Bryan’s House Family Holiday Celebration Featured 104 Christmas Trees
Designed Especially for This Event Presented By the Lone Star Monarchs
(Featured photo: Standing L to R: Rosangela Zurawel, Jonathan Snow, Michelle Mew, Kelly Harris, Jeanne Lewis, Stefanie Held, Biegel Macaraeg, Lee Prater, Regina Bruce, John Pickett and Annie Heffley. Kneeling L to R: Anna Berman, Miriam Richard, Kunthear Mam-Douglas and David Andrews.)
It was a delightful and fun day as the nonprofit Bryan’s House children, families and teachers were celebrated at a Family Holiday Celebration in their honor presented by the Lone Star Monarchs (LSM) and chaired by Regina Bruce and Dr. Carla Russo, LSM co-founders at the Scottish Rite for Children hospital in Dallas.
The party was quite a festive holiday scene with 104 three-foot tall Christmas trees donated by sponsors and decorated by the designers listed below. The families loved the holiday scene as they had their photos taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Children enjoyed arts and crafts and received a Christmas basket of treats, a beautiful Christmas tree of their choice to take home, Christmas stockings full of gifts, a choice of new toys, kits full of art supplies, books, and all sorts of goodies.
The teachers, staff, and volunteer “grandmothers” received Santa baskets filled with lots of wonderful treats, candy and gift cards. In addition, as a special surprise, to fulfill their in-house Childcare Wish List, Bryan’s House was presented with a 6-passenger Bye Bye Buggy, tricycles, scooters, sports equipment, art supplies, a projector and much more, complete with a check for $5,000.
Tree Project chair was David Andrews of TerraMai. Toy Drive chairs were Adam Bernal, Kirby Phelps and Ronni Nicole Pierce.
Regina said, “As event chairs, Carla and I were thrilled to gather our community of friends and family together in support of a mission that is near and dear to our hearts – helping bring the joy and magic of the holiday season to young children with special needs and their families at Bryan’s House, as well as to the staff and teachers who serve these beautiful children daily. Their dedication and commitment to these children is truly an inspiration. We also want to express our sincere gratitude to our wonderful sponsors, donors and volunteers for their generosity and kindness. Those gifts brought so much happiness and let everyone at Bryan’s House know how truly special they are. So, thank you for helping to make our community stronger by bringing hope and smiles to everyone at Bryan’s House in the spirit of the season!”
Corporate sponsors were BDO USA, CAPTRUST, Chance’s Cafe, DFW Injury Lawyers, Jet Linx, KIKI for Tots, Norco Moving & Storage/Mayflower, Scottish Rite for Children, TerraMai and The UPS Store on Lemmon Avenue.
Individual sponsors included Cathy Amos, Regina Bruce and John Pickett, Alecia Hylkema, Jeanne Lewis, Miriam Richard and Dr. Carla and Joe Russo.
Christmas tree designers were Kris and Weber Baker, Martha Barnes, Bennett Partners, Anna Berman, Ginger Bodino, Debbie Brackenridge, Regina Bruce, Erin Collins, Chad Collom / Steve Kemble, Corgan, Annabelle Couture, Cross Architects, Dana Bass Designs, Julie Dendle, Dinah Capshaw Interior Design, Nancy Carroll, Edward Douglas, Scott Douglas and Kunthear Mam-Douglas, Deanna Fodemski, Kitty Galvan, Gensler, GFF, Go Studio, Mendy Halsted, Cindy Hanson, Kim Hatch, Lorraine Hellinghausen, Jim Hester / Sepherson Landers, HH Architects, HKS, HOK, Catherine Kelley, Laura McDonald Enterprises, Bodii Lim, Lone Star Monarchs, Manolo Design Studio, Beth McGaw, Method Architecture, Michelle Mew, Diane Moten, The Nielsen Collection, Murphy Cramer Design, OBMI, Overland Partners, PagePerkins&Will, Scott Pharr, Dr. Carla Russo, Mindy Stenger, Stacey Strollo, Studio B Design Group, Susie Swanson, Marisa and Chris Tindell, Brett Turner, Vadara Quartz, Verona Marble Company, Alison Weinberg, Richard Weiner, Sharon Williams, Tarrah Williams, Tiffany Woodson / INK+ORO, waldrop+nichols studio, Worth-Y Freelance Bookkeeping, WPS and Rosangela Zurawel.
Committee members were Rick Adams, Anna Berman, Lauran Grant, Kristi Eakin Hall, Kelly Harris, Jeanne Lewis, Bodii Lim, Kunthear Mam-Douglas, Michelle Mew, Glenn Morrill, Diane Moten, Debbie Murray, John Pickett, Joe Russo, Kelly Schorr, Cindi Tesseneer, Sharon Williams andTarrah Williams.
Executive staff included Bryan’s House Interim CEO, Lee Prater; Bryan’s House Executive Assistant to the CEO, Annie Heffley; Bryan’s House Founder, Stefanie Held.
Special Thanks went to Adams Communications Public Relations, Danny Campbell Photography, Kristi Eakin Design and Thomas Garza Photography.
Lone Star Monarchs is a 501(c)(3) Texas nonprofit. Its mission is to inspire and nurture the human spirit, as together, members build an effective network of individuals and organizations to support a broad spectrum of charitable organizations in Dallas and throughout Texas. LSM’s purpose is exclusively educational and charitable to connect people and enrich lives. www.lonestarmonarchs.org
Bryan’s House mission is to provide children with special needs and their families with trusted case management, educational, therapeutic and medically-supported care. We accomplish our mission through two umbrella programs:
*Direct Onsite Programs: Integrates on-site nursing with high-quality education, therapy and developmental care geared to each child’s needs.
*Offsite Programs: Provides individualized strategic intervention and planning designed to promote increased knowledge, skills and behaviors that will enable families with children with special needs to manage emergencies, sustain basic needs, achieve their goals and expand their opportunities for long-term success. www.bryanshouse.org
*Photos by Danny Campbell and Thomas Garza
(Sponsored Philanthropy Lifestyles Scene.)
