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Spend the Evening with
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CHRISTUS 36th Annual Gala
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STATE OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS AS S GIVING CIVIC MINDED MILLENNIALS MUDBUG MADNESS IN MAURICEVILLE THE FEST OF TIMES: MED, CRAB & MORE
2016 CH HRISTUS
LiveWell Women’s Conference
Presented by:
CHRISTUS LiveWell Women’s Network
Thursday, May 12, 2016 | Ford Park | Beaumont, Texas
&GNGDTKV[ .G[PQVG 6RGCMGT -COKG /GG &WTVKU Joinn awa ward rd-w -win inniing actress, Jamie Lee Curtiss as she shares some of herr per erso s nal and witty storiies that will inspire all at thiss year’s CHRISTUS LiveWel elll Wom men’s Confeerence. Beyond the lights off Hollly lyw wood, Jamie Lee Cur urti tiss is an accom mplisheed authorr, photographer otographer and mot mothe othhher er who connects withh all women today. todday Eveery daay you doo so muc uchh for oth ther ers. s Do this for you. Our all-day ay conference includes: • Ovverr 200 workshops w on healthyy living and nd educattioonal toppic ed ics important to youu • Freee Hea ealth Screenings and Heaaltlthh Hub • The Mar arket Square to exp xplo lore re and shopp • Live Weell Innovation Sta tati t onn (NE NEW W!) • Lunch with w Celebrityy Keyynote Speaker, Jami miee Lee Cur urti tiss • AND, a Celebrity DIY Pro roje j ct with Junkk Gypsies too closee out the day!
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
$50
per person
March 29 – May 5
christuslivewell.org
Presented by:
To learn more, visit christuslivewell.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter to be part of the #IamLiveWell conversation.
WORKSHOP SESSIONS & SPEAKERS SESSION 1A - Sports First Aid Kit: Band-Aid or Stitches? Eric Chapman, M.D. Orthopedic Surgeon, and Chase Burkhalter, Certified Athletic Trainer
SESSION 2F - Get a Leg up on Leg Health Robert Morrison, M.D., Interventional Radiologist SESSION 2G - Fresh Prep - Clean Meals to Go Carrie Richard, Owner of Fresh Prep
SESSION 1B - Simma Down with James Brown James Brown, Owner of The Gumbo House
SESSION 3A- Dream, Doodle and Dialog Your Way to Wellness SESSION 1C - Fitting in Fitness: Exercise Options for Busy People Sherry Lindsey, Inspirational Speaker Amber Woodard Norris, Personal Trainer SESSION 3B- “Fixer Upper” with Dr. Randy Lombardo SESSION 1D - Everything Conceivable: Before, Randy Lombardo, M.D., Cardiologist During and After Pregnancy SESSION 3C- Living Chemically Free Marquita Anderson, M.D., OB/GYN, and Stacie Jones, BSN Angie Erhard, MSN, RN, CNML SESSION 1E -This Girl Is on Fire SESSION 3D- From Pitfalls to Progress Arlicia Albert, Christian Author Melody Oseguera, Neches Federal Credit Union SESSION 1F- Gators, Gardens, Gushers and Great Food SESSION 3E -Experiencing Wine to Savor the Flavor Elizabeth Eddins, Beaumont CVB Stacy Rollins, Owner of Vine2Wine SESSION 1G - Women and Wealth SESSION 3F- Calibrating Your Thermostat: Understanding David Morrow, Morgan Stanley Thyroid Issues in Women SESSION 2A - My Own Worst Enemy Zachary Cerini, M.D. Family Medicine Janet Davis, Christian Author SESSION 3G- Beneath the Makeup SESSION 2B - The Issue at Hand Edriena Alexander, Christian speaker Oscar JoVan Currie, M.D., Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon SESSION 2C - What Every Woman Should Know About Vitamins & Minerals Annie Drachenberg, M.D., Family Medicine
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SESSION 2D - Your Hairstyle Is Telling Your Age Rochelle Perrio Jeane, Owner of Strands Hairspa Boutique
SESSION 4 Amie and Jolie Sikes
SESSION 2E - Walk the Weight Off Mary Scott, RN, Group Fitness Trainer
1A-Eric Chapman, M.D.
1A-Chase Burkhalter, CAT
1B-James Brown
1G-David Morrow
2A-Janet Davis
2B-Oscar JoVan Currie, M.D. 2C-Annie Drachenberg, M.D.
3A-Sherry Lindsey
3B-Randy Lombardo, M.D.
1C-Amber Woodard Norris
3C-Angie Erhard, MSN, RN, CNML
1D- Marquita Anderson, M.D.,, OB/GYN
1D-Stacie Jones, BSN
1E-Arlicia Albert
1F-Elizabeth Eddins
2D-Rochelle Perrio Jeane
2E-Mary Scott, RN
2F-Robert Morrison, M.D.
2G-Carrie Richard
3D-Melody Oseguera
3E-Stacy Rollins
3F-Zachary Cerini
3G-Edriena Alexander
$35,/ a publication of the Beaumont Enterprise
features Sing Every Word
For four decades you’ve sung “Mexico,” “Country Road,” “Something in the Way She Moves,” on the radio and now you have the chance to share the experience of James Taylor’s music with him as he headlines the intimate dinner concert that is the CHRISTUS Gala.
Meet the Honorees
380 Main Street Beaumont, Texas 77701 409.201.9934 SoutheastTexasEvents.com
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PUBLISHER Mark Adkins
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Joe and Shelley Tortorice, the first couple of Jason’s Deli, are CHRISTUS Gala honorees with a love for the hospital and a mission for advancing health care.
Crawfish or Bust
SPECIALTY PUBLICATIONS MANAGER Shelly Vitanza
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EDITOR Beth Gallaspy
That’s the mantra in Mauriceville, Texas’ crawfish capital hosting its annual mudbug fest later this month. Get the cookin’, peelin’ and eatin’ details.
SPECIAL SECTION: Southeast Texas GIVES
MULTI MEDIA COORDINATOR Tina Breland
15-29
ART DIRECTOR Therése Shearer
They say everything is bigger in Texas... and that includes Southeast Texans' passion to help others. Check out the stats, stories of the movers and shakers in our local nonprofit community, ways to help and more.
WEB CONTENT MANAGERS Kathleen Gantner Geneva Quitugua
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Social Seen Infographic Event Listings Sneak Peek Cartoon Corner On this Date in Southeast Texas Final Photo
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on the COVER James Taylor is America’s singer, songwriter, recording and touring artist who for more than 40 years has connected with fans by articulating life’s moments in the most relatable ways. And he is coming to Beaumont to perform at the annual CHRISTUS Gala, a unique and intimate dinner concert event. Taylor not only sings his music; he shares moments of pain and joy, letting his listeners know that they are not alone. Read about him, the concert and the honorees, pages 6-9.
Subscribe to the EVENTSBOOK If you would prefer to receive your copies of the EventsBook in the mail for one year, please send $19.95 to: Beaumont Enterprise, 380 Main Street, Beaumont, TX 77701 Include your mailing address.
We list all events for Free. We are the one calendar for Southeast Texas. For the latest and most exciting events, visit us at
www.SoutheastTexasEvents.com.
PUBLISHER EMERITUS Paul Chargois
PHOTOGRAPHERS Scott Eslinger John Fulbright Marilyn Tennissen CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Nancy Correa Chrissie Mouton Holli Petersen Marilyn Tennissen Advertising Information: For advertising, please contact Craig Hatcher at 409.838.2838 or chatcher@hearstnp.com. To list your event on Southeasttexas.com: Visit Southeasttexas.com, click events. Under the Calendar tab, click “Submit an Event,” or email us at events@southeasttexas.com. Copyright 2016, Beaumont Enterprise. All rights reserved. All contents copyright 2016 Beaumont Enterprise, The Events Books. All rights reserved. EventsBook is a monthly publication. Events shown are from SoutheastTexasEvents.com. Priority listing is given to SoutheastTexasEvents.com’s member organizations. Other events are listed as space allows. For additional information on the events listed in the EventsBook and other events not listed, visit SoutheastTexasEvents.com. Beaumont Enterprise is not responsible for any discrepancies or changes that may have occurred since the publishing of this issue. Every effort has been made to ensure accurate information at the time of publication, however, this cannot be guaranteed. Beaumont Enterprise recommends visiting SoutheastTexas.com or contacting the represented companies to determine availability of service and to confirm date, time, location and other related event information. All submissions of editorial, photography, advertising and event information are accepted only without risk to the publisher for loss or damage.
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Love That Sticks
T
he group text message read, “Girls, please say a little prayer for my ‘Jane’... several girls being not so friendly to her and it sure makes the mama bear want to come out in me.� Who of us mothers of grade school children has not wanted to retaliate on behalf of our children hurting because of some kind of peer unkindness? I remember the first time my son, Joshua, was subjected to cruelty from another child. A 3-year-old bit him in the arm. I wanted all hell and damnation to rain down on the little heathen biter. In retrospect, and after 11 more years of mothering, I’m thankful the biting barbarian was allowed to live another day because there have been times (rare, of course) when my child has been the beastly one. Ironically, the biter, grew out of his vampire stage, and he and my son are now great friends. Still, when reading my girlfriend’s text, my first instinct was to get into the details and suggest ways to get even with the “mean girls.� Before I could respond in any way, the text started dinging with wise words from mama bears who hug more than hurt. They, too, have learned through the years, the only way to combat meanness is to build their own kids up, offering empathy and love instead of suggesting retribution. One mom said the situation could be used to strengthen “Jane� and help her diversify friendships. Then another wise mama bear introduced a simple way to encourage kids called “love that sticks.� Simply, the practice is to write positive messages on sticky notes and place them in conspicuous but unexpected places. “Love that sticks� seems to have originated from a Christian radio station campaign at Valentine’s Day, but according to one of the women on the group text, Kelly High School places positive sticky notes all over the campus. She shared a few currently hanging on the school walls: “Don’t Forget to Be Awesome.� “Do What You Love, Love What You Do.� “Let’s Show the World How Strong We Are Together.� “You Can Do It.� “You Are Amazing.� Such positive messages not only minister to the hurting child, imparting confidence and giving love and acceptance, but also can counter meanness. While I’m not sure the campaign was intended to combat bullying, if kids feel good about themselves, they’ll be less likely to try to gain self-assurance by tearing others down.
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Regardless, “love that sticks� is a simple, inexpensive gift we can all give our kids, spouses, friends and even co-workers. So often I think positively about someone but feel corny, sappy expressing it, especially to adults. Sticky note messages seem less silly and intimidating than a face-to-face sentiment. I could really see a “love that sticks� campaign expand here in Southeast Texas because we’re givers. There are nearly 2,000 nonprofits in our area nearly wholly supported by community generosity of time and resources. That’s what this EventsBook is about – Southeast Texas Gives. For the first time since the Beaumont Enterprise embarked on creating such a special “Gives� section of its publications, we have an analysis of data the Nonprofit Development Center has collected and compiled giving us a summation of our efforts, successes and areas for improvement, page 16. Additionally, we’ve asked nonprofit executives to share the importance of community contributions as well as their biggest needs, page 18. Plus we have several articles about the next generation of givers, those loosely organized, those organized through Rotaract and those just civically committed on their own, pages 24-28. Giving has its benefits, too, like improved healthcare. As CHRISTUS Health Foundation – Southeast Texas hosts its 36th gala, April 16 featuring James Taylor, we reflect on previous galas and the dollars raised bringing better care, equipment and advanced technologies to Southeast Texas, page 6. Sometimes giving only requires eating. Mauriceville’s Crawfish Festival is such an eat-for-a-cause give opportunity. Get all you need to know to go to this traditional fun-raiser and mudbug eating feast, page 10. Give your time and resources to charities where your heart, and your stomach, lead. Go to great events this month. And don’t forget to share “love that sticks.�
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Building Health Care for Southeast Texas’ Future By Shelly Vitanza he annual event that has scored Diana Ross, Huey Lewis, Shirley MacLaine, Don Henley, Chicago, the Blues Brothers, Harry Connick, Reba and Aretha has done it again. CHRISTUS Health Foundation – Southeast Texas’ gala, now in its 36th year, is hosting legendary songwriter and singer James Taylor for an intimate dinner concert April 16 at the Beaumont Civic Center. The woman behind most of those 36 years of phenomenal, oncein-a-lifetime concert opportunities is Ivy Pate, president of CHRISTUS Health Foundation – Southeast Texas. She is charged with the job of securing entertainers that appeal to the masses while also staying within a budget in order to raise funds so the foundation can fulfill its mission to provide renovations, equipment and upgrades for its hospitals and clinics. Pate reflects on the entertainers come and gone and the crazy behind-thescenes scenarios that make her job challenging but keep her laughing, too, as well as the extraordinary impact the years of galas have had on the improvements to health care at CHRISTUS’ hospitals.
