Non-Profit Organization Helps Teens With Cancer Smile

Eric Hymowitz graduated from Tulane University with a bachelor’s degree focusing on business management and pursued a career in construction, founding ROC Homes in Houston, Texas in 2002. Along with his passion for construction and real estate, Eric Hymowitz cares greatly about giving back. One charity he has supported is Sunshine Kids.

Sunshine Kids is a non-profit organization that was founded almost 40 years ago, in 1984, with the goal of helping children and teens who have been diagnosed with cancer. It accomplishes this mission by partnering with local people and businesses to host group activities and provide emotional support for these children.

In February 2020, the Sunshine Kids Foundation held its annual trip, sending over a dozen teens to New Orleans in order to experience the excitement of Mardi Gras. These teens, many of whom are inpatient during treatment, were able to get out of the hospital and have some fun during the most popular time of year to visit the Big Easy. The trip kept the teens in the city for a week, and they were able to visit Mardi Gras World and take part in a parade.

The Greater Houston Builders Association’s Prism Awards

Eric Hymowitz has served as the founding president of ROC Homes in Houston for over 19 years. Alongside his leadership of his company, Eric Hymowitz maintains membership in the Greater Houston Builders Association (GHBA), which has awarded ROC Homes several Houston’s Best Prism Awards.

Presented by the GHBA Sales and Marketing Council, the Houston’s Best Prism Awards highlight the work of outstanding construction industry professionals and companies. Each year, GHBA bestows the honors at a gala attended by construction leaders from throughout the Houston area.

Eligibility for the Prism Awards is reserved for GHBA members in good standing. The more than 100 award categories cover contractors, products, and promotions. Award recipients include sales and marketing professionals, mortgage specialists, developers, remodelers, and, of course, builders.

Home builders can receive Prism Awards for their design and construction of both interior and exterior living spaces. GHBA also hands out Grand Prism Awards, which are presented to construction professionals and companies that qualify for multiple awards in the entry categories. To learn more about the annual awards, please visit http://www.ghba.org/prismawards.

An Overview of the Most Popular Board Games

Eric Hymowitz has served as president and owner of ROC Homes in Houston, Texas, since 2002. When he is not overseeing daily operations of the home builder, Eric Hymowitz enjoys spending time with his family and playing board games.

As of 2020, chess stands as one the most popular board games in the world, with approximately 3 million games sold annually in the United States. By 2022, the chess market in North America is expected to pass $40 million, with a number of additional global markets surpassing $10 million. It helps that the game is one of the oldest in existence, with a history extending back to around the year 1200. Similarly, both backgammon and checkers were played as far back as 3,000 BC, and continue to rank among the best-selling games worldwide.

Monopoly, a relatively modern board game, is another big seller. First published by Parker Brothers in 1934, early sales quickly reached 35,000 copies per week. By 2011, total sales had approached the 275 million unit mark.

Other popular board games include Scrabble and Clue, both of which have sold about 150 million units, and Trivial Pursuit, a game that has grossed $2 billion since its debut in 1981.