S PR IN G 2022
VOL.2 ISSU E 1
* THE GUEST TILE WALL
NORA S NEWS
Mission Statement Nora’s Home provides affordable lodging for organ transplant patients and their families in the comfort of a warm, home-like environment.
Knocking on Summer’s Door I hope this “salute to summer” finds our Nora’s Home family well! We are thrilled to have had a memorable spring thus far! Home occupancy has begun trending at pre-pandemic levels, meaning we are seeing our halls filled with masked smiles! We also celebrated our healthcare heroes at our record-breaking 2022 Gala. It was an incredible night! Throughout the next few weeks, we find ourselves fortunate to be embraced by eager volunteers who will be working hard to spruce up the home–both inside and outside. We encourage you to read on and hope you’ll consider coming to see us this summer! With the proper precautions (masks and distancing) we look forward to having you visit. Well wishes to all, (FROM LEFT TO RIGHT) CHRISTIANA LOOKE, CAROLE LOOKE, NATALIE LENCIONI AT THE GALA
Natalie Lencioni
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
HOME HAPPENINGS
HOME HAPPENINGS Donate Life Month Nora’s Home celebrated National Donate Life Month, which was established by Donate Life America, and celebrated during April each year. National Donate Life Month helps raise awareness about donation, encourages Americans to register as organ, eye and tissue donors and to honor those that have saved lives through the gift of donation.
Statistics 2013 – March 31, 2022
Nora’s Home hosted a Blue & Green Spirit Week for the guests with each day bringing a different activity, treat or speaker to the home. We thank all who helped to make the week a true celebration of life and thank members of the transplant community who help make the Gift of Life possible. Make sure to register to be an organ donor https://www.donatelifetexas.org/register/
1,467
Families Served
45,809
“We thank all who helped make the week a true celebration of life...”
Nights of Accommodation
11,308
Meals Served
as of January 2018
Nora’s Home recently celebrated
45,000 Nights of Accommodation!
2
Second Friday Celebration Weekly donations from Second Servings Houston has become a greatly anticipated staple for many of our guests. A variety of pantry and fresh goods from bananas and bread to steak, bacon, and beans has saved our guests hundreds of dollars in groceries. Their mission to alleviate hunger and reduce waste in Houston by delivering surplus food to charities like Nora’s Home has been very impactful on our guests where some are struggling to make ends meet due to the burden of medical bills and limited incomes. We are SO grateful for their donations as well as for their partnering up with Nora’s Home as our “Second Friday Celebration” sponsor! On the second Friday of each month, guests gather for a little party to celebrate a variety of milestones that month. Whether it’s birthdays, transplant anniversaries, receiving the call for an organ, or even getting to finally return home soon post-transplant, there’s always something worth celebrating and Second Servings provides the BEST treats for the party! The guests love to come together for this lively celebration that the staff also partake in, sharing their own celebrations too!
TOP: LIFEGIFT AMBASSADORS VISIT THE HOME BOTTOM: BOOK READING BY ABBY GRAY AND HER HUSBAND REID
Magnolia Open Golf Tournament Nora’s Home was grateful to be named a beneficiary of the Magnolia Charitable Foundation’s recent 1st Annual Magnolia Open Golf Tournament. Board member, Jerry “Babu” Patel, introduced the home to Jay Bhatka who began the foundation in honor of his late father, Bhulabhai Bhakta. Nora’s Home was present in Jackson, MS to join in a day of golf at Patrick Farms Golf Club and the gala dinner held later that evening where the gifts were presented. Funds raised through the event benefitted local Jackson charities such as, American Cancer Society, UMMC Children’s Hospital, Mississippi Food Network, Salvation Army, St. Jude and Nora’s Home. We thank you for the support! 3
STAFF SPOTLIGHT
FEATURE STORY
Marilda Daniels Operations Manager
Q: How did you first learn about Nora’s Home? What attracted you to our mission? A: I had just stepped out of the hotel industry as a General
Manager of a Candlewood Suites Hotel. Weeks later, after sheer boredom and idle threats from my husband, I began looking for a new opportunity. Something that revolved around hospitality but not necessarily in a hotel. When I saw the listing for Nora’s Home on the University of Houston Alumni site, I was drawn to the idea that this would be more than just a place to lay your head while you were in town on business or vacation like a regular hotel. There would be guests seeking comfort, safety and perhaps a smile and funny story while they sought treatment at the various transplant centers in the Texas Medical Center. Everything I ever thought about the field of hospitality has forever changed in a warm and wonderful way!