“The hardest part is to find someone that crosses genres and who will consider doing a private event; that’s very difficult because most want to perform in bigger venues,” said Pate. “And it’s hard to get performers to Beaumont. Travel is difficult, and then there’s the budget. It’s all just very challenging.” But then the challenge lands someone like James Taylor, and it makes the effort worth it. “This is major. He is an unbelievable songwriter and singer, and this year he was on the Grammys on Feb. 15 as a first-time nominee and on the Kennedy Awards and the Late Show with Stephen Colbert most recently.” (See more on James Taylor, next page.) Some years are harder than others, Pate admits, recalling the year she had to book Shirley MacLaine at the last minute because Liza Minnelli canceled, and the year she had to reroute Jim Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, the Blue Brothers, because of flooding. They arrived moments before the performance, and the Beaumont Civic Center was practically the only facility in the entire area that had electricity, much to Pate’s surprise and delight.
SoutheastTexasEvents.com
But the oh-my-gosh near catastrophes are outweighed by the mouth-dropping moments, like the standing ovation Aretha Franklin received even before she sang one word and the wonderful blessing of Huey Lewis’ performance after months of Hurricane Rita recovery efforts. “Aretha wanted cash. She was sitting there in the dressing room where she had to have all of these heaters and was wearing a big thick coat because she has to keep her throat warm. Counting her money, she said, ‘nice shoes,’ and kept counting her money. It was so hot that my makeup was sliding off my face, but I told her that Diana (Ross) had been here and had not gotten a good reception because she was a bit of a diva. Aretha must have heard that and walked out on stage and said, ‘Hello, Beaumont,’ and got a standing ovation. That set the tone for the evening, and it was a great show.” The 2006 gala was nearly cancelled or postponed because Southeast Texas was still recovering from Hurricane Rita. Ultimately Pate and gala planners decided the area needed something uplifting and fun. “The show was a sellout, and he was fantastic. Everyone was smiling and having a good time. He played so many hits that many of us didn’t realize were his songs, and he wanted to visit after the concert to make sure that everyone had a good time.” Another surprising success was country singer Reba McEntire. Pate says even those people who didn’t think they’d enjoy her performance did. “She was personable and a fantastic entertainer.” Pate loved working with Harry Connick and said he wanted to know facts about Beaumont that he could use in his show. She sent him some talking points, but he didn’t use them. Instead he poked fun at his hotel. “He said he’d stayed all over the world but never at an ‘Elegante, only Beaumont has an Elegante,’ and everyone laughed. He then went on to say that the Elegante has gumbo that rivals New Orleans gumbo.” The legends have come and gone, and Pate is thankful for the opportunity to bring them to Beaumont especially the likes of Don Henley. “Don Henley was an awesome talent, mesmerizing; he was so talented.” Equally mesmerizing was Chicago, which Pate says to date is her favorite performance and gala. “Every song was recognizable, and I loved the brass. Plus, it was unique because Dr. Jimmy Simmons was the honoree, and they let him play on stage with them for the encore. Jimmy took two days to learn the music, and it was a really big crowd pleaser. When they saw how he played and heard his arrangement, the band was blow away; they were stunned at how good he was. Everyone had huge smiles on their faces; it was an incredible night.” There are some similarities between that gala in 2010 and this year’s gala, setting expectations high. First, a legendary singer is booked – James Taylor – and second, Simmons and his wife, Susan, are chairs of the event honoring Joe and Shelley Tortorice, who were actually chairs of the 2010 gala when Simmons was honored. “We are taking this event to a whole new level because people are coming from all over to attend and see James Taylor. One lady I talked to is coming from Oklahoma to visit a friend so she can attend the concert. We think we’re just going to have a lot more people, but we still want it to be an intimate evening and will limit the number of seats. We’re setting the stage and seating in a semi-circle. For a $375 ticket people will get parking, a meal, cocktails, an intimate concert, a tax write-off for a portion of their tickets and in the end only be minutes from home.” Monies raised will benefit CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Foundation in its efforts to provide services and equipment to the CHRISTUS hospitals in Beaumont, Port Arthur and Jasper. SOME PROJECTS INCLUDE: A TRUE PEDIATRIC WING Prior to this $1 million renovation there was just an adult wing. Now young people in the hospital have an area that looks fun and inviting with undersea fish décor and aquariums, TVs and DVDS with children’s programming, hippo exam beds, children’s art, coloring books, stuffed animals and a playroom.
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Sharing the
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SOUTHEAST TEXAS GALA When you listen to James Taylor music, you hear the stories of his life, personal stories of childhood, loneliness, love, relationships, addiction, recovery and loss that resonate, connecting people to the common human experience of joy and pain. Further uniting is a live concert with Taylor, something he considers intimate, not just for the audience but for himself, as well. “I think the thing that's most compelling when we're performing live with an audience is that there's this sort of shared experience and there's something that happens when you take this emotional ride. It can actually be pretty intense, and I'm really strung out on that. I love that communal thing that happens at a concert,” Taylor has said. The North Carolina native is one of five children who fathered two children with singer Carly Simon and is now married and raising twin sons, 14. Taylor, who last year released a new album of original songs, “Before This World,” after a 13-year recording hiatus, has said that some songs “just present” themselves and the meaning emerges over time, but most of his songs are about his life experiences. “Sweet Baby James,” for example, was written when his nephew was born. Taylor had been recording in London and came back the States to learn that his brother, Alex, had a son and the child was named after Taylor. Taylor says it’s his favorite song and a very spiritual song for him. Taylor wrote the song “Angels of Fenway” about the 2004 Red Sox season and “Only a Dream in Rio” after experiencing a concert in Brazil where 300,000 people in the audience loudly sang every word to his songs. “Copperline” is about a peaceful childhood upbringing in the countryside, which Taylor says he is trying to provide for his twin sons. “Carolina in my Mind” laments homesickness, and “You’ve Got a Friend,” a Carole King song, expresses loneliness while “Steamroller” and “Rainy Day Man” are darker songs about heroin addiction and recovery, which Taylor admits are common themes in many of his songs until his ultimate sobriety in 1983. One of Taylor’s breaks came when the Beatles decided to produce Taylor. He was given the opportunity to audition for Paul McCartney and George Harrison and played the song “Something in the Way She Moves,” a song written about the “calm you feel in the presence of someone who knows you really well,” which quotes the Beatles' "I Feel Fine": "She's around me almost all the time/And I feel fine." After 40 years Taylor remains true to his style of creating relatable music, with “Before This World” described as a sweet, reflective album reminiscent of his classic 1970s albums. "I'm not the type of musician who reinvents himself over and over again. I am a slow evolution of a style of recording and writing, and I do think that in some ways I get better at it." Southeast Texas can look forward to sharing the experience of James Taylor on April 16.
(YHQWV%RRN SoutheastTexasEvents.com 8 2016 APRIL NEONATAL RENOVATIONS $1.7 million has been allocated for all equipment and the renovation to become a level three neonatal unit, which is a state classification allowing a higher level of care ultimately enabling parents of preemies to stay local with their newborns and not have to seek care in Houston. The unit will be complete with what’s called Giraffe Omnibeds, incubators and warmers, which provide a special environment for the baby and allow nurses and doctors to turn the baby over without picking him/her up or unhooking the baby from monitors and life-sustaining equipment. The neonatal unit will also provide privacy for mothers to be with their babies for nursing. ALSO: • 3D Mammography • Generators: All of CHRISTUS rural health clinics now have generators preventing shutdowns during storms. • Renovations in Jasper: The Center for New Life in Jasper now has baby warmers; ventilators and hearing screenings have been installed, and surgery waiting rooms have been renovated. Stretchers and ultrasounds have been provided and check-in computer systems have been upgraded. • Improved amenities for patients: There are currently two suites and four more are being added. These suites are larger than regular rooms, with refrigerators, sofas and beds for loved ones. • Grief counseling room on cancer floor: Added to provide grieving families a nice and warm, comfortable place to be. • Equipment for sexual assault nurse examiner • Stuffed animals for the emergency room: When a child comes in, he/she now has something to hold onto when scared. • Surgery video for children: A child scheduled for surgery can now watch a video narrated by a child that explains what’s going to happen. On the to-do list is to have this video produced in Spanish.
“The hospital lets us know what the greatest need is, and we allocate funds accordingly. Right now, we’re partnering with them to provide funding for the level three classification for our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, which has been in the works the last several years.” Meeting the mission to provide upgrades, equipment and renovations for CHRISTUS Southeast Texas’ hospitals and clinics and the people who seriously need quality health care makes all the planning, scheduling, diva demands, travel arranging and periodic cancellations worth it. “Wonderful people have contributed to help with all this, and it all goes to benefit people in need.”
CHRISTUS Health Foundation
SOUTHEAST TEXAS 36TH ANNUAL GALA featuring James Taylor WHEN: Saturday April 16, 7 p.m. cocktails; 8 p.m. gourmet meal; 9:30 p.m. performance WHERE: Beaumont Civic Center. TICKETS: Tables for eight start at $3,000. Seating is limited and expected to sell out quickly. To learn more or to receive an invitation, please call 409.899.7593. Or reserve at christushealthfoundationsetx.org/events/36th-annual-gala
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Meet the Honorees:
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More than Muffalettas
The honorees of CHRISTUS Foundation’s 36th Annual Gala featuring James Taylor are Joe and Shelley Tortorice. Most know the Tortorices as the first couple of Jason’s Deli, rightly so. They are the founders of the nationwide chain of salad, sandwich, soup delicatessens started in Beaumont in 1976. But the Tortortices have brought more to Southeast Texas than a scrumptious muffaletta. They are a power couple committed to constant community improvement with a willingness to participate to achieve that end. Their involvement in CHRISTUS Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth Hospital serves as an example of just one of the ways the Tortorices have impacted Southeast Texas for the better. Married 45 years with three children and nine grandchildren, Joe and Shelley have been a part of CHRISTUS even longer than they’ve been the Mr. and Mrs. of Jason’s Deli. “The hospital has been in our life since 1969 when I worked as an assistant nurse, a student nurse, under Sister Fatima,” said Shelley Tortorice. “She was head of pediatrics, and I loved every second and learned more from her than any classes. After that I always just had a love for St. E.” Through the years the Tortorices have stayed connected to “St. E” or St. Elizabeth, and now called CHRISTUS Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth. Not only is the hospital their choice for care - Shelley delivered three children there in the 1970s, and many of their nine grandchildren were born at St. Elizabeth in more recent years - but Shelley has served on the advisory boardd for as long as she ala in 2010. can remember, and she and Joe chaired the foundation’s gala embers who keep The Advisory Board is composed of community members abreast of hospital business, changes, improvements and community activive input and feedties. The open dialogue allows community members to give back but also creates a team of community ambassadors or advocates who can then accurately inform others in the community aboutt hospital actions. “I’m a big one on that; I’m gonna speak up,” said Shelley.y. “I’ve been around medicine a whole lot in my life, and it’s a big interest of mine, and so I’m so bought in to what CHRISTUS does, and I’m interested in the he new things that are happening, especially the new neonatal unit. That is especially specially important because when a child is born and has problems, there is not time to be anywhere else. We, here in this area, have a responsibility to provide vide the kind off care for those tiny babies that are helpless, and it thrills me we aree providing that.” For the last few years, with advocates like Tortorice and nd monies from the foundation’s galas, CHRISTUS has focused on improving ing its neonatal unit, seeking a new level of medical classification that will ill allow care for babies born under 28 weeks of gestation. Not only is the he hospital required to have specialized and advanced equipment but ut also a neonatologist and neonatal nurse on duty at all times. One of the first steps in achieving the new level of care re for babies was to create a neonate transport team that couldd go out to CHRISTUS hospitals in other areas and bring babies bies that need intense care to CHRISTUS Beaumont’s Neonatal tal Intensive Care Unit. With that complete, as well as some of the other state requirements for equipment and competenncies in place, CHRISTUS expects to attain the status in thee coming year. “Shelley worked providing input and advice to get thiss done, and now seeing that it is happening means a lot,” said Ivy Pate, CHRISTUS Health Southeast Texas regional vice president and executive director of the CHRISTUS
Health Foundation Southeast Texas. “She has been instrumental in accomplishing this new level of care.” Shelley’s medical background has helped steer the neonatal improvements, but she and Joe have also played a vital role in generating funds to ensure the hospital could afford to implement the vision. Monies raised from the foundation’s gala have gone to help pay for the neonatal improvements. The Tortorices have supported the galas all of these years, and in 2010 the couple chaired the 30th Annual Gala featuring Chicago and honoring Jimmy and Susan Simmons. Shelley says it was a night she and Joe, and those who attended, will likely never forget. “The gala is always down home and intimate, and that year Chicago was just amazing, but then, at our request, they let Jimmy play in the encore,” said Shelley. “They had never let anyone play with them, in their 40 years, and we had to really beg, but they broke the rule with Jimmy since he was honoree; they were amazed at how good he was. It was unbelievable.” There are some similarities between the 2010 and 2016 gala. The Simmons are chairing the event, and the Tortorices are the honorees, and another superstar performance is expected. “I can’t believe we got him - James Taylor,” said Shelley. “I want the night to be memorable for everyone and raise the needed money to make the hospital better for everyone, for the foundation programs and needs, like the neonate classification. Bottom line, it’s going to help a child.”
