Look closely. Look carefully.
Look closely. Look carefully.
Can you see who’s behind every Brighton kid?
Can you actually see, touch, and hear excellence, innovation, compassion, dedication, and commitment?
We all know that these things are oh-so-real. But let’s face it: they’re pretty much invisible.
We want to change that. Right here. Right now.
We’re going to tell you about our Brighton staffers, who have worked to help more than 4,000 Brighton kids in 2024.
Some of them are in careers you’ve heard of. Others do jobs you may not have even known existed. And every single one of them comes to work at Brighton to do the hardest, most challenging, utterly demanding job they’ll ever truly love. All because of our Brighton kids.
Now, that’s about
as real as it gets.
Message from the CEO
Let’s face it: we all live in a world that is moving so fast and furious that we often miss things. We miss text messages, emails, appointments, opportunities to meet with friends, moments to connect. We move at a lightning speed to get more done, to knock down that ever-growing task list. Our lives are busy. And if we are honest, we may just end the day not knowing if we ever really SAW others, HEARD others... or even asking, did anyone really SEE or HEAR me?
In 2024, YOU slowed down long enough to make sure that our Brighton kids were heard. You invested in our work in such a way that would help them get seen. Because of you and your support, you helped make the 4,000+ children we served and their families visible, relevant, important. Because our donors and our community support them, our staff has allowed me to continue SEEING the true possibilities for what is ahead for Brighton.
As we look to 2025, our focus will be the same:
1 That every kid with a delay or disability in San Antonio has every opportunity they deserve. If there is an unmet need in our community that aligns with our mission, our team will work to understand how we can meet it.
2 That our Brighton staff are seen, heard, and valued by our community. Our team at Brighton is the ONLY way we fulfill our mission. Without them, nothing can get accomplished. I want our team to be well-compensated, have a wellbalanced life, and most importantly, KNOW
that they are making an incredible impact and are appreciated for it. We have some of the best humans in the world working at Brighton. They deserve all these things.
3 That we continue partnering with people like YOU to make all of the above happen.
Thank you for LOOKING CAREFULLY at the pediatric therapy services we provide. Thank you for LOOKING CLOSELY at the early childhood education work that we do. Thank you for seeing the importance of special education support for our children. It is a privilege and an honor to have our work be valued by our community. And it is my personal commitment to ensure that every investment made into Brighton, whether it is through time, energy, or financial resources, is stewarded in such a way that makes our children VISIBLE to all
CEO, Brighton Center
Here’s the living proof that courage can be encouraged. And trying can become triumph.
The first 3.5 months of Charles’ life were spent in the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Charles’ mom and dad, Leslie and Chris Fink , remember not knowing what their newborn baby’s face looked like—it was so completely covered with medical wires and devices.
But happily, when Charles finally... finally... finally got to go home, he was met by the Brighton team, who were ready to show them how important it was to celebrate every little milestone that Charles achieved.
Vanessa Lambert, his Early Intervention Specialist, a true “baby whisperer.” She introduced Charles and his family to a whole world of early intervention practices and strategies. They all could be done right at home— as part of their everyday routine. They even included Baby Yoga and Baby Massage! Vanessa showed Chris and Leslie how the most ordinary things in their home—even balls and boxes—had the potential to help Charles. The years passed, and Vanessa continued working with the Fink family. Then, when it was time, she helped Charles transition into Brighton’s preschool. That’s where he received Occupational, Physical, and Speech Therapy during the day, in an inclusive educational setting, while Chris and Leslie were at work.
Another member of Charles’ Brighton team, Emily Hernandez, a Speech Language Pathologist, is who the Fink family credits with helping Charles to express himself and communicate with others. Given that Charles had been nonverbal for most of his young life, the family wasn’t sure it would ever be possible. But Emily introduced a special device that works with the movement of Charles’ eyes—and enabled him to find his “voice.” Because of it, he got to speak for the first time ever!
The first words he said? He looked around and said, “Where’s Mom?” You can only begin to imagine how much that meant to his family!
and his family:
Charles
Emmett, Leslie, Chris, and Michaela.