Q: What about your job do you look forward to most on a daily basis? A: I enjoy the camaraderie with the guests. It gives me
purpose and it keeps me going on crazy days. Most of all I enjoy watching the relationships that blossom between the guests. There are lifelong friends made in the dining rooms here that are unmatched. I am always asked about one guest or another by someone checkingin or calling to make a reservation and the concern is real. It warms my heart to see the guests look out for one another. Witnessing the genuine care and concern that they develop for each other keeps me going when tragedy strikes.
MARILDA (RIGHT) ENJOYING TIME WTIH GUESTS
Q: Do you have any favorite hobbies? A: Since the pandemic hit in 2020, I have had an interest in
making my patio, “Patio Chic!” I love all things related to my backyard. I enjoy nurturing my potted plants and decorating the patio. Earlier this year I planted some flower bulbs and in the early mornings I can be found staring into the dirt watching for flowers to start popping up.
Q: Do you like to cook? What is your favorite Houston restaurant? A: I love to bake because I love sweets! When dining out my favorite food is seafood, preferably Cajun seafood, but really any food that I don’t have to cook works for me!
Q: What is a fun fact about yourself?
A: I love to travel but I am deathly afraid of flying. I love the
sunshine, beaches and beautiful clear blue water, but I don’t care for sand. But a fun fact is that I am a “Yaya” to my grandkids. I spend a lot of time wishing I had started with grandparenting instead of actual parenting. It’s so much more fun!
Q: What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? A: Forgive and move on. Holding on to anger steals your joy and it requires entirely too much energy.
4
Nora’s Home 2022 Gala: Heroes Among Us Sets Record It was a record-breaking year for the Nora’s Home Gala–Heroes Among Us–chaired by our friends, Carole & Jim Looke and Lindsey & Steven Looke.
Heroes Among Us
The funds raised at this annual event support the Adopt-A-Family program which ensures no guest is ever turned away from staying at Nora’s Home due to an inability to pay.
EMCEE
Our very own hometown healthcare heroes were honored — Dr. Eric Boerwinkle & UTHealth School of Public Health, Dr. Marc Boom & Houston Methodist Hospital, and Dr. Paul Klotman & Baylor College of Medicine. They were given their own special superhero cape in honor of their team’s dedication to our city during the ongoing COVID pandemic. The bar was set high, and we were able to raise a record $1,850,000 from the support of our heroes in the ballroom! This is more than double raised in years past. The evening soared to new heights during our Raise A Paddle portion after one of our youngest guests spoke. 11-year-old, Julia and her mother, Vanessa gave our guest testimonial for the evening. Julia was born with Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease (ARPKD) which causes enlarged kidneys and liver fibrosis. Vanessa shared that they knew one day Julia would need a transplant and were fortunate to come to Texas Children’s Hospital and stay at Nora’s Home as she received the gift of a new life. It was truly an incredible evening with friends, entertainment, and words of gratitude! Nora’s Home is grateful for the generosity from all of our heroes in the room and beyond! Read more and view the gala video at, https://norashome.org/news/2022-gala
THEME
CHAIRS
Carole and Jim Looke & Lindsey and Steven Looke
Lisa Malosky HONOREES
Dr. Eric Boerwinkle & UTHealth School of Public Health Dr. Marc Boom & Houston Methodist Dr. Paul Klotman & Baylor College of Medicine E V E N T F E AT U R E S
Big Board Bubbles & Baubles Raffle Live Auction Paddles Up for Adopt-A-Family Program Dancing & Entertainment
5
OUR TRANSPLANT CENTERS
VOLUNTEER CORNER Students Lend a Hand Nora’s Home is grateful for the continued support and relationship with Baylor College of Medicine. For the last few years, we have welcomed students to the home as part of their program. The students have been eager to learn about our mission, meet our guests and help around the home. Tasks have included helping to beautify the gardens, painting doors and walls, making Sunflower Sacks, preparing snacks and meals for our guests, and helping with database entry. While some of the students are still figuring out their next steps, a few have shared that they have an interest in transplant. It has been beautiful to see them talk with the guests and learn about their journey. We are honored to be able to offer this opportunity to the students and share this unique community with them. They guests often comment on how impressed they are with the students work ethic and what all they do for the home!
