Sometimes, a simple project becomes a symbol of something much bigger. At the Center for Child Protection, a small path built by volunteers has evolved into a lasting testament to how our community, including those paving the way for brighter futures as Center for Child Protection volunteers, continues to support children on their journey to healing.
In 2014, the Center’s original backyard pathway was created as an Eagle Scout project led by high school senior Jake Torres. The son of the Center’s CEO, Michael Torres, Jake grew up knowing how important the Center’s work was to our community. He understood the significance of paving brighter futures for children. So when he heard the Center needed a walking path between its front and back buildings, he volunteered to take on the project.
Jake drafted the plans, raised the funds, gathered the tools, and set Troop 403 of St. Paul’s Catholic Church to work. Together, the troop marked the route, trenched and installed edging, laid protective lining, and filled the new path — shovel by shovel — with crushed granite. The Center’s success relies on collaborating with agency partners co-located on the campus, and Jake’s pathway made it easier for Child Protection Team (CPT) members to travel between buildings for case and client services.
For over a decade, the original path served the Center well. Volunteer efforts truly paved a way, but with increased staff and growing CPT activity, it became clear that the well-loved walkway needed an upgrade to something more durable.
In October 2025, Texas Materials invested directly in the Center’s mission by generously donating 40 tons of concrete for a complete remodel. They teamed up with Diamond Home Designs, who provided the Center a discounted rate to excavate, frame, and set the concrete. They even finished the walkway with a stamped brick design for added aesthetic.
The professionally paved path not only offers a stable, easy-to-maintain route for CPT members, but it also enhances the beauty of the Center’s backyard. Many of the Center’s experiential therapy programs and client events take place in this outdoor space, paving brighter futures for the children, and every improvement helps create a more welcoming and healing environment for children and families.
From pathways and privacy fences to landscaping and service area updates, our community and corporate partners continue to show up in meaningful ways. With each project, they help pave the way — literally and figuratively — to brighter futures for kids in need, particularly through volunteer efforts at the Center for Child Protection.
