$200,000 Donated to Goodfellows

For five years in a row, Williams Kherkher's managing partner, John Eddie Williams, Jr., and his wife, Sheridan, have made the largest individual contribution to the Goodfellows local toy drive.

"It's great to be able to put a smile on children's faces; to give them hope. Children are innocent and deserve to smile," said Williams.

Goodfellows, a 96-year-old organization, provides toys and other gifts for needy children who are between 2 and 10 years old. The entire organization is funded by contributions from the public with every cent being used to buy gifts. The Houston Chronicle assumes all of the administrative costs. The fund uses the money to distribute children to more than 100,000 children each year.

"The Goodfellows fund is yet another example of why Houston is such a remarkable city," John Eddie said. "Sheridan and I are proud to be involved once again this year."

John Eddie and Sheridan made gifts of $100,000 from 2003 to 2006. In 2007, they made a generous contribution of $200,000. The 2007 gift matches the largest ever received by the fund. It ties the amount given by Les Alexander and the Houston Rockets in 2006.