Charity to help children with multiple disabilities and profound deafness.
A new charity launched in Dallas-Fort Worth this year, hoping to help the more than 20,000 children who are hearing-impaired or with multiple disabilities in North Texas.
Be An Angel is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in Houston more than 30 years ago. It has built a legacy of improving the quality of life for disabled and medically fragile children and their families by providing wheelchairs, hearing aids, respite care, and other adaptive equipment and services.
Marti Boone, executive director of the organization, says they saw a critical need for their services and support in the DFW area, and that is why Be An Angel is launching a chapter in North Texas.
“The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the nation, and home to many children with disabilities needing services, support and equipment to improve their day-to-day lives,” Boone says. “In fact, we’ve identified more than 20,000 families in Dallas-Fort Worth alone who may be in need of our services. To be able to bring a hearing aid, wheelchair, playground, mobility device or other personal adaptive equipment to these precious children is our mission, and we’re so excited to be doing so in DFW.”
For the past 12 holiday seasons, Be An Angel has been gifting toys and supplies to over 200 children at the Jo Kelly School in Fort Worth and in Dallas ISD’s special education programs. However, according to Denise Coffman, Director of Development for Be An Angel - DFW, the charity realized there was so much more they could offer in North Texas.
“Be An Angel has been such a gift for many years in the Houston area, serving these special children and their families,” Coffman says. “Our goal is to build on that foundation and replicate their programs and services in DFW and beyond.”
Joining Coffman in the growth of Be An Angel in North Texas are the founding partners of the DFW Chapter. The partners include David Hardin, a retired investments manager, long-time supporter of Be An Angel and sponsor of the playground project at the Jo Kelly School; Bruce Leonard, Vice President, NGL Marketing & Transportation for Targa Resources; Jennifer Green-Moneta, CEO of LiveEcho Marketing; Daniel Solcher, Managing Director with a business development firm; and Robert Hill, Managing Member at Hill Law Firm, PLLC.
In addition to the annual Christmas Gift Program, a major undertaking for the charity is building barrier-free playgrounds that give special needs children and those with multiple handicaps the ability to play and enjoy a playground that is designed for them and their unique needs.
Jo Kelly School
The charity has installed 36 of these playgrounds in Houston and DFW.
The charity has installed 36 of these playgrounds in Houston and DFW, including the one at the Jo Kelly School in Fort Worth. More playgrounds are in the plans at other locations across North Texas, and a new wheelchair-adaptive We-Go-Swing is planned for installation at Jo Kelly this fall.
Other Be An Angel programs include providing personal equipment such as wheelchairs and hearing aids to those who are profoundly deaf, and offering state-licensed respite care so parents and caregivers can run errands, make appointments or attend other activities. The charity’s ultimate goal is to help provide and maintain a good quality of life for children with disabilities and their families.
If you want to be involved, learn about volunteer opportunities, events or contribute, Be An Angel is holding a Purses and Prosecco night on October 20 at the Women’s Club of Fort Worth. To learn more about the charity, donate or volunteer, visit their website.
1 of 2
Jo Kelly School
For the past 12 holiday seasons, Be An Angel has been gifting toys and supplies to over 200 children in North Texas.
2 of 2
Jo Kelly School
The charity’s ultimate goal is to help provide and maintain a good quality of life for children with disabilities and their families.
