For Lilia Bell, making a difference means showing up, bringing people together and staying committed, even when the work happens quietly behind the scenes.
Based in Houston, Lilia is a contractor liaison at NES Fircroft, where she has worked for six years. Beyond her day-to-day role, she leads the Houston Belong Committee—the local, employee-led extension of NES Fircroft’s KindNES Foundation, the company’s global philanthropic arm. Through that leadership, Lilia has helped introduce Upbring’s mission to her colleagues, turning awareness into action and building long-term support through NES Fircroft.
Where the Partnership Began
Upbring was first introduced to the NES Fircroft team by a former colleague during a holiday Secret Santa drive. Learning more about the children and young people served made the mission resonate with Lilia.
“Living in Texas, being a border state, and hearing about the kids who are placed there, it really hit close to home,” she said. “Once we learned more about the full scope of what Upbring does, especially beyond foster care, it just felt like the right organization to support.”
NES Fircroft began working with Upbring in 2022, and what started as a single effort grew into a lasting partnership. Rather than a one-time initiative, Lilia and her colleagues chose to stay involved year after year.
Turning Passion into Workplace Impact
As the partnership grew, Lilia saw an opportunity to connect Upbring’s mission with something already deeply rooted at NES Fircroft: a people-first culture and a commitment to giving back in meaningful ways. Through the KindNES Foundation, the company focuses on supporting children and young people under the age of 25, particularly through education, health and resources that help set them up for long-term success.
“That is why we chose to work with Upbring,” Lilia said. “You are helping children find a safe place to live. You provide mental health support, education and life skills that help young people succeed, even after they age out of foster care.”
As a leader within the Houston Belong Committee, Lilia began sharing Upbring’s mission more intentionally with her coworkers, inviting them into the work through hands-on opportunities that felt accessible and meaningful.
“I might be the one helping organize things, but it really takes a team,” she said. “People step up. They spread the word and make sure we follow through.”
Through her advocacy, NES Fircroft employees now participate in annual initiatives supporting Upbring, from back-to-school supply drives to Christmas and Valentine’s Day gift collections. During one back-to-school event, Lori Dunaway, Philanthropic Advisor for Greater Houston, joined the team to share more about Upbring’s work.
“Hearing it directly from someone who works with the organization made such a difference,” Lilia said. “It helped connect the dots.”
Over time, she has seen awareness turn into action.
“The more people hear the name, the more it sticks,” she said. “And once they know who Upbring is, they are quicker to help.”
Seeing the Impact
Since 2022, NES Fircroft has provided consistent, in-kind support benefiting children and young adults served through Upbring, including those at Krause Children’s Shelter and young adults participating in BeREAL.
BeREAL is Upbring’s Supervised Independent Living program for young adults aging out of foster care, offering mentorship, education planning, housing support and life-skills coaching to help young people build independence and stability.
Located in Greater Houston, Krause Children’s Shelter provides a safe, supportive and healing environment for unaccompanied children arriving in the United States without a parent or guardian. Through a partnership with the Office of Refugee Resettlement, children receive trauma-informed care, education and wraparound services that help them stabilize until they are reunified with family or transitioned to long-term support.
Using Her Voice
Beyond organizing workplace initiatives, Lilia also shares her experiences with Upbring through social media and everyday conversations.
“Anytime I see an opportunity to spread the word, I do,” she said. “Even if someone does not donate right away, the name catches on.”
That willingness to speak up, and bring others along, continues to fuel her involvement.
A Message for Donors
When asked what she hopes donors take away from her story, Lilia pointed to the power of collective effort.
“Sometimes your support goes further when it stays close to home,” she said. “You can see the difference you are making, and that connection makes it even more meaningful.”
Through her advocacy, leadership and steady presence, Lilia Bell shows how lasting impact is often built through shared commitment, one workplace, one community and one consistent act of care at a time.
*Through NES Fircroft’s partnership with Upbring, Lilia’s advocacy has helped direct $5,850 in gifts in kind to support children at Krause Children’s Shelter, along with an additional $1,700 in in-kind support benefiting young adults in BeREAL Supervised Independent Living.