Newsletter

Volume 8, Issue 8

August 2026

Volunteers Gather for Statewide Conference

More than 140 people from across the state met in Dallas August 7–8 for the Texas Ramp Project’s fourth biennial conference since 2020. Like prior gatherings, the conference was heavy on information sharing, relationship building, stimulating interactions, and some really fine dining. The event was held at King of Glory Lutheran Church, which proved to be the ideal venue.

New this year was an earlier start. The Friday afternoon session covered the current state of TRP overall, central support services, a website review, grant writing and reporting, IT initiatives, and a look at the new dashboard for tracking progress at the regional level.

The evening program was highlighted by a tribute to TRP’s founding members (see separate article), followed by three keynote speakers. They were Dulari Mehta, manager of social impact for Hilti North America, which provides TRP with refurbished tools; Scott Atnip, executive director for U.M. ARMY, whose youths volunteer with TRP during summers; and Chase Graves, a community relations officer with the Allen Police Department who builds ramps with TRP. All brought a message recognizing TRP’s success over the past 40 years in Dallas and across the state and how they have participated in it.

Saturday kicked off with a session focused on how TRP is evolving in a changing world in regard to referrals. Presentations centered on managing and establishing priorities for referrals and regional accountability. This session was followed by a breakout session during which participants discussed scenarios related to quality of referrals and management of volunteers.

Breakout Session Discussion Groups

A brief report from the breakout leaders followed the discussions. Those leaders were Scott Badger of San Antonio Central, Mary Hearron of Texarkana West, Toni Hunt of Lubbock, David Merritt of Dallas, Les Schmaltz of Houston, and Henry Wyckoff of Amarillo.

The final session was a panel on volunteering, relating especially to how the volunteer landscape is changing. Six region coordinators shared how their regions were handling their volunteer challenges. They were Scott Badger, Benn Chang of Austin Central, Mary Hearron, Mark Kortokrax of Victoria North, Robert Tonti of Houston North, and Henry Wyckoff.

Many thanks to the conference planning committee for making the meeting a fruitful one for all who attended: Mark Hinzman, Mark Denzin, Nancy De Luca, Molli Harris, Kay Champagne and Sandy Knutson, chair. And thanks to the many central support people who made presentations, assembled packets, handled registration, managed snacks and drinks, kept the coffee pots and water urns full, etc. It certainly took a village.



And thank you to all the great volunteers from across the state who showed up ready to learn and share. You are our greatest asset. TRP’s success depends on you.

To view the Conference Agenda, click here.

TRP’s founding members plus one were honored at the 2026 conference dinner on August 7. They are (from left) Gary Cook, John Laine, Peter Heinkel, Ray Beall (builder #1 with John Laine but not a founding board member) and John McLellan. Not shown is Diane Pogue.

Five of the visionaries who made the decision to take the Dallas Ramp Project statewide in June 2006 were honored guests at the conference dinner on August 7. The transition was spearheaded by John Laine, who served as president and executive director from 2006 until his retirement in 2023.

The original board members attending were John Laine as founder and organizer and Peter Heinkel as initial registered agent, along with Gary Cook, John McLellan and Diane Pogue. The others were Steve Adams, Rob Britton, Joann Mendenhall and Kurt Richter.

TRP’s history goes back to 1985, when members of the Kiwanis Club of Richardson were asked to build a wheelchair ramp for a friend in the Dallas area. John Laine built that first ramp, along with Ray Beall, who also attended the dinner. The success of the Dallas organization led to the idea of expanding the mission to the entire state.

Every board member took on a responsibility:

John Laine loaded his truck with tools and took off across Texas, setting up a volunteer network of region coordinators and volunteers to provide the ramps. Over the years the statewide project increased its build numbers from just 42 outside of Dallas in 2006 to nearly 3,000 in 2026. TRP’s total ramp output over the past 40 years stands at nearly 34,000. That’s 176 miles of ramps!

