2023 Callier Cares Luncheon

Posted on by Callier Center for Communication Disorders

Thank You for Celebrating the 12th Anniversary Callier Cares Luncheon

Together, We Raised More Than $300,000 to Help Patients in Need

Patrons Support Callier’s Mission in a Big Way

The Callier Center for Communication Disorders’ signature fundraising event, the Callier Cares Luncheon, took place on April 17 at the Dallas Country Club, where patrons showed up in a big way. Dr. Angela Shoup, BS’89, MS’92, PhD’94, Ludwig A. Michael, MD Executive Director of the Callier Center, shared, “To date, the Callier Cares Luncheon has raised nearly $2.6 million which has transformed the lives of countless children and adults with communication disorders. I am deeply grateful for the philanthropic leadership of our foundation trustees and the luncheon chairmen over the past 12 years.” The 2023 luncheon brought more than $300,000 to provide resources through the Callier Care Fund benefiting children and adults who otherwise could not afford clinical care to overcome speech, language and hearing disorders. Luncheon proceeds are part of the Callier Care Fund that was established by Ruth and Ken Altshuler to ensure that children and adults can access clinical care regardless of their income level or insurance coverage. All gifts to the Callier Center count toward the Callier Family Care Campaign’s $15 million goal.

A Special Thank You To:

The Callier Center’s 2023 luncheon leadership’s commitment was inspiring. Honorary Chairmen Rosemarie and Maynard Ewton, Jr., MD, and luncheon Chairman Kim Hext’s influences brought in a full house for lunch, fellowship and fundraising. The newly renovated ballroom at the Dallas Country Club hosted nearly 300 guests, all eager to hear about Callier’s leading-edge treatment and therapy. The guest list included grateful patients and their families and friends, Dallas philanthropists, Crystal Charity Ball members, patrons from the medical community, faculty and staff from the University of Texas at Dallas as well as the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and the Callier Center. Kim Hext, luncheon Chairman, explained, “One of the greatest experiences of chairing the Callier Cares Luncheon has been learning about the many services the Callier Center for Communication Disorders offers both children and adults. Callier is truly a gem in our city.”

Honorary Chairmen: Mrs. Rosemarie and Dr. Maynard Ewton, Jr.

Luncheon Chairman: Mrs. Kim Hext

From left: Dr. Angela Shoup, Emilynn Wilson, Connie O’Neill, Kim Hext, Angie Kadesky

Callier Care Award

To honor Ruth and Ken’s legacy, the Callier Center and the Foundation for the Callier Center board of trustees created the Ruth and Ken Altshuler Callier Care Award. The award is given each year to an individual or group who has contributed significantly to the betterment of our community and to advancing the care of patients with communication disorders.

The Moody Foundation is Honored: 2023 Ruth and Ken Altshuler Callier Care Award

From left: Lynne Fitzhugh, Jamie Williams, Dr. Richard C. Benson, Beth Thoele

Keynote Speakers

The lunch was highlighted with a message about patient care from keynote speakers Kristina and Valmichael Leos. The Leos family shared their son Joseph’s Callier journey. Valmichael remarked that, “The growth we saw and continue to see in Joseph is life- changing for him and us. Joseph went from not speaking to truly communicating. Not only communicating with us, but with his sister, peers and other adults, as well. He has friends now. He can play with his sister. He communicates his needs. From the beginning, Callier has exceeded our expectations. Callier’s programs have changed Joseph’s life. The unique services and programs were difference-makers for Joseph.”

Kristina and Valmichael Leos share Joseph’s Story:

From left: Kristina and Valmichael Leos with their son, Callier patient, Joseph Leos

2023 Callier Cares Luncheon: Autism Spectrum Disorder Programs

Friends of the Callier Center for Communication Disorders

Luncheon Photos

Press: JUST IN: 2023 Callier Cares Luncheon Leadership, Award Recipient And Plans Announced | MySweetWishList: Callier Cares Luncheon | Callier Cares Luncheon Letter Signing Was Ideal To Catch Up And Have A “Rosie” Guest | Grovel Alert: 2023 Callier Cares Luncheon | A Wail At Callier Cares Lunch Brought Home The Importance Of Communication Disorders Research | Callier Cares Luncheon Inspires Support for Children, Families | MySweetCharity Photo Gallery Alert: 2024 Callier Cares Luncheon | Callier Cares Luncheon Patron Party Had A Picture-Perfect Setting To Hear About Hearing | Callier Cares Luncheon To Host A Lights-Out, After-Party For An Out-Of-This-World Event | 2024 Callier Cares Luncheon Leadership And Honorees Announced 

Thank You to Our Generous Donors

2023 Sponsors

Love: $25,000

  • Barbara and Mason Brown Family Foundation
  • Rosemarie and Maynard F. Ewton, Jr., M.D.
  • Chris and Clark Kennington
  • Anne and John McPherson

Compassion: $10,000

  • ChandlerSpeaks
  • Lisa and Clay Cooley
  • Kim and Greg Hext

Beth and Chuck Thoele

Kindness: $5,000

  • Della and Bob Best
  • Kathryne Bishop
  • Suzanne Caruso and Stephen Saldanha
  • Children’s Medical Center
  • Robyn and Don Conlon
  • Paddy and Barry Epstein
  • Gail Corder Fischer
  • Tricia and Kenn George
  • Margaret and Lee Jackson
  • Janet Moll and Dave Ashworth in honor of Dr. Maynard and Mrs. Rosemarie Ewton
  • Laura and Robert Neely/Rebecca and Lincoln Neely
  • Pam and Vin Perella in honor of Beth Thoele
  • The Family of Michal and Loyd Powell
  • Texas Health Resources Foundation