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FUDZ),VK FDSLWDO 36th Annual Mauriceville Crawfish Festival By Chrissie Mouton Whether you call them crawfish, crawdads, crayfish, freshwater lobsters, mudbugs or one of the other dozens of names, when you hear the sound of a propane burner and a big boiling pot of water, it can only mean one thing — good eats are about to hit the table. Pots will be boiling in the crawfish capital of Texas, Mauriceville, for the 36th Annual Mauriceville Crawfish Festival, April 15-17. “The festival features an awesome music line up, entertainment, creole cooking demos, a very competitive cook-off and much more,” says Cynthia Doucette of the Mauriceville Crawfish Festival Association. There’s a 5K run, a “Hometown Heroes” parade, washer tournament, whitetail display and more. “You can also see performances by local students, including jazz bands, choirs, dance, cheer and theatre arts,” Doucette says. Of course, crawfish are the main attraction. Enjoyed roughly from March to June, the mud-burrowing crustaceans are synonymous with Cajuns, Louisiana and much of Southeast Texas. Crawfish are the main attraction, but attendees can also enjoy a little chalk painting or rev engines at the antique car show. There’s a carnival for the little tykes and a hunting dog demonstration. (OK, maybe that one is for the adults.) No matter what draws you to the festival grounds in Mauriceville, there’s something for all ages and for a good cause. Money raised is used by the Mauriceville Crawfish Festival Association to help provide a meeting space for local Boy and Girl Scout troops, a facility for the Orange County Livestock Association to host their annual show and to give the Football Association a field and parking. Festival organizers are hoping to dig even deeper this year and turn mudbug money into academic and vocational scholarships. “Even the smallest scholarship can make a huge difference to the college students in our area,” Doucette says. The festival
also brings the community together, something important to festival organizers. “Bringing together both patrons and benefactors, we hope to make a tangible difference in Mauriceville through regional partnerships and positive economic impact through the generation of cultural tourism.” It’s good eats for a good cause, so get your peeling hands ready to dig in!
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1. Three-day festival April 14, 15 & 16 2. Crawfish Crawl 5K run prior to the parade on Saturday morning 3. Saturday morning parade saluting our “Hometown Heroes,” specifically law enforcement, military and first responders 4. Kids' Carnival 5. Antique Car Show 6. Several outdoor demonstrations including live action battles by the “Sons of the Confederacy.” Live action demonstrations by the “Cowboy Action Shooting Association,” and several hunting dog demonstrations including upland game bird (pheasant) and retrievers. 7. Several indoor seminars such as a photography contest, shabby chic chalk painting, and food demonstrations and contest. 8. Team competitions such as washers, alumni 7 on 7 football 9. Corporate Crawfish Cook-off
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WK $QQXDO 0DXULFHYLOOH &UDZILVK )HVWLYDO April 15 5-11:30 p.m. April 16 10 a.m.-midnight April 17 noon-4 p.m. Mauriceville Crawfish Grounds 7441 Cohenour Road, Orange, Texas www.CrawfishFest.org or on Facebook
)HVWLYDO /LQHXS FRIDAY, APRIL 15
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➜ Crawfish have inner gills that allow them to live out of water ➜ Crawfish can drown (careful when you purge) ➜ There are over 500 species of crawfish. Only two are harvested although over half of the different species live in North America. (wonder what dem other species taste like) ➜ There is a cave-dwelling species of crawfish that are colorless and have no eyes. ➜ There are no crawfish in Africa. ➜ Louisiana is the first state to have an Official Crustacean, and it is the crawfish. ➜ The eggs develop while attached to the swimming legs of the female. ➜ Europeans consider them a delicacy. ➜ A crawfish has four pair of walking legs and four pair of swimming legs. ➜ Crawfish feed at night.
5 p.m. Gates open 6 p.m. Crawfish Cook-Off cooks meeting On Stage 6:30 p.m. Generations 8:15 p.m. Bayou Sounds 9:45 p.m. BB & Company Sound
SATURDAY, APRIL 16 7:30 a.m. Crawfish Crawl-5K 9 a.m. Parade 10 a.m. Opening Ceremony 10:30 a.m. Crawfish Cook-Off 10:30 a.m. 5K/Parade Awards 11:15 a.m. Civil War Demo 11:45 a.m. Crawfish Eating Contest 12 p.m. MMS Cheerleaders 12:20 p.m. MMS Twirlers 1 p.m. MMS Bands 2 p.m. Washer Tournament 2:15 p.m. Master Gardener 2:45 p.m. Creole Cooking Demo 3:30 p.m. LCM Honey Bears 4:45 p.m. Crawfish Festival Races On Stage 3 p.m. Lake View Band 4:45 p.m. Cajun Harmony 7 p.m. Driving Dixie 9:15 p.m. Twangsters
SUNDAY, APRIL 17
+RZ WR &RRN &UDZILVK +RZ WR &RRN &UDZILVK If you can boil water, you can cook crawfish. 1. Fill large pot with enough water to cover all the seafood. 2. Add your seasoning mix and bring the water to a rolling boil. 3. Add the crawfish (and any other shellfish). Return to a rolling boil and boil the crawfish for 5 minutes. 4. Turn fire off and let the crawfish soak for 15 to 25 minutes (depending on your desired spice level).
1 p.m. LCM Color Guard 1:30 p.m. Wild Horse Ministry On Stage 3 p.m. LCM Jazz Band 3:30 p.m. Micah Tyler Band All Day Activities Photo Contest Exotic Animal Display Silent Auction
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62&,$/ 6((1 1. Lacey Mabry, left, and Beki Burton at Ubi Caritas St. Patrick's Festival 2. Brenda Petkovsek, left, and Lynne Bordeaux at Ubi Caritas St. Patrick's Festival 3. Loyce Pumphrey, left, and
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Nellie Columbus at Taste of Home show 4. Syble Jecoat, left, and Carolyn Oster at Taste of Home show 5. Charlene Osberg, left, and Pat Keprta at Taste of Home show
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SoutheastTexasEvents.com
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A Look at the Numbers EVObya `SOZZg U]W\U ]\ W\ A]cbVSOab BSfOay \]\^`]TWb Q][[c\WbgBy Nancy Correa Program Director, Southeast Texas Nonprofit Development Center
Southeast Texas is an immensely generous community, and every year thousands of our residents give their time, money and expertise to support efforts to improve our community. From mentoring students to donating cans of food, Southeast Texans want to make our community a better place. With more than 2,000 nonprofits and places of faith in our region, it can be difficult to prioritize our time and giving. Nonprofits and funders face the same challenge in determining how to devote their limited staff time and resources. To address this concern, the Southeast Texas Nonprofit Development Center created a community profile that looks at more than 200-plus data points on community wellbeing in Southeast Texas and compared the data to our state as a whole. The goal was to provide an objective look at the greatest needs and strengths in Jefferson County. The good news? Southeast Texas is a diverse community with a strong economy and a low cost of living. The bad news? In many areas of wellbeing, including safety, health, mortality and poverty, our community did not perform well compared to our state as a whole. While Jefferson County did not perform as well as we would like, this data is critically important to our community. It provides a benchmark on our current state of wellbeing and allows our nonprofits, funders and policy makers to prioritize programs, funds and time to our county’s greatest needs. And just as importantly, it provides an opportunity to set goals, implement effective programs, and measure our progress in improving the community. Demographics: Jefferson County is a diverse county that is becoming more diverse each year. While the majority of our seniors are white (64 percent), there is no racial majority among our children with 37 percent black, 32 percent white and 26 percent Hispanic. Housing and Transportation: Jefferson County is fortunate to experience a low cost of living with the median housing cost being less than the state of Texas: $96,000 and $131,000 respectively. Safety: Jefferson County experiences low rates of auto theft, but higher rates of murder, robbery, assault, burglary, larceny and rape compared to the state of Texas. The community as a whole must work with local government and law enforce-
ment to ensure the safety of our families, neighbors and community. Health: The large majority of Jefferson County residents report being in good health (85 percent). Yet, almost a quarter of local adult residents smoke and over one-third are obese, both of which are linked to lower quality of life, earlier death and many diseases. Residents of Jefferson County experience higher rates of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and stroke than the state of Texas as a whole. Mortality: Sadly, our county experiences higher rates of death than our state from the following causes: heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, accidents, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, motor vehicle accidents, colon cancer and homicide. However, many of these deaths may be preventable through appropriate health promotion and safety programs, policies and services. Economy and Income: The manufacturing industry drives the economy in Southeast Texas with more than $80 billion in sales and revenue each year. Despite a strong economy, 21 percent of our residents are living below the poverty line, which is equivalent to less than $24,450 a year for a family of four. Children: Jefferson County outperforms the state in enrollment in early childhood programs with 36 percent of 3- and 4-year-olds enrolled in pre-kindergarten and 13 percent enrolled in Head Start. However, compared to the state of Texas, children in Jefferson County are more likely to live in poverty (33 percent), live in a single parent home (43 percent) and drop-out of high school (9 percent). There are also higher rates of infant and child deaths in Jefferson County than the state of Texas. Seniors: Of the residents in our county that are 65 years or older, 50 percent are living alone, 33 percent are widows, 46 percent are disabled and 22 percent are veterans. Veterans: Jefferson County is home to over 16,000 veterans. Compared to veterans in the state of Texas, veterans in Jefferson County have higher rates of unemployment (10 percent), poverty (12 percent) and disabilities (34 percent), along with lower median incomes ($32,000). So, now what? In Southeast Texas we have an incredible opportunity. We have a giving and caring community spirit cou-
So what happens when we implement programs that have not been proven to be effective? We divert our limited resources from effective programs to programs with unknown outcomes. For example, DARE is a widespread anti-drug program that has received millions of dollars of funding. Unfortunately, research studies have now demonstrated that the program is ineffective, and students that go through the DARE program abuse drugs at the same rate as students that do not go through the program. As a community, we must invest our limited resources wisely on effective programs to ultimately improve the wellbeing of our region.
pled with thousands of nonprofits, places of faith and individuals that are working tirelessly to make our region a better place. We must come together to strategically and collaboratively identify what’s working and what’s not working through careful assessment and evaluation. If our current programs and efforts are not effective, we must transition to new programs that lead to improved outcomes and make our region a better place to live, work and raise a family. The Southeast Texas Nonprofit Development Center is a nonprofit organization that supports nonprofits and funders to ultimately improve community outcomes. Services include educational workshops, consulting services, board development and evaluation. For more information on the Southeast Texas Nonprofit Development Center or to access the full report, visit www.setxnonprofit.org
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GIVING “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” It’s a Bible verse found in Acts 20:35, commonly paraphrased to, “It’s better to give than to receive,” and generally accepted as fact. But there’s a modern day twist to the ancient teaching that says — There’s glory in charitable donations because you give and receive at the same time. When the tax man calls this April 15, consider the benefits — personal and pocketbook — of giving to local charitable organizations. And consider these stats that indicate money is tight in the nonprofit world and donations are always needed.