Take a real – and realistic –look.
Yes, this list may look long, but guess what? It’s still not complete! These are just a few of the educational and healthcare services from our 200+ Brighton team members. You may see the welcoming smiles of some of them when you first walk in the door. But there are many, many more who are changing little lives for the better behind the scenes!
Early Childhood Intervention (ECI):
• Director
• Assistant Director
• Team Leads
• Early Intervention Specialists
Pediatric Therapy Clinic (PTC):
• Inclusion and Clinic Director
• Occupational Therapists
• Physical Therapists
• Speech Language Pathologists
• Bilingual Speech Language Pathologists
Special Education Support Services (SESS):
• Director
• Special Education Consultants and Trainers
• Advocates
Brighton Preschool:
• Director
• Lead Certified Teachers
• Assistant Teachers
• Preschool Inclusion Team
Administrative Support:
• Records Clerks
• Records Specialists
• Billing Specialists
• Medical Information
• Community & Social Service
• Development Coordinators
In addition to gifted therapists, early intervention specialists, and educators, there are others at Brighton who help kids and their families, too. An excellent example? An Admin team that truly cares—and knows how to care! When it became difficult for the Finks to afford all of Charles’ therapies, Brighton’s Finance team became their advocates in dealing with the insurance company. The result? They got the additional assistance they needed!
Today, Charles is a recent graduate of all of Brighton’ programs— and he’s attending his local public school. He continues to be a true Brighton kid: he still has an upbeat, joyous, independent spirit. He still tries to do things all by himself. And that’s exactly, precisely, what each and every one of us at Brighton work for—and want for him. With all our hearts. You may not be able to SEE those things. But we sure do hope that you can FEEL the real!
So, in the end, this is what it all comes down to:
It’s clear, obvious, and undeniable that the love, caring, and respect go both ways when it comes to this family and their Brighton team. You may not be able to actually SEE those things. But you sure can FEEL the real!
brother,Charles’bigEmmett, ishisbiggestfan.He saysthatheissoproud ofhowCharlesnever thingsgivesup,evenwhenarereallyhardforhimtodo.
Scan to see Charles’ Video
Scan for more photos from the Best Night Ever
rsChrisandStephanieWilde
and CEO Katrina Campbell
In 2024, Brighton’s Best Night Ever gala lived up to—and went way, way, way beyond expectations! Here’s how, what, why (and especially who) made that happen.
It was clear that everybody had a beyond-great time at the gala. But we wish you could have seen all of us at Brighton when we learned the results of that evening! When everything was tallied up, we were stunned with joy, gratitude, and a rush of other very real, heartfelt emotions. We had little lumps in our throats and tears in our eyes. We saw the actual, undeniable proof of how much—and how many— people care about and love Brighton kids.
In just that one single, never-to-be forgotten night, $715,000 was raised!
That set a whole new record!
How and why did this happen? Who do we especially thank with full-to-overflowing hearts?
There were a lot of hard-working, wonderful people on the gala committee who helped. But two significant names stood out: Our co-chairs, Chris and Stephanie Wilde. Their relationship with the gala goes way back. Stephanie has an additional tie to Brighton because she is a Speech Language Pathologist, so she has a special understanding of how a Pediatric Therapy team can change the trajectory of a child’s life for the better.
Chris and Stephanie have this message for all those who are reading this right now: Children are born to be successful, adventurous, courageous, and loved. We want this for all children. It’s what motivates us to help Brighton. In a world where everyone tells parents of a child with a disability that “your child will never” or “your child can’t,” the team at Brighton says, “Ooooohhh! We can’t wait to show you what your child can do!”
Thanks to the efforts of generous, caring people like Chris and Stephanie, we can keep doing more and more of this. Our hearts are filled all the way to the top and overflowing with gratitude!
Here’s where we make the unseen SEEN!
If you need to see it before you believe it, these are the facts, figures, statistics, and triumphs of our Brighton kids and the staffers who are behind them.
4,132
children with disabilities and delays were served
Recognized as a “Best Place to Work:
To explore our detailed facts and figures, simply scan the QR code. It will direct you to the Financial page on our website.
