CitySquare ribbon cutting program
In fundraising there is definitely something beautiful about the arts, children and education. They inspire and are ideal for promotional materials. What isn’t so pretty is the subject of the homeless. That is if you didn’t attend Thursday morning’s CitySquare’s 52,000-square-foot expansion. The crowd including Judge Clay Jenkins, Scott Collier, City Councilperson Carolyn Davis and County Commissioner John Wiley Price spilled out of the tent in the parking lot and was full of determination to help the poor in the community. As Carolyn put it, “When you see homeless individuals, don’t talk about them, give them a hand up.”
Carolyn Davis
It was an amazing occasion for a much needed expansion.
From the ribbon cutting, the next stop on the day’s agenda was attending a non-working lunch for friends/new friends and being seated next to Jennifer Karol. In addition to her husband Tom and their five children, she’s passionate about two subjects — art and the homeless.
While her experience as the 2013 Art Ball co-chair was gratifying and a learning experience in fundraising, it was the subject of Dallas’ homeless population that opened the floodgates. With eyes focused intensely, Jennifer passionately discussed the situation existing in Dallas.
Sounds like a depressing subject, but it wasn’t. Dallas is indeed showing leadership in handling the problem plaguing parts of Dallas. When asked if there was a turf war among the various agencies dealing with the problem, Jennifer professed au contraire. The area organizations exchange information and work together on a daily basis to help those in need.
The Karols have been involved especially with one certain organization that deals with 85% of Dallas County’s homeless population — The Bridge. According to Jennifer, the facility that opened in 2008 has become a model for other cities in dealing with their homeless population.
According to The Bridge’s Community Affairs Officer Sam Merten, “The Bridge has been a key component to the revitalization of downtown Dallas and is considered a model for homeless recovery by the State of Texas.”
Breakfast for The Bridge*
Next Friday (November 14) The Bridge’s fundraiser, “Breakfast for The Bridge” will take place at the Omni Hotel with keynote speaker Jennifer Ayers-Moore. Whoa! Another Jennifer? Who’s this one? She is the sister of “Nathaniel, a talented musician who developed schizophrenia while attending The Juilliard School and later became homeless on Skid Row in Los Angeles. His story became the subject of a book published in 2008 called ‘The Soloist’ and a movie released in 2009 bearing the same name and starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr.”
Like Jennifer Karol, Jennifer A-M is a champion of the arts and the homeless. She is founder/executive director of the National Anthony Ayers Foundation Georgia, “which supports arts programs at mental health and arts organization that serve the mentally ill.” Her long-term plan is to open similar programs around the nation.
Yes, yes. It is a breakfast starting at 7:30 a.m. and it does mean pulling yourself together earlier than you’d like. And there is that joining the traffic cha-cha to the Omni, but it’s so very worth it. Micki and Mayor Mike Rawlings are the honorary co-chairs. Perhaps that’s because their kiddos, Michelle and Gunnar are the event co-chairs.
Oh, and guess who will be presented the Bridge Builder Award, which “is given to people who have served as heroic champions in the advancement of homeless services in our community”? Yup! Jennifer and Tom Karol.
So, get your tickets, set your alarm and they’ll have plenty of coffee for your Friday early call.
* Graphic courtesy of The Bridge