$67
The actual cost of donating $100 to a nonprofit organization if you are in the 33 percent tax bracket. As your income tax bracket increases, the real cost of your charitable gift decreases, making contributions more attractive for those in higher brackets. The actual cost to a person in the lowest bracket, 15 percent, for a $100 contribution is $85. For a person in the highest bracket, 35 percent, the actual cost is only $65. Not only can the wealthy afford to give more, but they receive a larger financial reward for giving.
TO DONATE
$241 BILLION
The amount of money given to nonprofit organizations in the United States in 2013.
72%
The percentage of the $241 billion that came from individuals.
15%
The percentage of the $241 billion that was donated by foundations.
13%
other
Is your budget tight? You can still give nonprofits can always use your time and talents!
$250
The tax savings on a $1,000 clothing or furniture donation if you’re in the 25 percent tax bracket and keep a qualified appraisal to be submitted with your tax return.
46%
The percentage of nonprofit organizations in the U.S. in 2014 that were able to meet the demand for their services based on their funding.
51%
The percentage of Texas nonprofits in 2014 that operated with less than three months of cash available.
It goes without saying, nonprofits cite their biggest challenge as long-term financial stability.
1 0 7 1,
The number of nonprofit organizations in Jefferson County (See other counties at: www.taxexemptworld.com)
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Southeast Texas Gives ;OYSa O 2WTTS`S\QS By Shelly Vitanza What difference does your donation to area nonprofits make? Is $10, $15, $20 really significant? We asked a handful of nonprofit organizational leaders to explain the importance of individual donations and how their organizations would be impacted if they received no individual funding. We also asked them what their biggest need is currently. We hope their answers inspire you to action. The Arc of Greater Beaumont arcofbmt.org 409.838.9012 The Arc of Greater Beaumont's mission is to provide programs and services that improve the quality of life for adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Southeast Texas. Sixty percent of funding for the Arc's programs and services comes from donations and fundraising activities. Currently, the Arc is building the Arc Achievement Center. This would not have been possible without the support of community donations. Without donations from community givers, the Arc of Greater Beaumont would not be able to provide any programs and services to our members. We were established in large part by com-
munity givers; without their support the Arc of Greater Beaumont would not exist. Biggest Need: Funding – in-kind or monetary to complete the Arc Achievement Center. Gary R. Hidalgo, executive director
Some Other Place someotherplacebeaumont.com 409.832.7976 At Some Other Place the community "does it all!” People give of their time by volunteering in all aspects of our mission. They give of their treasures by donating their money, their belongings and other items needed for us to serve. And they give of their talents — they cook, they serve, they do paperwork, they interview and work with consumers, they distribute food and clothing, they do it ALL! More than 200 volunteers come each month to help to make all that we do possible. Biggest Need: Undergarments for men, women and children; socks for men, women and children; insect repellant in preparation for summer and for our homeless folks (preferably the individual "swabs" because those are easier to hand out). Paula O’Neal, executive director
American Red Cross of Southeast and Deep East Texas Chapter redcross.org/local/tx/houston/local-chapters/ beaumont 409.832.1644 The American Red Cross of Southeast and Deep East Texas is only able to serve our community during times of disasters such as hurricanes and floods and also in every day emergencies such as fires because of the faithful support of our community. Volunteers and donors are invaluable to the mission of the Red Cross, which is to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. We are proud to report that of every dollar that is raised, 91 cents goes toward the services and programs provided by the American Red Cross. Anyone who has been the victim of a natural disaster knows the American Red Cross will be on the scene shortly. The only way we are able to have such a presence during large and small emergencies is because of our supporters. Our organization would collapse without our community givers, and the result would be disastrous. Last year, our region responded to more than 70,000 home fires alone. It is because of our supporters that we are able to teach our community about preparedness and be an asset to those we serve by installing fire alarms, providing shelter, teaching CPR and First Aid classes and more vital services that help save thousands of lives each year. Biggest Need: Volunteers because our volunteers account for 90 percent of our workforce. Kari Fenner, major gifts officer Beaumont Children’s Museum beaumontchildrensmuseum.org 409.347.7919 Community support is the lifeline of the Beaumont Children’s Museum. The Golden Triangle is rich with philanthropic support because those who live and work here are invested in the growth and development of children, the very same children who will become the future leadership of our community. Our community support is focused on helping children realize their potential by providing mission-focused programming and hands-on experiences that foster growth. The Beaumont Children’s Museum would be a short-lived dream without the support of our community. Without it, the organization would not be able to provide support and opportunities that children need to become self-
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directed, positive influences in their world. Biggest Need: Volunteers for programs at the museum and hand tools and old electronics such as telephones and radios for a new space we’re creating. Becca Amy, executive director Nutrition and Services for Seniors seniormeals.org 409.892.4455 Every year we depend heavily on donations/ fundraisers/bequests/memorials to maintain the Meals on Wheels program at existing delivery levels. Simply put, if we didn’t receive community support, over 68,000 meals would not be delivered, meaning 256 people would not receive a meal each day. Community donations alone provide 12,250 meals. Funding received from the Department of Aging and Disabilities and managed care organizations does not cover the full cost of a meal. We must use donations to fund these gaps. In addition, some of our programs for home bound individuals are FULLY funded by donations. AniMeals provides pet food for the client’s companion. This program serves 76 people with pet food approximately two times each month. This program would not be possible without the local animal-loving community. Our Empty Pantry program, which works in cooperation with the Southeast Texas Food Bank, exists only on donations or grants to purchase shelfstable food. Last year, we provided 550 bags of groceries that contained approximately 10 meals each to our homebound clients. The newest addition to our family of programs is the Grow to Share Garden. Although still in its infancy, fall harvesting has begun, giving 445 homebound clients nutritious items such as broccoli, greens, lettuce and cabbage. The garden is made possible through dedicated donations and grants. The community plays a vital role in the success of our organization, the stability of our programs
and overall health and wellbeing of our most vulnerable population – the homebound elderly and disabled. In our case, three programs — AniMeals, Empty Pantry and the Grow to Share Garden — would not exist at all and our Meals on Wheels program would be severely reduced without community donations. Biggest Need: Funding to ensure optimum fleet rotation for meal/transit delivery vehicles. We must budget to purchase at least 1-2 vehicles per year to maintain operations and need spare vans to ensure that operations are not hindered during vehicle repair times. Elaine Shellenberger, executive director Christus Southeast Texas Foundation christushealthfoundationsetx.org 409.899.7555 Community donations are crucial for the foundation, and we appreciate all levels and types of donations. We have some donors who unfailingly send in a monthly check, and we have other donors who are dedicated to certain foundation events, such as the annual gala, and give at specific times of the year. We need both types of donors to continue our mission of extending the healing ministry of Jesus Christ. Without community donations, the foundation would not only lose a vital piece of funding, but would also lose the connection we have with community members who are advocates for our cause. In order to continue successfully functioning and fulfilling the needs of the three CHRISTUS hospitals in our region, we need the continued support of all community members. Biggest Need: Two new Giraffe Beds for the Neo-Natal Unit at St. Elizabeth and two 3-D Mammography machines at the new Outpatient Center in Mid-County. Ivy Pate, president for Christus Southeast Texas Foundation
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Girls’ Haven girlshaveninc.org 409.832.6223 As a nonprofit organization, community support is vital to our facility. We are the only organization that provides care to girls, regardless of their ability to pay. For each resident we spend on average $27,000 a year. With the community’s support, we go above and beyond to provide excellent care to the children we serve. These children come from very difficult backgrounds and need intensive care, counseling and other services. Thanks to our supporters, we are able to meet these needs. Without the community’s support we would no longer be able to expand services to meet the growing needs of our students and residents. Resident social activities would be reduced and staff would be reduced. We are fortunate to have such awesome support, without which we would not be able to provide such quality services to girls who have suffered abuse, neglect or homelessness. Biggest Need: Funding to build offices. We have three bedrooms currently being used for office space. If we had the funding, we could convert one of our racquetball rooms into offices, which would provide much needed space for at least three additional girls in need of a home. We keep a waiting list. Also, funding or gift cards for outings such as movies, food, etc. You can imagine how much it costs to take 21 girls out to eat and to the movies. Alice Teeler, executive director Alzheimer’s Association alztex.org 409.833.1613 Alzheimer’s disease is underfunded and is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Donations from the community are crucial to forwarding the mission of the Alzheimer’s Association. Donors allow us to fund much needed research and provide free resources to people with dementia, caregivers and professionals. Our 24/7 helpline is an asset to caregivers searching for information or in crisis. Our care consultations with nurses or social workers allow caregivers to speak to a caring professional and develop a plan for the future. Our local support groups have knowledgeable and compassionate facilitators. Individuals in the early stages and their caregivers participate in fun outings with an educational component. Support groups offer caregivers an opportunity to share their struggles and gain insight from people on a similar journey. Our education programs teach caregivers how to enhance their relationships and care for their loved ones. Our continuing education trainings for professionals enhance their skills to provide the best care to their clients. Our staff trains volunteers to raise awareness at community events about our free services and to advocate at a local and state level for legislative priorities to benefit caregivers and persons with dementia.
