After several structures once part of the Imperial Sugar Company were demolished in 2010, the Sugar Land Heritage Foundationa nonprofit established by the city of Sugar Land to help preserve local historybegan cataloging artifacts found within the buildings.

As the organization continued to build up its archives, Dennis Parmer, executive director of the Heritage Foundation, and his team realized that many of the materials used in the construction of the buildings carried some history as well.

For the past several months, members of the George Foundation's Youth in Philanthropy program have been gathering and organizing bricks that were once part of the Imperial refinery in an effort to preserve some of the area's history.

"This is really a great program," Parmer said. "Students work outside and can learn a little about the historical significance of the site."

The bricks—ranging in size, shape and origin—are expected to be used for public projects around the property as development of Imperial Sugar Land progresses, Parmer said. Potential projects include a memorial wall or path made from the preserved bricks.

The George Foundation is a local organization that focuses on partnering with nonprofits to provide community-driven services and support with a focus on education. The organization offers a variety of special programs and scholarship opportunities.

The organization's Youth in Philanthropy program was established in 1997 and partners with the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce, Fort Bend ISD, local businesses and other community organizations. The program is open to high school juniors and seniors, and of the nearly 500 applications received about 150-165 students are recruited each year. Participants are split into teams and are sent to different sites around Fort Bend County to help with public projects one Saturday each month.

"Aside from volunteering, we use Youth in Philanthropy as a driver for scholarships," said Roger Adamson, CEO of the George Foundation. [The program] really is two-fold. It is also a good chance for kids to meet different students and work together.

For more information, visit www.thegerogefoundation.org.