Arnold & Itkin Awards $50,000 Through 11th Annual RESPECT Contest
Fifteen Houston-area fifth graders honored in a Harris County courtroom ceremony for their essays on what respect means
HOUSTON, Texas – The Arnold & Itkin Foundation honored the winners of its 11th Annual RESPECT Contest in a ceremony held in the courtroom of Judge Christine Weems, awarding a combined $50,000 in prizes and charitable donations to fifth-grade students, their schools, and causes of their choice.
The RESPECT Contest invites fifth graders across Houston-area school districts to write a short essay defining what respect means to them, paired with an illustration of their idea. This year’s contest drew entries from four districts: La Porte ISD, Pasadena ISD, Deer Park ISD, and Galena Park ISD. Fifteen students were recognized as winners, each receiving a $250 personal prize. Their winning entries also earned a prize for their school, ranging from $1,000 to $2,000 depending on their placement, along with a matching donation to a charity of the student’s choosing.
Schools recognized in the 2026 RESPECT Contest, along with the charity each winning student chose to support, included:
La Porte ISD
● Heritage Elementary – St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
● Bayshore Elementary – St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
● Rizzuto Elementary – La Porte Animal Shelter
● College Park Elementary – The American Cancer Society
Pasadena ISD
● Fred Roberts Middle School – Pasadena Animal Shelter
● Bobby Shaw Middle School – Texas Children’s Hospital
● Melillo Middle School – Pet Cancer Society and Foundation
● Milstead Middle School – Pasadena Animal Shelter
Deer Park ISD
● Dabbs Elementary – Make-A-Wish Foundation
● Deer Park Elementary – Houston Food Bank
● Fairmont Elementary – Press Up Basketball
● Carpenter Elementary – Pasadena Animal Shelter
Galena Park ISD
● Purple Sage Elementary – Friends of Animals
● Sam Houston Elementary – Houston Children’s Charity
● Galena Park Elementary – Sunshine Kids Foundation
“Every year, these students remind us that respect is something you practice, not just talk about,” said Kurt Arnold. “We’re proud to support the schools and causes they care about.”
Since its founding, the RESPECT Contest has invited thousands of Houston-area students to think about what it means to treat others with fairness and understanding, turning their ideas into real support for their schools and the causes they care about.
About the Arnold & Itkin Foundation
The Arnold & Itkin Foundation was created to extend the firm’s commitment to helping those who need it most. After years spent representing clients who had lost their health, their livelihoods, or the people they loved most, Kurt Arnold and Jason Itkin wanted to find ways to help beyond what a courtroom could offer. Today, the Foundation works to bring hope to people facing some of the hardest moments of their lives, supporting individuals and causes both in Houston and across the country. Learn more at arnolditkinfoundation.com.
