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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Braxton Berrios and Alix Earle (photo from @alix_earle on Instagram)
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Earle made the announcement to her 7.3 million followers on TikTok with a video featuring Beyonce’s Texas Hold ’Em and the caption, “Braxton got the call today that he will be playing for the Houston Texans this next year!! So incredibly proud & can’t wait to see what this next year brings.”
@alixearle Texas time 👏🏻
In a second video — one of her GRWM videos that brought her to social media fame — she said, “I’ve been just having the itch for Texas,” And added that Houston should be prepared to “see a lot of me.”
The 29-year-old influencer — who also has 4 million followers on Instagram — was living in Miami as Berrios played for the Dolphins. She started amassing followers in 2022 with her candid discussions of acne and body dysmorphia. In 2023, she was named in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. The same year, she launched the popular Hot Mess podcast which dethroned Joe Rogan’s top position on the Spotify charts when it debuted, a position he held for two years prior.
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@alixearle A little life update - go bb
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More than 300 invitees donned their western best and headed on out to the fairgrounds for the occasion. The Ranch's new frozen margaritas were a hit, and patrons raised a glass (or two!) while also munching on passed bites — mini versions of Berg's hit dishes, including "carpet baggers," crab cakes and beef Wellington. The 2025 iteration of The Ranch will feature activations from some of Berg's concepts, like Buttermilk Baby, and other Houston bars and restaurants.
The Ranch's decor includes 90-plus pieces by Texas artist Laura Goodson, which are all available for purchase; Goodson herself was on hand during the opening event, chatting with guests about her process. And Round Top's vintage and consignment expert, Marla Hurey of Modern Marla, wheeled in some of her latest finds to set up a bespoke photobooth backdrop, which was quite popular among partygoers!
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