Sunflower Sacks Since the introduction of Sunflower Sacks to Nora’s Home, we have had many groups eager to take on this project. You’ll often see a full shelf of sacks in our front entry, but sometimes it is empty due to the popularity. Nora’s Home realized that many guests leave in the morning for their clinics and while away all day, they might miss a meal, the cafeteria hours or need a snack or a pick me up. We decided to introduce this initiative where groups can decorate a sack with words, pictures, and drawings to provide a bright light in their day and stuff them with healthy snacks. We have been ecstatic to welcome bags from school groups, families, businesses, and our very own hospital partners! We have had nurses, IT departments, and administrative staff take part in putting together these sacks. We recently had donations from Houston Methodist and Memorial Hermann. They have each shared that it is special for them to be a part of this effort and serve our guests, their patients, outside of the hospital.
6
Words from a BCM Student Volunteer I really enjoyed meeting the transplant patients and families at Nora’s Home. I will remember the words of one of the patients, speaking about his donor -- “He will always be alive in me.” It really touched me to see how grateful people are to receive an organ donation. The patients and their families are so fortunate to have such a lovely home away from home. Thank you so much for the opportunity to volunteer at Nora’s Home!
CLAUDIA TISCHLER
7
VOLUNTEER CORNER Calling All Chefs! Kick off your summer as a Chef of the Day! Your volunteer efforts could help our guests relax after a long day at clinic by providing something scrumptious to come home to! Check out our calendar for a day you could come by and cook or drop something off for our guests to enjoy. You can visit, https://norashome.org/volunteer for more information. Need some creative inspiration? Check out these culinary holidays: J UN E 3 National Donut Day
JULY 4 Independence Day Picnic
J UN E 11 Corn on the Cob Day
JULY 9 National Sugar Cookie Day
J UN E 21 National Peaches and Cream Day
JULY 11 National Blueberry Muffin Day
J UN E 25 National Strawberry Parfait Day
JULY 20 Fortune Cookie Day
J UN E 30 National Ice Cream Soda Day
JULY 28 National Hamburger Day
Treats, snacks, meals, or something fun for a culinary holiday twist— all are welcome and appreciated!
NORA’S GIFT FOUNDATION
BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2022
* COVER THE GUEST TILE WALL Guests are encouraged to decorate a tile to tell about their transplant journey while at the home. The tiles are hung beautifully on our walls and tell the many transplant stories with words, pictures and gratitude to their donor.
8
DIRECTORS
OFFICERS
Imad F. Abdullah Cathy Cooney M. Waleed Gaber, Ph.D. Matthew Girotto Mark Hobeika, M.D. Kayla Lehmann Gabriel Loor, M.D. Arshad Matin Jerry Patel Nancy Patel Timothy Schroeder R. Patrick Wood, M.D.
A. Osama Gaber, M.D.
CH AIRMAN, FOUNDING DIRECTOR
Lillian Gaber, M.D.
FOUNDING DIRECTOR
John Zerr
TREASURER
Michael Rose SECRE TARY
9
Nora’s Home 8300 El Rio Street Houston, TX 77054
832.831.3720 www.norashome.org