Mac Haik "saluted" for involvement at Krause,
other Houston-area ministries
March 23 , 2006

Katy - Longtime Krause Children's Center supporter Mac Haik received Ford Motor Company's Salute to Dealers Award for his commitment to community involvement and his passion for providing hope to hurting children. For the past four years, Haik has shown his dedication to the abused and neglected children at Krause Center in Katy by giving of his time, talents and resources.

Haik became involved with the center after a chance meeting with a 17-year-old high school dropout who was living on the streets. "She said, 'Nobody wants me,'" he said. "It's so hard to see them so young and without hope. Somebody has to do something." The Krause Center, which cares for emotionally and behaviorally troubled girls and boys, ages 11 to 17, gave him the perfect opportunity to make a positive impact on children in the Houston community.

Haik often visits the Krause Center to speak to the children to share his story of how he overcame obstacles. "He grew up in a single-parent family after his father died and though he dreamed of being a football player, he had coaches and others tell him that he was too small to succeed," said Philippa Ashford, executive director of the center. "Our children often come from broken homes and are told they are worthless, so this is a story that resonates with them."

The message he shares with the children is, "You have it within yourself to accomplish your dream. You just have to have faith in yourself and work hard to achieve that dream."

As a former professional athlete and successful businessman - he owns two Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealerships and one Ford dealership in the Houston, Austin and Victoria areas - Haik is an outstanding role model for the boys and girls at Krause.

In addition, Haik continually works behind the scenes in the community to educate others about the work done at the Krause Center.

"We often don't find out he's had a hand in introducing us to other people or organizations until after we have benefited in some way from his efforts," Ashford said. "He isn't interested in getting credit for those connections; he simply wants to help kids who come from backgrounds very similar to his. As a result, he continues to make a profound difference in the lives of abused, neglected and troubled children."

Krause Children's Center serves boys and girls who suffer from severe emotional and behavioral problems, mostly as a result of past abuse and neglect. Krause provides specialized care in a secure, structured environment where residents can receive therapy, attend school, enjoy recreational activities and are offered voluntary spiritual care.

Krause is an affiliated ministry of Lutheran Social Services of the South, Inc. LSS is the social service arm of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. LSS annually serves nearly 30,000 children, elderly and poor in Texas and Louisiana regardless of religious beliefs, ethnicity, gender or age. Its ministry includes children's centers, therapeutic foster care, adoption, adult day care, health care and retirement centers, emergency assistance and disaster response.