Peter Heinkel took on the treasurer’s role, setting up the books and establishing a credit card system in his own name because TRP was too small to qualify. Peter remains on the TRP board, where he manages credit cards and investments.

Diane Pogue, a legal secretary, served as board secretary and secured legal assistance in structuring incorporation documents.

John McLellan developed our first website and wrote early grants. He also established TRP’s endowment fund, now over $100,000.

Gary Cook established relationships with the Area Agencies on Aging, managed contracts and wrote the first grant reports.

Ray Beall, though not a founding board member, built ramps steadily in the Dallas area from 1985 and on for nearly the next 40 years.

TRP founder John Laine took the mic to share his memories and long-time commitment to the Texas Ramp Project’s mission.

New at the Conference

On display at the TRP conference were a number of new items and upgrades for volunteers. The conference introduced updated banners, brochures, and a new display table cover for events. Every attendee received a bright orange T-shirt, inviting people to “Come Build with Us.” Many thanks to Kari Daelke of AlphaGraphics for creating our new marketing items.

Also on display was the Texas Ramp Project’s new tagline: Building Hope. Restoring Freedom. This phrasing is used on our new banners and brochure and will be added to letterhead and business cards. It really tells it all.

Shirts, caps and other apparel, including a popular ventilated wide brim hat that sold out at the conference, are available on TRP’s new online store, accessible at the TRP website www.texasramps.org. The online store allows you to order the new brochures, along with business cards, grid pads and nameplates. Watch for new items to be added to the store’s inventory.

Volunteer of the Month: Bill Hoogstra, Abilene Region

The Abilene region started back in 2007 as a triumvirate. TRP founder John Laine paid a visit to the Kiwanis Club of Abilene, meeting three fellow Kiwanians at a warehouse John had already found. The three were Kelly Jones, Dennis Laster and Bill Hoogstra. What emerged was a partnership with Kelly as region coordinator, Dennis as database manager, and Bill as warehouse manager and team leader.

Nineteen years later Bill is the remaining member of the trio. Dennis died during COVID, and Kelly passed earlier this year. So now Bill serves as coordinator for the Abilene region, which encompasses 11 Texas counties. He continues as warehouse manager as well as leader of the Kiwanis team in Taylor County.

Why does he do it? Well, his greatest satisfaction is seeing the joy on the faces of the recipients whose new ramp allows them to safely resume a normal life. He recalls that in the early ramp-building years his friend Dennis, upon leaving a completed ramp site, would simply remark, “We did a good thing today.” Bill’s comment: “Just a few words, but it sure covers it.”

The biggest challenge, he adds, is finding enough team members and leaders to build more ramps. “The need for ramps is great; the supply of willing teams trails way, way behind.”

Bill grew up in Detroit. He graduated from Hope College and earned a master’s degree from Webster University. After a 20-year stint in the U.S. Air Force, he pursued a second career as director of support services at the Abilene State School. He and Margaret, his wife of 45 years, live on 25 acres outside of Clyde, Texas, in Callahan County. They have eight grandchildren.

Bill has been a Kiwanis member since 1990 and a volunteer for the local Meals on Wheels program since 1992. He has held numerous official positions for both organizations. He has overseen floor operations for the Abilene Kiwanis Club’s Pancake Day fundraiser for the past 30 years.



A recent project involved procuring a decommissioned 1920s calliope from local McMurry University. Bill spearheaded the instrument’s transition to a trailer-mounted decorated float, which represents the University and the Abilene Kiwanis to the delight of crowds at local parades throughout the year.

Butch Meier Celebrates 300^th Ramp

The Bryan/College Station team led by Butch Meier built its 300^th ramp on August 15 for an 88-year-old man in Chappell, Texas. The total job included a 24-foot ramp plus structural repairs to the porch and steps. The 13 volunteers who showed up included the recipient’s referring social worker, Melanie Costello of AccentCare Hospice, and her husband. They brought food and drinks for the crew on this very hot day. Other volunteers were from St. Paul’s Church and Burton Bridge Ministry.

