A Night For Nexus First Annual Fundraiser Rocked at Old Parkland

Event was presented by the Preston Center Rotary Club benefiting Nexus Recovery Center

(Featured Photo: Janet Franks LaBarba, Co-Chair; Sue Alford Loncar, Honorary Chair; Jennifer Davis Long, Co-Chair; Bedford Shelmire Wynne, Jr., Honorary Chair.)*

The Pecan Room at Old Parkland was the perfect intimate setting for the first annual fundraiser A Night For Nexus presented by the Preston Center Rotary Club and benefiting Nexus Recovery Center, raising just under $72,000 for the nonprofit.

“The room was transformed into an elegant, lively and fun venue which was exactly what we envisioned for this event. We’re thrilled to report it was a complete sell-out,” said Jennifer Davis Long, one of the co-chairs. She offered heartfelt thanks to honorary chairs Sue Alford Loncar and Bedford Shelmire Wynne, Jr., patrons, underwriters and the committee.

Co-chair Janet Franks LaBarba agreed, saying, “We welcomed over 115 friends and supporters mixing, mingling, having a wonderful time bidding in the silent and live auctions and dancing to the fabulous sounds of the Downtown Fever Band. With the perfect weather, some were lured outside to enjoy dessert on the private patio. It was truly a delightful and very successful evening.”

Emcee Jane McGarry welcomed the crowd with an exciting announcement. A $15,000 matching grant was made by the Roco Agape Charitable Foundation through the North Texas Giving Day program. Including the match, Nexus raised $43,150 through that Giving Day program.

Sue Alford Loncar shared her personal story of tragedy with an ultimate message of hope, having lost her daughter to suicide and then her husband Brian to a cocaine overdose, both in 2016. She said addiction takes the very essence of a person and affects everyone in the family. She read a letter from Brian to their grandchildren, ending with an emotional message to Nexus Recovery Center, thanking everyone involved and saying they are saving lives of women and children every day.

Shelmire Wynne, Jr. gave a brief history of his father, who was an alcoholic, a member of Alcoholics Anonymous, and passed away in 1989. He was a co-founder of the Dallas Cowboys Football Team and spent the last ten years of his life helping those in need.

Becca Crowell, Executive Director of Nexus Recovery Center, said the center’s mission is to serve as a link to sobriety, independence, and dignity for low income women and their families affected by addiction. Nexus inspires hope, offer respect, and honor the unique differences of female addicts. In 2016 Nexus served 2,310 women and teens and 333 children, including 62 Nexus-born babies.

Kevin Crayton, Board President, said that Nexus is constantly raising funds to help the hundreds of low income teen girls and women who come to the organization for help and that today is a very special day, as North Texas Giving Day, encouraging everyone to fill in the donation cards.

Becca introduced Jennifer Arthur, a client of Nexus, to illustrate the impact of Nexus in someone’s life. Jennifer said that through her journey to sobriety, she slipped a few times and thanked Nexus for supporting her through her transformation and training her with the skills to begin again. She is three years and eight months clean and works full-time at Nexus. She said, “I am alive because Nexus accepted me.”

The presentations were followed by a spirited live auction, including a WaterColor Vacation, a personalized couture dress or gown designed by Patti Flowers Design Studio and a special package given by renowned Parigi chef and owner Janice Provost, which sold twice!

Spotted in the stylish crowd were Robin Bagwell, Mary and Weldon Davis, Father Tom Hotchkiss, Jonna LaGrone-Haynes, David Long, Karen Luter, David Quinones, Ashley Tatum, Shane Walker, Billy Fullmer, Robert Weatherly, Tia Wynne and more.

For more information about Nexus Recovery Center, visit the web site at www.nexusrecovery.org. To learn how you can help or become involved, email development@nexusrecovery.org  or call 214.321.0156 ext 2104. 

Statistics: In 2016, Nexus served 2,310 women and teen and 333 children, including 62 Nexus born babies. The January 2016, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report stated that the United States is experiencing an “epidemic” of drug overdose deaths. Since 2000 opioid overdose deaths have increased by 200%. The problem is prevalent enough that President Obama has announced federal level support to address the issue. In Texas, heroin use has increased for the last decade, with “cheese heroin” use specifically increasing in Dallas and eventually spreading statewide.

Nationally, approximately 32% of all drug treatment facilities offer specialized treatment for adult women and 13% report providing special services for pregnant and postpartum women. Currently, Nexus Recovery Center is on of the few drug and alcohol treatment facilities in Texas providing treatment services for pregnant and parenting adult women and teens.

History: Established in 1971, by 1974, Nexus programs included therapy and life skills training and housed 17 women. In 1990 the facility relocated to a 12-acre campus in east Dallas to provide a wider array of services. The new space enabled Nexus to become a leader in treatment for women by allowing children to accompany their mothers into treatment. In 1991, Nexus expanded the adult women program to 40 beds. In 1993 because no treatment providers would accept pregnant or newly parenting teens Nexus began filling this service gap. In 1999, the Child Development Center was built to meet the needs of accompanying children. In 1997, Nexus opened a secondary site for outpatient services. In 2012 the adolescent program expanded to 30 beds.

Joint Commission accredited since 2006, a rare accomplishment in the non-profit sector due to the high standards required to earn and maintain. Nexus is committed to providing top-notch care for low-income women and their children.

* Photos by Bob Monzano.

(Sharon Adams, Adams Communications Public Relations, is honored to represent Nexus Recovery Center.)