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Our goal is to reach 90 percent of people afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease. A lack of donations would hinder our ability to bring awareness about our services and train professionals, caregivers and volunteers. The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's. Biggest Need: We need Southeast Texans’ assistance by volunteering, donating or advocating to local public officials. Alex Williams, marketing manager CASA of Southeast Texas, Inc. casasetx.org 409.832.2272 CASA of Southeast Texas, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that depends on community donations and support for more than half of its revenues. Donations allow us to recruit, train and supervise volunteers to speak up for the best interest of children that have been abused and/or neglected. The support of the community allows CASA to help save children’s lives by working with CPS to get children out of harmful situations and preventing children from returning to harmful situations. The donations received from the community are critical to CASA’s vision of providing volunteer court advocacy for every child in Jefferson County that enters the foster care system. It costs approximately $1,000 per child per year to provide a volunteer court advocate. With community support we are able to do even more for the children like recog-
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nize their birthdays, put on carnivals and help families reunify. There are more than 350 children per year that enter the foster care system, and CASA is assigned to 100 percent of those children by a Jefferson County district judge. Without community support, CASA would not continue to exist. Currently, 84 percent of Jefferson County’s foster care children are served by a volunteer and 16 percent are served by paid staff. CASA assigns staff when volunteers aren't available to make sure that all children have someone looking out for their best interest. Without community support, CASA would fail to reach the goal of providing an advocate for every child in foster care. Statistics have shown that children who have a volunteer advocate exit the system quicker and are less likely to “fall through the cracks.” A quick exit from the system also has a tremendous impact on taxpayers. Biggest Need: Our biggest need is being able to assign a volunteer for every case! We recently applied and received a "growth grant" from Texas CASA to hire a full-time trainer to recruit and train more volunteers per year. The downside is the cost to advertise and recruit volunteers. The other part is making sure that volunteers are nurtured and feel appreciated with volunteer recognition events, gifts, cards, socials, etc. We need more volunteers, and we need to keep the ones we have! Soon, government funds will be tied only to cases assigned to volunteers, not staff. Other CASAs in the state stopped taking cases if they did not have a volunteer to assign. I refused to stop taking cases because we want every kid in Jefferson County in foster care to have someone looking out for their best interest. Eleanor W. Johnson, executive director
Beaumont Heritage Society beaumontheritage.org 409.898.0348 The Beaumont Heritage Society owns and operates the oldest fully restored home in Beaumont, the 1845 John Jay French Museum, and the Chambers House Museum. Our organization relies heavily on community support, whether that be in the form of donated items, membership dues, monetary donations, grants or donations of time. As a nonprofit dedicated to promoting historical education and preservation in the city of Beaumont, community support and donations are vital to ensuring that we are able to fulfill our mission and allow us to continue our role of protecting and preserving our community's historical record. If our organization no longer received community support or donations, it would be difficult to address the maintenance needs required of a historic home. Educational programming and preservation efforts would be severely limited, and the community would lose an important resource for visitors, young and old, to learn about our community's history and local heritage. In a time where the world is literally at our fingertips, it is easy to focus on the next big innovation or hip new place, yet it is important that we remember the past and protect what makes this community uniquely ours. We exist to benefit the community as a whole and couldn't accomplish all we do without the generosity of all who support our organization. Biggest Need: Our biggest need is to grow membership in our organization. Not only does membership provide financial support for the maintenance and operation of the French Museum and other endeavors, but it also invests people in our area's history and preservation efforts. Yearly individual membership is available for as little as $35 and family membership for $50. We welcome anyone and everyone interested in our mission. Our members directly affect the preservation of Beaumont history, and for that we are exceedingly grateful. Alicia McKibbin, executive director Anayat House anayathouse.org 409.833.0649 Our Southeast Texas community is very giving, generous and kind. We are lucky to live in such a caring society. Individual donations, support for our wonderful gala and golf tournament, and grants from foundations and businesses allow Anayat House to assist families in medical crisis. Simply put, we would not survive. Patients receiving cancer treatment, families of ICU patients, neonatal parents and patients traveling to Beaumont for care would not have a low/no cost place to stay. They would be forced to sleep in cars or waiting rooms. Biggest Need: The biggest need Anayat House has today is continuing to raise the funds needed to provide a home away from home for families in
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medical crisis. Besides monetary donations — all are always appreciated, anything from $5 to $50,000! — but donations of supplies help us to keep our costs down as well. Individual snack foods that guests take to the hospital, breakfast foods like small boxes of cereal or muffins, paper goods like Kleenex boxes, toilet tissue and paper towels. Laundry detergent is another item that is used frequently by guests. For the past five months we have been experiencing a great need for our accommodations. We remain at capacity and at times and have had to try to find other accommodations for families. Bel Morian, executive director Gift of Life Program giftoflifebmt.org 409.833.3663 As a local nonprofit, the Gift of Life Program relies on the community’s support to sustain our mission of saving lives through free cancer screenings and extensive cancer awareness and healthy lifestyle educational outreach. For more than 20 years, the community has embraced the Gift of Life as a vital prevention, detection and educational program. Bridging the gap in critical healthcare, the Gift of Life staff compassionately navigates clients through the complexity of the medical system while offering support services for clients and their families. Individuals, businesses, schools and other organizations dedicate dollars and volunteer hours to help further the Gift of Life’s mission of saving lives. Community donations truly make a difference and have helped the Gift of Life save the lives of nearly 275 women and men. The Gift of Life’s health and educational services are directly impacted by the level of support we receive from the community. Businesses and individuals who generously contribute are integral to the organization’s deliverance of care, which greatly influences the overall health and wellbeing of the region’s most vulnerable citizens. Community giving is the life force for the Gift of Life. The people we serve, the lives who are saved through our free medical services and the collaborative resources dedicated to the organization’s
cause are contingent upon Southeast Texans’ spirit of generosity. Biggest Need: We need continued community support. Community support allows us to provide free breast and prostate cancer screenings, diagnostic tests, transportation, translation and case management for individuals with limited or no health insurance along with payment for prostate cancer treatment for men. Norma Sampson, executive director Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas Foundation bhset.net/Giving-Volunteering/Baptist-Hospitals-of-Southeast-Texas-Foundation 409.212.5000 Community donations are the lifeblood of our foundation. It is through these donations that we support the sacred work of Baptist Hospitals in Southeast Texas. Donations great and small make such a huge difference, whether it is building a new center, updating a unit, funding equipment or providing support for patients in our care. Each dollar that is given remains local to help our neighbors in Southeast Texas achieve their highest level of health.
21 Without the support of our community, there would be so many unanswered needs. Donations of time, talent and treasure are all essential to our work. Biggest Need: Updating our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Kim Moncla, executive director
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Family Services of Southeast Texas westrengthenfamilies.org 409.833.2668 Community donations of any amount are extremely important! Every year hundreds of our friends and neighbors need help with problems that tear families apart — like domestic violence, divorce, parenting problems and mental health issues. Every donation helps assure that families get the counseling they need in a crisis and that women and children have a safe place to go to escape domestic violence. Because of the generosity of others, last year we assisted almost 800 shelter residents in Beaumont and Jasper with legal advocacy, counseling and case management, and basic needs such as food, clothing, transportation and personal care items. We also made critical repairs to shelter facilities and purchased equipment necessary to operate both domestic violence shelters.
(YHQWV%RRN 22 2016 APRIL At Family Services Counseling Center, because of community support, we were able to provide affordable, accessible, solution-oriented counseling and free school-based services to more than 1,700 individuals and families. When families are able to weather a crisis, they become more stable, and outcomes for their children improve. Stronger families mean stronger communities and better quality of life for all of us! We would have to cut some essential services and eliminate others. The quality of life for families in Southeast Texas would suffer. The psychological and academic wellbeing of children would be affected. Can you imagine how the level of family violence might escalate if the hundreds of women and children we serve every year had no safe place to go? Biggest Need: Our greatest need is assistance providing services to make sure that families in crisis get help when they need it most. Any donation is welcome — $5 or less will provide a gallon of milk at Family Services Women and Children’s Shelter. A donation of $44 provides a day of emergency shelter and support services for domestic violence victims. A donation of $37 provides counseling for a family in crisis. We also need donations of cleaning supplies, diapers and personal care items. Janet Walker, executive director The Garth House thegarthhouse.org 409.838.9084 Donations to the Garth House secure the safety of children in our community. Abused children receive the necessary services and needed counseling to ensure their protection and to set them on a road of wholeness as future parents themselves. The 500 to 600 children seen for services at the Garth House annually are never on a waiting list and are never told that we cannot help them. A child that is identified as a victim of a crime is seen at no charge and without limited sessions to go from victim to survivor. Without the donations and support of Southeast Texas, this picture would change drastically. Biggest Need: Volunteers! Volunteers to help with fundraisers and the Hospital Prevention Program. Marion Tanner, executive director Catholic Charities catholiccharitiesbmt.org 409.924.4400 Community donations are the driver of all the services we are privileged to be able to provide. More than 50 percent of revenue for Catholic Charities of Southeast Texas comes from community donations. Donations come through a variety of sources – direct regular donations, fundraising events like Harvest of Hope and Breakfast with the Bishop, the Bishop’s Faith Appeal, United Way grants and more. The bottom line is that these are all community donations. It is extremely important to add that community donations of time also
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have a huge impact on our ability to provide services. In our last fiscal year, 18 staff members were supported by 762 volunteers who donated 18,512 hours to help deliver services to 4,100 clients. Community donations are truly the lifeline of Catholic Charities. Our ability to provide services to the poor and vulnerable without community donations of time, talent and treasure would be significantly impaired if not impossible. I don’t know that I can ever say “thank you” enough to everyone who gives and shares in our mission of service to help make our community stronger and better for everyone. Biggest Need: More people who believe that all we are and all that we have are gifts from God entrusted to us for use in the care of our brothers and sisters. With more people acting on this belief, even more AMAZING things will happen! Carolyn R. Fernandez, president/CEO, Catholic Charities of Southeast Texas American Cancer Society cancer.org 409.835.2138 Monetary support from businesses and individuals throughout Southeast Texas is vital to the mission of the American Cancer Society. That support allows the organization to fund life-saving cancer research grants to regional scientists who are investigating the causes, prevention and early detection of all types of cancer. These grants are funding the discovery of breakthrough treatments, translating into thousands of lives saved each year. The American Cancer Society is the nation’s largest non-government, not-for-profit cancer research funder, awarding 77 grants totaling nearly $38 million in 2015. The grants will fund investigators at a total of 56 institutions across the United States and went into effect Jan. 1, 2016. Since 1946, the American Cancer Society has awarded $4.3 billion in cancer research grants and has funded 47 researchers who have won the Nobel Prize. Additionally, support from our local community goes right back to our Southeast Texas patients and caregivers through a variety of services like free wigs; transportation assistance to and from oncology appointments; lodging at partner hotels for out-of-town patients; “Look Good Feel Better” to help cancer patients learn the importance of taking care of themselves during treatment; Reach To Recovery, a mentoring program for newly diagnosed patients; a 24/7 Call Center to help navigate patients and provide support; and personal health manager, which organizes medical information. Simply put, if we did not have support from the community, it would have a devastating impact. The fact is that cancer isn’t just one disease, it is hundreds of diseases. And unfortunately, research is very expensive but critical because that is the only route which will ultimately lead to new treatments, preventions, causes and cures. Biggest Need: Volunteers are the lifeblood
of the American Cancer Society and the most valuable asset we have. Without them, our organization simply would not work. We depend on dedicated volunteers to help us with many of our patient programs such as Road To Recovery or Reach To Recovery. They might also help us by stuffing a large mail-out or serving on an event planning committee like Relay for Life or Cattle Barons’ Ball. Wherever they serve, we love our volunteers for their generosity of time and the devotion they give our organization. Kathy Chessher, specialist, community events Boys’ Haven of America, Inc. Community donations have a huge impact on Boys’ Haven. State funding is only a percentage of what is required to run our facility in order to provide services for our boys. If we no longer received community donations, we would be forced to cut back on the services we are able to provide. We would not be able to continue to operate for the youth in need if we did not receive those donations. Biggest Need: We need to raise $1.5 million to build our boys new cottages, three to be exact. Currently, we have four boys to a suite. In our new cottages, each boy will have his very own room. Most of our boys have never experienced this in their entire lives. Our current cottages are extremely old and outdated. They have been remodeled out, and they’re extremely too small. We are licensed for 36 boys, but we are currently full around 20 due to the current cottage situation. Denise Berry, development director Communities in Schools of Southeast Texas cisset.org 409.951.1810 Our name is a true reflection of the importance of community involvement. Naturally, we work diligently to earn national and state grants and corporate contributions, but it is always local support that ensures our success. Individual donors, churches, corporate and small businesses help make our work possible. Currently, we are able to provide Communities in Schools of Southeast Texas site coordinators in Port Arthur, Beaumont and Dayton Independent School Districts and Lamar State College Port Arthur. Without local community involvement and generosity, we would be unable to provide quality services that truly impact the lives of students in Southeast Texas, such as male mentoring groups, summer programs and college/career awareness. Contributions include not only monetary donations, but time as well. Our board of directors contributes thousands of hours to helping prevent drop outs. Our record is strong, and local donations will enable us to continue and expand our influence on the lives of young people. 0WUUSab <SSR( ??? Reecie Goodman, interim executive director
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Adventure, Beer
D]Zc\bSS` By Marilyn Tennissen
Left to right: Sade Chick, Ethan Chick, Jennifer Champagne and Lori Abney
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There was a chill in the air and light fog on a recent Saturday morning as volunteers gathered for the 2016 Nederland Trash Off. Sade Chick and her group could have easily stayed home and slept in, but there they were picking up plastic bags, water bottles and other debris from Rienstra Heritage Park. The group with Chick that morning were members of the SETX Beer & Adventure Junkies, a group she started about three years ago as a social group for young professionals. But what began as an invitation to 10 friends on MeetUp has grown into a group with more than 300 Facebook members, and the purpose of the group has expanded from meeting to have fun to gathering to give back. “Don’t let the name of the group fool you!” Chick said. “The focus isn’t on drinking beer. You don’t have to like beer, and you don’t have to like having adventures; you just have to like people!” Chick, 28, who works as the governmental affairs and communications director for the Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce, is originally from Maine. She moved to Southeast Texas when her husband’s job was transferred. “We couldn’t find a group for young professionals who were new to the area. And, well, I consider myself a ‘gap filler,’ so I started my own group,” she said. About 80 percent of the group members aren’t locals, and a lot work at local plants, Chick said. Some of their activities do involve beer – like touring breweries – and some are pretty adventurous – like skydiving. But now the Beer & Adventure Junkies participate in a monthly volunteer initiative as well. “We did a build for Habitat for Humanity last fall, and enjoyed it so much we plan to do it again,” Chick said. After several outings to Village Creek on canoe and kayak trips, the group got involved with conservation efforts in the Big Thicket. In connection with the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, the Junkies helped plant 100,000 long leaf pine seedlings in the Big Sandy Creek Unit of the Big Thicket National Preserve. They’ve also joined a rotation to bring meals to Anayat House, a hospitality
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Don’t let the name of the group fool you! The focus isn’t on drinking beer. You don’t have to like beer, and you don’t have to like having adventures; you just have to like people!” Sade Chick house for families of patients in area hospitals. Chick and her group prepare home-cooked meals for the facility, giving families a respite from hospital cafeterias and fast food. Member Lori Abney is a transplant from Michigan and said the group has helped open doors for her. “I found it hard to break into the social scene in the area,” Abney said. “Most of the people I was meeting at work were already involved with their families and sports with the kids. This group helped me connect with other people.” Through her job at the chamber and her involvement in the community, Chick has learned that some people have a bad attitude about Beaumont. “There’s an old, negative perception that Beaumont isn’t a good place for young people or to raise a family. And there are a lot of great intellects and talents in this community, but they don’t always stay. We don’t want to lose them.” Opinions are changing, Chick said, and getting involved in the community is a great way to be a part of that change. Ethan Chick agreed with his wife’s sentiments. “There is a lot to do here. There’s a lot happening with art and movies and music. We want to keep it going and make Beaumont a great place to live,” he said. For more information about the group and events, check out www.facebook.com/groups/560861757337377/.