Grants and Donations

Grants continue to flow into the Texas Ramp Project. Many come from churches that provide monthly or quarterly donations, stretching their funding across the entire year. These include the Langen/Wink Bible Class, which has given $100 per month since 2023. Grants and donations received in August include the following:

• $35,000 for Houston from The Guild Shop of St. John the Divine.
• $15,000 for Abilene from Dian Graves Owen Foundation.
• $15,000 for Tarrant County from Helen Irwin Littauer Education Trust.
• $10,000 for Dallas from Santander Holdings USA.
• $3,900 for Austin Central Bastrop County from Elgin Methodist Church.
• $3,500 for Austin Central and North from Topfer Family Foundation.
• $3,391 for Waco South from Waco Habitat for Humanity.
• $3,000 for NCT South Ellis County from Waxahachie Rotary Club.
• $1,604 for Houston Central from Good Shepherd Church Cypress.
• $1,560 for Wichita Falls from Cowboy Church of Henrietta, Texas.
• $1,500 for San Antonio Central from Oak Hills Church.
• $1,000 for East Texas Tyler from Delek Fund for Hope.
• $1,000 for Waco South Freestone and Limestone counties from Limestone Project Employees Fund.
• $750 for San Antonio Northeast from St. John’s Episcopal Church New Braunfels.
• $570 for Austin West from Hill Country Fellowship.
• $500 for East Texas Jacksonville from United Way of Rusk County.
• $500 for Austin East from St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church La Grange.
• $500 for Austin East from St. James Episcopal Church La Grange.
• $402 for Austin West from The Church at Horseshoe Bay.
• $393 for East Texas Jacksonville from St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church Henderson.
• $100 for East Texas Tyler from Langen/Wink Bible Class.

Governor Names Katie Simpson Yellow Rose of Texas

The City of Southlake and Mayor Shawn McCaskill recently recognized Dr. Katie Simpson for receiving the prestigious Yellow Rose of Texas commission. The award is one of the highest honors bestowed upon women by the State of Texas, presented through the Office of the Governor. It honors women who make extraordinary, lasting impacts on their communities through dedicated volunteer service.

Katie was recognized for decades of community work, which includes serving as a team leader for TRP in Tarrant County and delivering meals for Meals on Wheels. She is also a member of the Southlake Community Emergency Response Team and Southlake Citizens’ Association. She was cited in My Southlake News, August 6. Read the Article.

Also In the News –

Wilson County News, August 11 – Nikki Hardwick, clinical operations manager and community paramedic with Wilson County Emergency Services District 3 (ESD 3), and her two kids turned out on a hot Saturday morning to help build a ramp for a Wilson County resident. Read the article.

The Gatesville Messenger, July 31 – A group of volunteers from Coryell Community Church built a ramp for a Gatesville man who at the time was in the hospital recovering from major surgery. Read the article.

The Seguin Gazette, July 14 – Volunteers from the First Methodist Church built their 100th Texas Ramp Project ramp in Guadalupe County. Read the article.

KLST-TV Concho Valley, July 31  – “It’s a blessing beyond measure.” View the video on YouTube.   [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPPAPn-sgRs]

Ramp of the Month

Texarkana East, Cass County

Ms. P., 73, of Bivins in Cass County uses a wheelchair to get around. It was difficult for her to leave home for her frequent dialysis appointments because of the five steps at her door. Six TRP volunteers responded to her July referral within three weeks and built her a 40-foot ramp, allowing her to leave home much more easily. The volunteers donated 29 hours of labor, an $800 value. Prime Care Case Managers made this referral.

You are encouraged to use the TRP Media Consent, Waiver and Release form for your builds. To access the form, click here.

Click on the logo below to access the TRP website.

We hope you enjoy having the newsletter sent to you directly, as it is filled with useful information, building hints and tips, data collection updates and processes, client stories, special announcements and recognitions.

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