Fall Philanthropy Report: Be An Angel Improves Quality of Life for Children with Special Needs
Oct. 8, 2024
What year was your organization launched? 1986 by a small group of committee community members that believed special needs children were not receiving basic life services.
What is your mission? It is our mission to improve the quality of life for children withs special needs by providing adaptive equipment, hearing devices, select services, and support programs.
Why did you launch the organization? We believe that children are the heart and soul of humanity, that they represent all that is good within us, and that we can help children with special needs experience life at their fullest potential.
What are you most proud of? We have immediate results for the children needing most any kind of medical adaptive equipment. No long waiting periods. Children and their families who have been waiting between 10-12 years for respite services alone from governmental services receive respite care within 30 days or less. All with a very small administrative staff and hundreds of volunteers. Additionally, we have opened offices in DFW and San Antonio.
What’s been your impact in the community? Be An Angel has provided adaptive equipment, respite care and other select services to over 9900 special needs children from birth to age 22 in just this past year alone. These children generally come from limited to low-income families.
Tell us about your big event. We are proud of the many events hosted by Be An Angel each year. Every February we host Purse Bingo with over 600 participants winning luxury end purses and prizes. Dan Pastorini hosts his Celebrity Golf Tournament which has raised more than 2 million dollars in the past years he has supported these children. Additionally, our Spring Gala, with “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” theme raises well over $700,000 per year.
How many employees and volunteers work with your organization? We currently have 5 employees in Houston, and two in DFW and San Antonio. We are thankful for over 600 volunteers assisting us each year.
What are your major challenges? Sharing our story making families know we are here to help them.
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Gulf Red Snapper at The Annie
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BB Lemon
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Brasserie 19
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Jonathan's The Rub
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NoPo Cafe
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Potente
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Under new ownership, the upscale spot on the Westheimer Curve is an elegant space touting a richly classic menu — lobster tortellini, stuffed lambchops — that now includes killer pizzas and dessert staples like cannoli. One of the best bread baskets in town. Brunch is lovely. 415 Westheimer Rd.
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Tavola
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The tip and, at right, Renee Brown and Post Malone
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Post Malone left a big surprise for Renee Brown in form of a $20,000 tip. "I try to go above and beyond to take care of all of our customers, and loved seeing them interact with Post Malone when he visited — he was so genuine and made everyone feel comfortable," says Brown. As a single mother, Brown works two jobs when she isn't homeschooling her daughter. "His generosity with this life-changing gift blew me away. This definitely wasn't the Christmas Eve I was expecting, but one I'm forever thankful to have had."
The Railyard is no strander to hosting celebs; it’s also been visited by David Spade and Keifer Sutherland.
"One of the most amazing things about this bar is that you never know who is going to walk through the door,” says Trey Melcher, owner of The Railyard. “In the past we've had visits from celebrities, but this unexpected act of kindness made all of our holiday seasons brighter."
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