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Generation Y EVg BVSg :]dS b] 6SZ^ By Marilyn Tennissen Today’s 20-somethings, whether wh you want to call them Millennials or Generation Y, are often portrayed as detached and disinterested with their faces buried in their smart phones. But here in Southeast Texas, Tex many young professionals are shattering that stereotype. They find time between work and play to engage in charitable work. They don’t buy into the “Bore-mont” mentality that in the past drove some off the city’s best and the brightest to the big cities. They believe Beaumont is a great place to live and work, and they are using social m media to connect them with others who feel the same. And most of all, they don’t sit idly by, but get out in the community com to make Beaumont the best place it can be. “I moved to Beaumont from Dallas over 10 years ago,” said Dean Conwell, executive director of the Beaumont Convention and Visitors Visitor Bureau. “I used to always hear the ‘Bore-mont story.’ Things really began to change around 2011. “ It was about that time t that many of the 20-somethings who had gone away to college and spent a few years after gradua graduation working in Houston, Austin or New York decided to come back, Dean said. “So the you young creatives moved back and have been successful in bringing the best of what they experienced in the larger cities back to Beaumont. Social media was a driving force in this rebirth because people pe connected much easier, and new events were promoted online,” he said. “I have aalways felt if you are from a smaller city like Beaumont, you need to get away for at least two years. That is how you learn, and it helps you become a more well-rounded, open-minded, anything-is-possible anythingtype individual,” he said. “And I am a a BEAU-LIEVER!” Dean added, referring to a popular hashtag on social media used to spread ggood news about Beaumont. A few of those remarkable local young people shared their experiences and what inspires them to try to make a difference.
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Being involved keeps you around positive people, people who believe that young people can be a voice for change.” Rebekah Maxwell Rebekah Maxwell For Rebekah Maxwell, 27, volunteering is a family affair. When she and her siblings were growing up they participated in the 4H Club and their parents became active volunteers. “One of the key pillars of 4H is ‘service,’ so it was imparted in us to give back,” Rebekah said. Her parents continued to volunteer even after all their children had graduated, and they were recently recognized for 25 years of service to 4H. In college, Rebekah had an experience that cemented her dedication to civic service. As an honors student in 2010, a professor suggested that she get involved with the Rotaract chapter at Lamar, a Rotary program for 18 to 30 year olds. The goal of Rotaract is to provide professional development opportunities and engage members in hands-on service projects. “Right after I joined we went on a service trip to Belize,” she said. “We presented a leadership workshop to high school students and a career awareness workshop for middle school students. We saw the country in a way that a tourist doesn’t see.” Rotaract at Lamar has about 20 members from a variety of different majors. While working on her master’s degree in international marketing at Lamar University, Rebekah was chosen as an Ambassador Scholar by the Beaumont Rotary Club and was able to study in Scotland. After completing her master’s degree in international marketing, Rebekah now works as coordinator of the Reaud Honors College at Lamar. Her duties include advising students in the honors college, event planning and some marketing. But that hasn’t stopped her involvement in the Rotaract. She’s still active with the campus group and is the immediate past-president of another Rotaract group for those who aren’t in college through the Rotary Club of Beaumont. “I came back to Beaumont and got involved immediately,” Rebekah said. “You get to meet all kinds of people in a variety of careers. Marketing, insurance, industry, even corrections are represented in our group.” Rebekah is a graduate of the Leadership Beaumont program through the Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce, a program whose mission statement, is to “identify, cultivate and develop leaders who will serve and positively impact their community.” After completing the program, Rebekah stepped up again to serve as a coordinator of this year’s Leadership Beaumont class. “You hear people complain that there’s ‘nothing to do,’ but you just have to look. It’s so much easier now with social media.” “Being involved keeps you around positive people, people who believe that young people can be a voice for change,” she said.
Caitlin Duerler When Caitlin Duerler left to study in Paris in 2014, she really didn’t plan to come back to live in Beaumont. The 24-year-old Beaumont native fell in love with
all things French after attending a ballet recital and hearing all the French terms related to the dance. “Then in high school, of course I was taught by dear Sister Emily,” she said, referring to Sister Emily Bordages, a nun who has taught French at Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School for more than 50 years. Caitlin decided to get a bachelor’s degree in French from Lamar University, and then a master’s in 2014. During that time she studied in Kent, England, and Paris, France. After returning from France, Caitlin got an internship in communications and marketing at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston. “I’ve always drawn and painted as a hobby, and I’ve always loved art,” she said. When the internship was over, Caitlin found a job in Beaumont as a full time French instructor at Lamar University and jumped back into life in Southeast Texas with both feet, despite the misgivings she had about her hometown a few years earlier. “After Paris, I thought I wanted to move away, but when I came back I realized that I wanted to give back,” Caitlin said. “Beaumont has a lot going on, but what you put into it is what you get out of it.”
People are open if you just put yourself out there.” Caitlin Duerler At Lamar, she gives her time to the French Circle and French Honor Society and organized the first National French Week activities on campus, an event that was so successful she is applying for a grant for next year. Elsewhere in the community, Caitlin has helped with the fundraising gala for the Julie Rogers Gift of Life cancer program and worked on La Soiree, the gala for Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas. She volunteers at the Art Studio Inc. and writes for its “Issue” publication. “I’m a real proponent of art in our area,” she said. “I really believe in helping local artists.” As if that weren’t enough, Caitlin found time to help with the recent Boomtown Film and Music Festival and worked on fundraising for KUUV radio. Keeping up with all those activities wouldn’t be possible without social media, Caitlin said. Her inspiration is simply to promote positive change in the community, she said. “People are open if you just put yourself out there,” she said.
Jacob Wills At 29, Jacob Wills has already made a name for
27 himself by becoming branch manager of the Vidor branch of Mobil Oil Federal Credit Union, one of the youngest branch managers in the company. And while it seems like finance is an unlikely career choice for a music and theater major at Lamar, Jacob says it suits him well. “I didn’t think I could handle being a starving artist,” he said. “I like things structured and with a little more security.” So even though he didn’t go for acting as a profession, Jacob hasn’t turned his back on the theater and music. “I got into other things instead of acting, but still part of it. I’m on the board of the Beaumont Community Players. And I’ve been a choir director,” Jacob said. He recently sang in a BCP concert production of "Jesus Christ Superstar." But as a gay man, Jacob feels its important to give his time to supporting the LGBT community. “LGBT activism is not always comfortable but it’s necessary,” he said. “It’s important that people talk about it.” Jacob got involved in Beaumont Pride, a nonprofit group that promotes education, participation and visibility of the area’s lesbian, gay and transgender community. The group had its first parade and festival in 2014, and last year added the Coming Out Ball. Jacob was chosen as a “debutante,” in a twist on the old social custom of introducing young women to society. Instead, the Pride debs are presented as role models and a resource for those in the gay community who may be struggling with coming out or facing discrimination. There is also a mentoring component to the program. “It was really an honor to be chosen,” Jacob said. “We had to pledge to be good citizens and professionals.” “The hope is,” he said,” that the debs will go on to become leaders of the LGBT community.” As a past debutant, Jacob will be a mentor to the deb class of 2016 in June. Jacob names his grandparents as a primary force behind his desire to give back. “I was raised by my grandparents, and I saw how much they had to give up to do that for me. So I want them to be proud of me. That’s what drives me to want to make a difference.” Beaumont has something for everyone, Jacob said, with a thriving arts, culture and music scene. “You have to be open minded, you have to plug into the things you like,” he said. “And since I’m a control freak, I don’t want other people dictating what my choices are (for activities).” Jacob said he has learned that you can’t just sit back and expect things to be given to you or expect things to change. “You have to work hard,” he said.
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I was raised by my grandparents, and I saw how much they had to give up to do that for me. So I want them to be proud of me. That’s what drives me to want to make a difference.” Jacob Wills
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Rotaract Club of Beaumont
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By Holli Petersen Essentially, all the world’s problems are hereditary. If left unsolved, they merely get passed on to the next generation of critical thinkers. This can be a frightening premise… unless you’ve met the next generation. Meet Rotaract. Rotaract is an international program for adults who want to make a difference in their communities. This organization serves as a bridge for “in-betweeners” too mature for Interact (ages 12–18) and not quite ready for Rotary. With more than 7,300 clubs across 150 countries, their contributions are significant. At monthly meetings, Rotaract members meet to exchange ideas about how to effect positive change in the community. Locally, Rotaract members have stayed busy fulfilling this noble mission. Maybe you’ve seen them: • Feeding the homeless at Some Other Place • Gardening at the Giving Field • Placing American flags at residences throughout the community to show patriotism and pride on flag holidays • Packaging hygiene kits for Harvest House to benefit youth removed from human sex trafficking conditions • Providing leadership training for 294 high school juniors • Ringing Salvation Army bells during the Holiday Red Kettle Campaign • Volunteering at the Gift of Life’s Color Run in support of local cancer initiatives • Building a fence around a garden for Nutrition and Services for Seniors “Our members get a chance to serve the needs of the community,” said Lionel Berry, president of the Rotaract Club of Beaumont. “It’s almost impossible to serve your community without developing a deeper love and attachment to it in the process.” In addition to providing service, Rotaract members build networks with other professionals across the region and worldwide, develop keen leadership skills and visit and support other Rotaract and Rotary Clubs across the world. “Rotaract clubs enable members to grow professionally, personally and address community needs,” Berry said. “Sooner or later, those who are currently leading our community will need someone to pass the baton of leadership to, and we want to be in position in regards to professionalism, character and integrity. We have fun, we make friends and we make a difference.” Anyone interested in applying to bbecome a member of the Rotaract ta Club of Beaumont may contact the club m tthrough Facebook ((Beaumont Rotarract) or by visiting a club meeting.