Provided nationally accredited curriculum in an inclusive setting for 135 children, with an estimated 297,675 hours of inclusive education.
100% of children made progress in their developmental and educational skills by the end of the year.
96% of children who graduated the Brighton’s Preschool program had the skills necessary for Kindergarten.
NAEYC reaccreditation at the Lullwood campus.
Bigger. Better. Brighton!
• NEW PROPERTY ACQUISITION: Secured funding for a 1.4-acre lot next to our Higgins Campus. Thank you, Harvey E. Najim!
• PLAYGROUND RENOVATION: Funded the Higgins Campus playground renovation to improve accessibility and inclusivity. Thank you, John R. and Greli N. Less Charitable Trust!!
• BOARD ENGAGEMENT:
Provided significant support through contributions and networking efforts.
Served 3,683 children through home-based, site-based (childcare centers).
99% of children enrolled in this program made progress in at least one of the three global child outcomes, within six months.
80,658 service hours/encounters delivered.
New Property
Provided on-site therapy for 147 children.
98% of children made progress in one area of development after six months of enrollment.
Fully integrated Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Speech-Language Pathologists, and Inclusion Specialists into Preschool classrooms.
Speech hours delivered: 3,884 Motor hours delivered: 1,022
Provided 540 hours of total services to parents with children in special education (167 unduplicated).
100% increased their knowledge of advocating for their child.
100% of families who received one-on-one advocacy services indicated that more resources and services were obtained.
Total Admission Review and Dismissal (ARD) hours: 368 hours
Military families and Brighton joining forces: What courage and caring are all about.
When a young child with a disability is part of a family with member(s) in the Armed Forces, they can choose a Compassionate Re-Assignment to San Antonio, so that their child can be a Brighton kid.
• Nearly 30% of the kids in our Inclusive Preschools are military families. Our model is structured so that military parents do not have to leave work or sacrifice a therapy session for their child.
• Brighton has initiated a partnership with JBSA to support their Child Development Centers. We provide a team of therapists and intervention specialists dedicated to these centers.
2024 Board
Mark Biegler
Board Chair ABIP
Jeremy Bergeron
Vice Chair
Valero Energy
Blake Stribling
Immediate Past President
Chasnoff | Stribling, LLP
Neena Singh
Secretary Sunoco
Tammy Freiling
Treasurer
Kairoi Residential
Katrina Campbell
CEO
AT LARGE MEMBERS
Brad Flume
Hawkes Outdoors
Molly Kingore Johnson
Community Volunteer
Kelly Leddy
University Health Systems
Lynette Padalecki
H-E-B
Danielle Reyes
Goodwin Proctor, LLP
Mark Salinas
Zachry Group
Jason Smith
SpawGlass
LeAnn Trejo
Capital Group
Donna Vaughan
Community Volunteer
If you know any of these extra-generous people, please thank them!
Let them know their sharing, caring love is appreciated–and very visible.
CHAMPIONS
Harvey E. Najim
The Harvey E. Najim Charitable Foundation
John R. and Greli N. Less Charitable Trust
Kairoi Residential
Donna Vaughan
BELIEVERS
H-E-B Grocery
Moody Foundation
Valero Energy Foundation
Stephanie & Chris Wilde
San Antonio Area Foundation
Louis H. and Mary Patricia Stumberg Foundation
Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Fund
Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation
Carla & John Brozovich
Silver Eagle Beverages
Greehey Family Foundation
Community First Health Plans
Marianne & Marrs Bowman
Hill Country Rover Rally
HB Family Foundation
Gloria Steves
Sarah & Aaron McKee and Kari & Mark Lynd, Jr.
Reach Resilience
Triana & Brandon Grossman
M2 Technology, Inc.
Lauren & Mark Biegler
Lindsay & Greg Bolner
Impetus Foundation
Big State Electric Co.
NURTURERS
Believing for Bryleigh Foundation
CAPTRUST
Elizabeth Huth Coates Foundation
The Capital Group Companies
Whataburger
Warm Springs Foundation
The Anderson Charitable Foundation
Theresa & Mark Anderson FORVIS
Dwight Munk
Texas Cavaliers Charitable Foundation
Bolner’s Fiesta Products, Inc.
