EARLY INTERVENTION LUNCHEON - TEARS, THRILLS & LOVE 

Thank you for making this our best Luncheon yet! We were so honored to hear Dawn McCoy (who has a young son living with a traumatic brain injury), share her story; and two fireside chat guests Kiera and Maricel dared to reveal their very personal experiences about how early intervention impacted their children's lives for the better. They are the parents of current and graduated clients at Bryan's House. 

Luncheon Chairs Adrienne and David Wagner, and Honorary Chair, Carol Seay (pictured), greeted a full room of friends, supporters and leaders. Laughter was heard all throughout the event and tears were shed as we honored awardees and listened to speakers. Most attendees wore a touch of green which is the Wagner's favorite color. To see the luncheon video, click here.

Surprise donations were revealed from new donors and thousands raised in minutes from attendees! Below are photos from the event. Next year's Chairs are Regina Bruce (pictured below in the green headband) and Dr. Carla Russo, Founders of the Lone Star Monarchs! 

EMPLOYEES OF THE QUARTER

Congratulations to our Employees of the Quarter - Yessenia Ramirez, Data Coordinator and Dalia Fuentes, Lead Case Manager. 

You both truly exemplify our core values as you work directly with the clients and teams. Your peers have recognized you for your collaboration, dedication and excellence. Well done!  

We are also pleased to announce that LaQuasha Cook, Children's Development Center Manager is our first-ever Employee of the Year. LaQuasha was presented with the award for her outstanding leadership and character this year in the Early Childhood Program by agency founder, Stefanie Held (pictured below) at the 2022 Luncheon.

PARENT AND CAREGIVER FOCUS

This year more than ever before, we are providing robust parent engagement opportunities, trainings, mental health discussions, and teen/sibling therapy access thanks to a grant from The Susan Strauss Breen Family Foundation, and inclusion technology and tools for families and siblings of the children we serve. We are breaking the stigma, seeking alumni feedback and providing more options within the mental health space. We love our new partnership with Pleasant Grove based non-profit Community Does It.

We are here to listen, serve and collaborate. Our teams recently welcomed families on campus to taste-test new menu items, learn about service options though our DISD pre-K partnership for children ages 3-5 who attend onsite programs in our pre-k classroom. Early intervention is critical.

Additionally, thanks to gifts from DIFFA Dallas, and Christina Andrea we are providing eviction prevention support, basic needs and family supportive services to families in six counties.

In the Beyond ABC Report published by Children's Health this year, Covid-19 contributed to widening the development gap between children with disabilities and those without. Texas is now ranked 50th in the country to serve children under 8 with special needs. In 2019, 102,296 children in Dallas County alone were relying heavily on schools and nonprofits to help fill the gap. In 2022, those numbers are still being crunched, but it's increased, and we need advocacy and collaboration more than ever before.  

DISABILITY INCLUSION BREAKFAST WITH LISA ONG

We are so grateful to Holland & Knight for hosting this fabulous session last week, focusing on disability inclusion in the home, school and workplace through language, using new online tools, and in every day conversations. Lisa Ong was fabulous. Thank you, Amore Y Queso for the delicious breakfast charcuterie boxes. Jeff Sullivan, Poverty Action Lab, Tania Downing, Hope Clinic of Garland and CJ Stevenson, The Rees-Jones Foundation, it was so great to see you at the event.

Nicole Blythe, Board Chair, pictured above with DEI expert, Bianca Chow. Pictured below - attendees enjoy group discussions and share best practice.

BEYOND BREAKING BARRIERS; VOZ ALTA

The Beyond Breaking Barriers (BBB), Voz Alta (live life to the fullest) group of former client parents, met on Saturday to enjoy each others’ company at Painting with a Twist, Dallas, and get creative! The bilingual class instructor imparted words of wisdom as they all painted together, belonging and sharing great conversation, which is so good for the soul!

Thank you to Board member, Paula Feinberg (pictured) and team mate Diana Tellez, Development Manager for hosting; and Viadoro Wealth & Philanthropic Strategies at Steward Partners, for supporting our mentorship group for the past two years with a grant that makes these gatherings possible. For more information about BBB click here.

STEFANIE HELD LIBRARY: RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY

On November 20, 1988, a brave woman started Bryan's House with friend Lydia Allen (Bryan's mom), who succumbed to AIDS which she contracted from a blood transfusion. Thirty four years later volunteers, funders and the community are proud to recognize her legacy. On October 3, 2022, we officially opened an inclusive disability care library and resource room in Stefanie's name at our West Dallas campus. It's for parents, caregivers, teachers, interns, therapists, children and the community to enjoy, learn and grow together.

Thank you, anonymous donors for making this possible and to Craig Lashley at Valiant Residential for coordinating construction during worker and supply chain challenged times! Pictures from the event will be featured soon in local papers, and online. 

We are thinking of those impacted by Hurricane Ian. Please buy a raffle ticket to support our programs and if lucky enough to win, you can help their tourist economy in Orlando to

bounce back in 2023.

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click here.