;SSb bVS <Sfb 5S\S`ObW]\ ( Lionel Berry Rotaract President Adult Probation Officer for Jefferson County
“Since joining the Beaumont Rotaract Club, I’ve met a lot of great people and built significant relationships. It’s definitely one of the best professional organizations for young adults in Southeast Texas!” Andrew McClusky Rotaract Vice President Greg Clark Rotaract Secretary Federal Probation Officer – Lake Charles, Louisiana
“I believe that I am serving next to some of Beaumont’s future leaders. This organization has been paramount to my growth and current success. My goal is still to be a catalyst for positive reformation in my community, and I believe that I will achieve that goal as I am surrounded by great people in the Beaumont Rotaract Club.” Miles Haynes Rotaract Membership Chair Marketer for Altus Health Systems
“My experience with Rotaract has been amazing. I have always had a heart for the community, and Rotaract gives me the opportunity to serve alongside other young professionals. I only want to give back what so many people have given to me.” Amy Dillow Rotaract Treasurer Marketing Coordinator for Lamar University Center for Career and Professional Development
“I joined Rotaract to become more involved in the community, and I’ve met amazing people since becoming a member.” Rebekah Maxwell Rotaract Immediate Past President Coordinator at Lamar University Reaud Honors College & Social Media Consultant at ReStep Marketing
“Rotaract has shaped my personal and professional aspirations. I have been involved with touching service projects all around the world and have been able to travel internationally because of Rotary as an Ambassadorial Scholar. It is amazing to see how Rotary can make a difference in a person’s life and to know that you have helped make that impact.”
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Yalanda Pollard Local Business Owner of Anointed Touch Salon “Since joining the Beaumont Rotaract Club, I’ve enjoyed the tons of professional and historical knowledge obtained at meetings and recently participated in my first service project!”
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Amber Clark Youth Case Supervisor with CASA of Southeast Texas, Inc.
“I joined Rotaract to be a part of an organization that I knew was bigger than the sum of all its individual parts. There is no better design for accomplishing worldwide benefits than what we find in our local Beaumont Rotaract Club, and I am proud to take part in what we do.”
“I enjoy more than anything giving back to the community. I believe that people matter most, and I strive every day to live in a way that exemplifies that.”
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Associate Director of Student Activities and Civic Engagement at Lamar University
“Growing up in a structured environment gave me the tenacity and the drive to achieve what I put my mind to. I joined Rotaract to make a positive impact in the community in which I live.”
“Mahatma Gandhi once stated, ‘The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.’ I believe that the Beaumont Rotaract Club is one that truly lives by this motto.”
Rachel Davis Accountant
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EVENT LISTINGS Buggin' Out- 2016 Juried Student Art Exhibition Apr. 1-May 28, 9am, Tues.-Sat. |$5-$6 Stark Museum of Art, Orange This special exhibition of juried student art work will accompany the STARK Cultural Venues presentations of David Rogers Big Bugs. Artwork depicts at least one insect or arachnid in its natural habitat. Texas State Fair Apr. 1, 11a.m; Apr. 2, 10a.m; Apr. 3, 12p.m. | $8 Ford Park, Beaumont | fordpark.com Enjoy rides and games in the carnival and see Exhibition Hall featuring new automobiles sponsored by Texas Ford Dealers, 100 upscale quality vendors selling collectables, home improvement items, cell phones, jewelry, purses and a giant boat show. Anayat House Gala Apr. 1, 7p.m. | $125-$5,000 Beaumont Event Centre | ayayathouse.org Super Friends Gala for Super Babies Honoring Christus St. Elizabeth NICU Maze featuring Frankie Beverly Apr. 1, 7p.m. | $35-$75 Beaumont Civic Center Complex, Beaumont discoverbeaumont.com The Odd Couple Apr. 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16 | $10-$18 The Betty Greenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Beaumont beaumontcommunityplayers.com Hilarious Neil Simon comedy where two
suddenly single pals- a sloppy sportswriter and a fastidious news writer- strain their friendship by turning roommates and unconsciously repeating the same mistakes they made in the marriages they just left. Le Grand Bal “Lamar Deco” Silent Auction & Dinner Dance Apr. 2, 6-8 p.m., Dishman Art Museum; 7-12a.m., Montagne Center, Lamar University | $150 to $10,000 | lamar.edu/arts The 41st Le Grand Bal theme is Lamar Deco celebrating the glamor and luxury of the Jazz Age and raising money for the College of Fine Arts & Communication. The black-tie event features an art exhibition, followed by a gourmet buffet, libations, music and dancing. Birds In Art Exhibition Mon.-Fri. 9a.m.-5p.m.; Sat. 10a.m.-5p.m.; Sun. noon-5 p.m. | Free Art Museum of Southeast Texas | amset.org This contemporary exhibition of 50 paintings and works on paper and 10 sculptures will include a variety of avian themes and habitats from a selection of international artists. Downtown Beaumont Junk Days Apr. 2, 7a.m. | Free BAW Resale and Interiors, Beaumont 2016 Shorkey Center Ducky Splash and Dash 5K Apr. 2, 7:50a.m. | $15-$25 Gulf Terrace Hike and Bike Trail, Beaumont
9th Annual Lamar Institute of Technology Foundation Shoot Out Apr. 2, 8 a.m. | $250-$9,999.99 1 in 100 Gun Club, Lumberton lit.edu/foundation/shootout Benefiting LIT scholarships Beaumont Farmer's Market Apr. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 8a.m. | Free Beaumont Athletic Complex, Beaumont beaumontfarmersmarket.org Saturday Adventure Series: Bird ID Apr. 2, 10a.m. | $5-$6 Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center starkculturalvenues.org/shangrilagardens Bring the whole family for a leisurely walk along some of the secret paths at Shangri La. Observe nesting birds on Ruby Lake from a unique perspective. Bring your binoculars! BUGS Exhibition Celebration Apr. 2, 10a.m. | $5-$6 Stark Museum of Art, Orange starkculturalvenues.org/starkmuseum Celebrate BUGS with bug artist, Greg LeWallen, who will bring his own incredible collection of insect specimens from around the world and participate in face painting, bug science games, scavenger hunts, bugthemed shadow art, insect optical art. Neches River Festival Downtown Parade Apr. 2, 10a.m. | Free M.L. King Prkwy ending at Riverfront Park nechesriverfestival.com CREATE! Workshop: Pest Project Apr. 2, 10:30a.m. & 3p.m. | $5-$6 Stark Museum of Art, Orange
starkculturalvenues.org/starkmuseum In celebration of our special exhibition, build your own bug sculptures out of recyclable materials! Ball Python Presentation Apr. 2, 11a.m. | $5 Clifton Steamboat Museum, Beaumont cliftonsteamboatmuseum.com Candy P. Sneaks will showcase her Ball Pythons, and teach about their originally, native habitat, size, diet and eggs. After the presentation meet, hold and take pictures with the snakes. Lawn Party Apr. 2, 11:30a.m. | Free Chambers House Museum, Beaumont chambershouse.org Come enjoy old-fashioned games including croquet, badminton and lawn bowling! The Traveling Murphys- a Houston based family band will be playing what they call Texas’ roots music a mix of Celtic, jug, bluegrass, old time country and folk music. Refreshments typical of the time period. Casual period attire appropriate. Beech Woods Hike Apr. 3, 1:30p.m. | Free Big Thicket Visitor Center, Kountze 409-951-6700 to register Facebook Strategy for Nonprofits Apr. 5, 12p.m. | $10-$20 Foundation for Southeast Texas, cfsetx.org Workshop on creating a Facebook strategy that is effective for nonprofits. Classic Movie Night Woodstock Apr. 5, 6p.m. | $5 Jefferson Theatre, Beaumont discoverbeaumont.com The Hot Sardines Apr. 6, 7:30p.m. | $15-$37 Lutcher Theater, Orange | Lutcher.org Bandleader Evan 'Bibs' Palazzo, lead singer 'Miz Elizabeth' Bougerol combine with the Sardine ensemble of powerhouse musicians, and their very own tap dancer, to play 'hot jazz' as it was in the era when live music was king. Romeo and Juliet Apr. 7-9, 7:30p.m.; Apr. 10, 2p.m. | $7-$15 Lamar Studio Theatre, Beaumont fineartscomm.lamar.edu/theatre-anddance/productions-and-events
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Brass Faculty Solo Recital Apr. 8, 7:30p.m. | Free Mary Morgan Moore Dept. of Music, Beaumont | lamar.edu/music Spring Plant Sale and Market Day Apr. 9, 9a.m. | Free Jack Brooks Regional Airport Hanger 4, Beaumont | txmg.org/jcmg/ Art in the Park Apr. 9, 9a.m. | Free Stark Park | 711 Green Avenue, Orange orangetexas.org Saturday Adventure Series: Cloaked and Camouflaged: Masters of Disguise Apr. 9, 10a.m. | $5-$6 Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center starkculturalvenues.org/shangrilagardens Insects and other creepy crawlies are on the menu for lots of wildlife. How do they ever survive? The entire family will experience a bug’s life as we try some of their survival secrets. Will you survive? Insect Sketch Apr. 9, 16 & 30, 12p.m. | $5-$6 Stark Museum of Art | 712 Green Ave., Orange starkculturalvenues.org/starkmuseum Brass Festival GALA Concert Apr. 9, 5p.m. | $20 Lamar's University Theatre, Beaumont lamar.edu/music Neches River Festival Queen’s Coronation Apr. 9, 7p.m. | $20 Julie Rogers Theater, Beaumont nechesriverfestival.com
Neches River Festival Queen’s Coronation Ball Apr. 9, following the coronation | $100-$150 Beaumont Civic Center Complex, Beaumont nechesriverfestival.com Quilts of the Gulf Apr. 9-Jun. 4. Mon.-Sat. 9a.m.-5p.m. | $3-$6 Museum of the Gulf Coast, Port Arthur museumofthegulfcoast.org Champagne & Ribs...The Party of the Year! Apr. 14, 5:30p.m. | $125-$5,000 Ford Park, Beaumont | giftoflifebmt.org One Night of Peace & Music benefiting the Gift of Life Program. Come get groovy. Into the Woods Apr. 14-16, 21-23, 7:37p.m. & 17 & 24, 2:37p.m. | $10-$40 Orange Community Players, Orange The Brothers Grimm hit the stage with an epic fairytale about wishes, family and the choices we make. The TONY Award-winning book and score are both enchanting and touching. Mauriceville Crawfish Festival 2016 Apr. 15, 5p.m.; Apr. 16, 10a.m., Apr. 17, 12p.m. | $4 U.S. 62 at Cohenour, Orange | crawfishfest.org
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4th Annual Mud Run 5K Apr. 16, 10a.m. | $15-$30 The Mud Farm, Sour Lake themudrun5K.com Saturday Adventure Series: Colors and Jewels Apr. 16, 10a.m. | $5-$6 Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center starkculturalvenues.org/shangrilagardens All around the world, insects are used to make dyes, jewelry, food, and more. Friends and family will enjoy this interactive program as we discover just how many products come from helpful insects. If you are feeling brave, we will have some insects to taste! SMA Playdate: B is For BUG Apr. 16, 10a.m. | $5-$6 Stark Museum of Art starkculturalvenues.org/starkmuseum "There's No Place Like Home" Motorcycle Fun Run Apr. 16, 10:30a.m. | $30-$40 Cowboy Harley-Davidson, Beaumont Helping foster children find their forever home, benefiting CASA of Southeast Texas casasetx.org
Canyonlands Hike Apr. 16, 9a.m. | Free Exxon Mini-Mart, Spurger 409-951-6700 to register
Slow Art Day Apr. 16, 11a.m. | $5-$6 Stark Museum of Art 712 Green Avenue, Orange starkculturalvenues.org/starkmuseum
Habitat DIY Upcycle Workshop Doors to Corner Shelves Apr. 16, 10a.m. | $50 Habitat for Humanity of Jefferson County 409-832-5853/409-790-1128
Second Annual Carnival Des Cajuns Apr. 16, 12p.m. | $10 Carl A. Parker Multipurpose Center, Port Arthur setxac.org
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Symphony of Southeast Texas Apr. 16, 6:30p.m. Julie Rogers Theatre, Beaumont | sost.org James Taylor Christus Gala Apr. 16, 7p.m. | $375 Beaumont Civic Center Complex, Beaumont christushealthfoundationsetx.org Paddle the Preserve Apr. 17, 10a.m. | Free Big Thicket National Preserve Visitor Center, Kountze | 409-951-6700 to reserve Evaluation and Outcomes Apr. 19, 12p.m. | $10-$20 Foundation for Southeast Texas | cfsetx.org Get an overview on how to evaluate the effectiveness of your programs. Garth House Designer Purse Bingo Apr. 21, 5:30p.m. | $40-$50 Holiday Inn Beaumont Plaza, Beaumont 20 games, 20 designer purses, food & fun! Gather your friends for this one of a kind event! Enjoy hors d'oeuvres and support area children. Heritage Happy Hour Apr. 21, 5:30p.m. | $10 Magnolia Cemetery, Beaumont beaumontheritage.org 4th Annual Beaumont Children’s Museum Share the Magic Apr. 21, 6:30p.m. | $100-$1000 BCM at the Beaumont Civic Center beaumontchildrensmuseum.org Be captivated by the illusion and magic of Kyle Ryan, charmed with delicious bites from Green Light Kitchen, enchanted at the silent auction filled with items for kids and parents alike.