Mike Ciskowski
The Mirza Trust
Faye L. & William L. Cowden Charitable Foundation
Security Service Federal Credit Union
Methodist Healthcare System
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Fiesta San Antonio Commission, Inc.
Professional Contract Services, Inc.
Brandon Hild
Weis Builders
Kimberly & Jeremy Bergeron
Katrina & Brian Campbell
Spawglass Contractors
Carrie & Nick Lopez
Republic National Distributing Company, LLC
Traci & Jason Miller
ABIP
Carlos Manrique De Lara, MD, PA
8020 Foundation
ENCOURAGERS
LeAnn & Kris Trejo
Timeless Creations by Julie
Carisse & Michael Orsi
Stephanie & Dave Cook
Stephanie & Luis Romero
Theresa & John Brzezinski
Allen Reid
Satel’s
Mary & Steve Wilde
Elizabeth Wilde
Holt Cat
Miss Tristan Foundation
Contour Ridge
Ernst and Young, LLP
Escalera Capital
Carla & Mark Salinas
Christus Foundation
Neena & Mandeep Singh
Carolina & AJ Lewis
St. Luke’s Lutheran Health Ministries
Frost Bank
San Antonio Spurs Foundation
Ancira Auto Group
Cavender GMC
The Jack & Valerie Guenther Foundation
PenFed
First United Bank
Presidian Cares, Inc.
The Nordan Trust
Dawn & Bruce Walker
Leslie & Robert Henry
Joe Smith
Juniper Ventures of Texas, LLC
Meriel & Forrest Bowman
Sam Trevino
Michele & Cristobal Sierra
Holly & Ryan Grogan
Laura & Shannon Hrncir
Heather & Richard Linder
Lynette & Dwayne Padalecki
Rochelle & Manuel Rodriguez
Mauro Leija
UPS
Zachry Group
TRDI
Dana & Kevin Barber
Natalie & PJ Pfeiffer
Parnak & Farbod Malek
Melinda & Steve Winn
Amy & Daniel Zunker
Elizabeth & Scott McMillian
Stan Younger
Sara & Byron Pfeifer
SUPPORTERS
Erica & Marc LaHood
Theresa Rosenheim
Gary Hillier
Jordan Raice
Catharine & Jeff Vexler
Danielle & Jesse Reyes
Ben Householder
Joanna & Keith Perkins
Laurie & Robert Pariseau
Jesse and Susan Oppenheimer Foundation
Broadway National Bank
Frick Family Foundation
Military-Civilian Charitable Foundation
Valcor Commercial Real Estate
Hest Fitness Products
Stacy & Dave Schlagel
Caresse & Darryl Lyons
Amy Shelton McNutt Charitable Trust
Jessica & Josh Odom
LKCM South Texas Partners, LLC
Zachry Davis
Marise & David Cody
Leslie & Chris Fink
Anjilynn Antonelli
Grubbs Infiniti
Amanda & Matt Breen
Cory Rutledge
Enterprise Mobility Foundation
Laura & Cy Goudge
The San Antonio Chapter of AGC
Erin & William Figueroa
Emilie & Christopher Petty
Rudy Ramirez
Federica Covey
Julie Weyandt
Michael Del Toro
Kelly Hedgpeth
Phillip Quintanilla
Mrs. Nancy Bean
April Ancira and Jason Thompson
Standard Insurance Company
Olive Irons
Mark Boston
Carroll Schubert
Laurie & Forrest Wilson
Abby Kurth
Natalie Karge
Janet Siefert
Fidel Collins
Joe Mertens
Dixie Starnes Wenger Foundation
Arnold & Irene Kocurek Family Foundation 1986 Trust
Kelly Wade Jewelers
BJ’s Restaurant Foundation
Home and Patio
Daryl Real
Elaine & Matt Baebler
Elizabeth & Madison Marceau
Carolyn Warren
Shackelford Family Charitable Fund
Lance Reinsmith
Suzanne & Jim Goudge
Gurvinder Singh
