jongh to participate in the Mother’s Day event for women receiving support services at Family Houston.

She discussed the opportunity with her students, and they were thrilled to provide a special day for mothers in our local community and were especially excited about partnering with the Texans.

“Serving women in our community has a special place in my heart,” de Jongh said. “Being a mom, grandmother and teacher offers an insight into how much effort it takes to support children, families and communities so when we are given the opportunity to serve those who give so much of themselves every day. I am on board with it.” 

Ashford felt providing the women with facials and hand massages would make their effort more meaningful for their experience.

“Our goal was to honor mothers in our community with relaxation and joy ahead of Mother’s Day,” Ashford said. “The Texans appreciate HCC for volunteering their time and services for this amazing event and adding to the deserving moms’ experience.”

As one of 15 local nonprofits and educational programs working to create progress in education and economic advancement, Family Houston was selected as recipient of the grant, allowing the women in its program to have a special Mother’s Day.

Wiping away tears from her eyes, Kimberlyn Clarkson, chief development officer at Family Houston, was moved to see the clients being treated like royalty.

“These ladies are valuable,” Clarkson said. “We see these clients, know them intimately, their obstacles and struggles, and so for us, it means it means everything for us to be able to see them being pampered by HCC with facials and massages.”

Although she routinely gives her own mother facials, HCC Esthetician student Morgan Valentine was appreciative to take part in the Mother’s Day event to other mothers in need of pampering.

“I really like to help women feel confident about themselves, and if I can help them feel relaxed and confident after giving them a basic facial; that will make me feel happy,” Valentine said. “To make these women feel beautiful and spoiled make me happy.