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Black Bears Apr. 21, 6:30p.m. | Free Big Thicket Visitor Center, Kountze Learn about the history and ecology of black bears in east Texas..
7th Annual Harbor Foundation Butterfly Release Apr. 23, 11a.m. | Free Tyrrell Park, Beaumont harborfoundation.com
Poetry Renaissance Held Third Thursdays Apr. 21, 7p.m. | $5 The Art Studio, Inc., Beaumont | 409-363-3444
Up Close with Nature Apr. 23, 2p.m. Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center starkculturalvenues.org/shangrilagardens
Rock the Ranch Dance Apr. 22, 7p.m. | $50 Bauer Ranch, Winnie Featuring live music by Brad Brinkley & Comfort Zone. Complimentary wine and beer, delicious food items available by Pure Cajun. Proceeds benefiting the American Cancer Society. 409-924-0576 or setxcattlebaronsball.com Full Moon Night Hike Apr. 22, 8p.m. | Free Big Thicket Visitor Center, Kountze Celebrate Earth Day and learn about nocturnal wildlife on a full moon hike on the Sundew Trail. GTAS Field Trip: Sabine Woods Apr. 23, 7:30p.m. | $5 Sabine Woods Bird Sanctuary | 512-591-7616 Eco-Fest Apr. 23, 9a.m. | $2-$10 Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center starkculturalvenues.org/shangrilagardens Release a live butterfly in the afternoon. Discover earth friendly practices, products and services from our exhibitors. Enjoy the gardens in full bloom, view baby birds in their nests on Ruby Lake and relax during an Outpost Tour along Adams Bayou.
West End Wednesday Apr. 23, 6-8p.m. | Free La Vie Pur | 5905 Phelan Blvd, Beaumont Live music and announcement of winners of custom hand-painted coffee mug sets by Summer Lydick and Adam Cook. A portion of proceeds of all ART sales will benefit the Beaumont Children's Museum Rodney Carrington: Here Comes the Truth Tour Apr. 23, 7p.m. | $42.75-$177.75 Jefferson Theatre, Beaumont discoverbeaumont.com
Lutcher Kids’ Series: Moon Mouse A Space Odyssey Apr. 27, 9:30 & 11:30a.m. Lutcher Theater for the Performing Arts 707 Main Ave. Orange | lutcher.org Marvin the mouse wants to be popular. Constantly bullied and picked on by the "cool" rats, he is labeled as a loser and geek. To get away from the continuous badgering, he retreats into his science books and a world of fantasy. He longs to have adventures, to be the hero. Join Marvin on the space adventure of a lifetime; a trip to the surface of the moon on his homemade rocket, where he meets a strange cast of misfit creatures, learns of infinite peril and awesome beauty. Will Marvin make his dreams come true and bring him the glory and acceptance he craves? Port Neches Riverfest Apr. 27-May 1 Port Neches City Park | pnriverfest.com Gallagher’s “Jokes On You” Comedy Tour Apr. 28, 8p.m. | $30-$50 Jefferson Theatre, discoverbeaumont.com
2016 LobsterFest Golf Tournament Apr. 25, 8a.m. & 1:30p.m. Bayou Din Golf Club | bmtcoc.org More than 60 teams, give-aways and great food vendors.
LobsterFest 2016 Apr. 29, 6:30p.m. | $75 Beaumont Civic Center Complex, Beaumont bmtcoc.org Absolutely irresistible steak and lobster dinner, live music and silent auction.
Justice Is Served Apr. 26, 6p.m. | $75-$1,000 MCM Elegante' Hotel, Beaumont www.casasetx.org This year's event will be in memory of the Honorable Judge 'Lupe' Flores and the Honorable Judge John Paul Davis.
Stars of the Arc Celebrity Style Show & Dinner Apr. 29, 6:30p.m. Holiday Inn & Suites Beaumont Plaza arcofbmt.formstack.com/forms/styleshowticketsales The hottest fashion show in town! Our models, Arc members with intellectual and developmental disabilities, shine like stars on the
runway. This year we are honoring Brenda Sullivan and First Financial Bank for their contributions to the disability community in Southeast Texas. Self-Advocates Gentry Lovett and Nathaniel Burkett will be honored for their excellence in leadership and self-advocacy. Listen to Your Mother Apr. 29 & 30, 7p.m. | $15 The Betty Greenberg Center for Performing Arts, Beaumont listentoyourmothershow.com/southeasttexas The third annual Southeast Texas Listen to Your Mother show has selected local writers to share their personal stories featuring heartfelt, hilarious and inspirational live readings from talented writers from the area, all in celebration of motherhood: This year’s cast includes Chambers Stevens, Shelly Vitanza, Dorothy Sells Clover, Laurie Kolp, Larry Elliott, Haley Bruyn, Glenn Teeter, Gretchen Randall, Elizabeth Domino, Sheila Ware, Rebecca Albus, Kaye Moon Winters, and Lauren Hance. The stories shared cover the full scope of motherhood, from birth to loss. A portion of ticket proceeds will benefit Family Services of Southeast Texas. Dance Unleashed Concert Apr. 29-May 1, 7:30p.m. | $7-$15 University Theater at Lamar, 409. 880.2250 Saturday Adventure Series: The Bees Knees Apr. 30, 10a.m. | $5-$6 Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center starkculturalvenues.org/shangrilagardens Buzz over to Shangri La to explore the wonderful world of bees!
For more events, go to events.southeasttexas.com
SoutheastTexasEvents.com
SNEAK PEEK may 1 Turkey Creek Trail Hike, Big Thicket National Preserve Visitor Center Dance Unleashed Concert, University Theater at Lamar University 3 Golden Triangle Go Red Luncheon, Beaumont Country Club 5 Deliver the Difference Luncheon benefiting Nutrition and Services for Seniors, Event Centre The Luncheon will honor Willie Burford, Mayor Evelyn Lord and Edgar Sonny Perkins for all the ways they make a difference in our community! All proceeds will benefit the Meals on Wheels program at Nutrition & Services for Seniors which delivers over 354,000 meals a year to home bound seniors and disabled adults in Jefferson and Hardin counties. 6 American Red Cross of Southeast and Deep East Texas 29th Annual Hurricane Party, Beaumont Civic Center 68 Texas Crab Festival, Bolivar Texas 6, 7, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21 Rent, The Betty Greenberg Center for the Performing Arts The story of a group of impoverished friends struggling to survive and create in New York’s gritty Alphabet City in 1991 and follows these starving artists as they strive for success and acceptance, enduring the obstacles of poverty, illness, impending gentrification and the AIDS epidemic. 7 24th Annual Lions Eye Bank of Texas Golf Tournament, Sunset Grove Country Club Boys' Haven Crawfish, Food & Music Festival, Parkdale Mall St. Michael Mediterranean Festival, St. Michael Orthodox Church A fun-filled family event featuring authentic Greek and Middle Eastern food, pastries and entertainment. Beaumont Maypole Festival, Beaumont Botanical Gardens A Bugs Life Movie Night In The Garden, Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center See all of these events and more at
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10 The 19th Annual Torch Awards, Beaumont Civic Center 12 CHRISTUS LiveWell Women's Conference, Ford Park Treasure Auction, Art Museum of Southeast Texas The cocktail party and live auction features artists who are invited to create decorative works of art based on theme clocks, mirrors, frames etc. 14 Downtown Beaumont Junk Days, 600 Fannin Thrillseekers Run, Brentwood Entertainment Complex Boys Haven Car Show, Goodyear Auto Service Center 15 Paddle the Big Thicket Join park rangers for a guided canoe trip on the waters of the preserve. 20 Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas Foundation Cajun Classic Four Man Scram, Beaumont Country Club 21 National Kids to Parks Day, Big Thicket Visitor Center Spring Family Arts Day, Art Museum of Southeast Texas 27 Night Hike, Big Thicket Visitor Center Engage your senses and learn about nocturnal animals on this 1.7 mile walk. 28 Big Bugs Grand Finale, Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center Last chance to swarm with the David Rogers’ Big Bugs and flutter with the live butterflies. 2829 Texas Frog Fest, Crystal Beach
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ON THIS DATE April 14, 1828 The first dictionary of American-style English was published by Noah Webster as the American Dictionary of the English Language. April 22, 1864 “In God We Trust” was included on all newly minted U.S. coins by an Act of Congress. April 4, 1965 “The Sound of Music” was No. 1 at the box office. April 13, 1985 “We are the World” by USA for Africa was No. 1 on the Billboard Music Chart. April 3, 1995 Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor became the first woman to preside over the U.S. Supreme Court, sitting in for Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist who was out of town.
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A PARADE OF THE PAST Parade April 2 at 10 a.m. beginning at Calder Avenue & MLK Parkway, down Calder Avenue to Willow onto Laurel Avenue to Main Street and ending at Riverfront Park. Open to the Public. Beaumont Art League Exhibit March 31 - April 16 with Opening Reception, April 3, 2-4 p.m. Call for information: 409.833.4179 Milady Garden Reception April 3, 3 p.m. at the Garden Center at Tyrrell Park Call for more information: 409.347.2042 Bridge Tournament Throughout the month at the Beaumont Bridge Studio Call for more information: 409.924.0706 Coronation April 9 at 7 p.m. at the Julie Rogers Theater. The cost is $20 to attend. For tickets go to the Beaumont Civic Center Box Office.
The Neches River Festival Royalty from 1965, Queen Mary Lou Broussard and King Ewell Strong, wave to onlookers as they pass in front of the Julie Rogers Theater. The 68th Neches River Festival celebrating the resources of Southeast Texas, namely the Neches River and young people, includes many events in the month of April:
Coronation Ball April 9 immediately following the Coronation at the Beaumont Civic Center. Reservations required and cost $100 per person. Call for more information 409.835.2443 For more information about the Neches River Festival call the offices at 409.835.2443 or go online to nechesriverfestival.com.
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