Hope: $3,000

  • Diane and Hal Brierley
  • Phillip and Holly Huffines
  • Libby and David Hunt
  • Locke Lord LLP
  • JoAnne and Eddy Moore
  • Kay Sim
  • UT Southwestern Medical Center/Southwestern Medical Foundation
  • Emilynn and Claude Wilson

Contributor: $1,000 to $2,999

  • Lydia and Bill Addy on behalf of The Addy Foundation 
  • Mohammed and Beth Anis in memory of Agnes Stipe
  • Gina and Ken Betts
  • Kenneth Braxton, Jr., J.D.
  • Mrs. David D. Bruton, Jr.
  • Debor and Jay Cassen
  • Lisa and Tom Connop
  • Betsy and Bennett Cullum
  • Patricia DeLeon
  • Dr. Christine Dollaghan and Dr. Thomas F. Campbell
  • Patty and Bob Duncan
  • Claire Emanuelson
  • Kerry and Michael Fagelman in memory of Hobson Wildenthal
  • Nancy and Joe Foran in honor of Richard Neely and Robert Neely
  • Judy and Jim Gibbs in honor of Beth Thoele
  • Lisa A. Hembry
  • Hudson Henley in honor of Chris and Clark Kennington
  • Caroline L. Hunt
  • Angie and Kevin Kadesky
  • Mr. and Mrs. J. Peter Kline – Kline Family Foundation
  • Sarah and Alan Losinger  
  • Sara and David Martineau
  • Methodist Health System Foundation
  • Kathleen and Richard Neely
  • Drs. Carol and Daniel Podolsky
  • Jill and Tracy Rowlett
  • Patricia and Steven Schiff
  • Dr. Angela G. Shoup and Brett Barron
  • Patty Sode in honor of Campbell Sode
  • Stacey Walker
  • Marilyn and Ben Weber, Jr.
  • Marnie and Kern Wildenthal

Contributor: $500 to $999

  • Anonymous
  • Zimo and Justin Banta
  • Nancy Carter in honor of Kim Hext
  • Stefanie and Aaron Conley
  • Leslie Diers in honor of Beth Thoele
  • Tiffany Divis
  • Laura and Jason Downing
  • Sarah and Jeffrey Durrant
  • Pat Ellington
  • Jenifer and Peter Flynn
  • Ola and Randall Fojtasek, II in honor of Tricia George, Kim Hext, Beth Thoele and Jennifer Fowler
  • Diane Frank
  • Louise and Guy Griffeth
  • Vaughn Gross in honor of Rosemarie and Maynard Ewton, Jr.
  • Dr. Jackson Harrell
  • Darci and Randall Iola
  • April and Tim Jordan
  • Teresa and Luther King/Luther King Capital Management
  • Tracey Kozmetsky in honor of Beth Thoele
  • Lynn and Allan McBee
  • Wendy and Butch McCaslin in honor of Sara Martineau
  • Pamela and Scott Purcel
  • Holly and Chris Rio
  • Debbie and Ric Scripps in honor of Beth Thoele
  • Dr. and Mrs. Leslie H. Secrest/Leslie H. Secrest M.D., P.A. in honor of Tricia George, Kim Hext, and Dr. and Mrs. Maynard Ewton, Jr.
  • Megan and Justin Steinbach
  • Candace and John Winslow
  • Joyce and Linus Wright

Contributor: Up to $499

  • Beth Arsenault
  • Delilah and Sam Boyd in honor of Emilynn Wilson
  • S. Amy Brady
  • Pam Busbee
  • Cathy Camalier
  • Taine and Bob Carrozza
  • Jesus Castillon
  • Marie D. Dean
  • Jennifer Dix in honor of Kim Hext
  • Laura Downing
  • Meredith Duncan
  • Christina Eason
  • Christina Elmore in honor of Kay Sim
  • Dr. Marianne Fazen
  • Bob Ferguson
  • Shannon Fisher
  • Susan Fleming in honor of Pagett Goslee
  • Patti Flowers and Tom Swiley
  • Elizabeth and Eric Gambrell
  • Nancy Gopez
  • Vaughn Gross
  • Patricia Hall
  • Randi and Ed Halsell, Jr. in honor of Pam Busbee
  • Bonnie Harding in honor of Emilynn Wilson
  • Kim Henley
  • Robin Jarrett and Wes Norred in memory of Richard B. Jarrett and in honor of Barbara Jarrett
  • Di Johnston in honor of Kim Hext and Beth Thoele
  • Cheryl and Richard Joyner in honor of Anne McPherson
  • Melinda Knowles
  • Dara LaForce
  • Kristina and Valmichael Leos
  • Judy Lewis
  • Patty and Mark Leyendecker in honor of Kim Hext and Beth Thoele
  • Pam McCallum
  • Robert and Mary Jo Milbank in honor of Bennett Cullum
  • Bryce Moen
  • Peggy Moore
  • Sherrian O’Hara
  • Connie O’Neill in honor of Kim Hext and Beth Thoele
  • Sharon and James Pope
  • Caleb Powell
  • Nancy J. Puckett in honor of Todd and John McPherson
  • Victoria Ramsey in honor of Rosemarie and Maynard Ewton, Jr.
  • Anne Reeder-Corley
  • Dr. Ross Roeser
  • Carol Seay
  • Shelle and Michael Sills in honor of Kim Hext
  • Kay Sim in honor of Stacey Walker
  • Sunie Solomon
  • Paul Thibodeaux
  • Vera Thornton in honor of Emilynn Wilson
  • Dee and Trey Velvin
  • Wanda and Gary Webb
  • Kristina and Phillip Whitcomb
  • Roberta Williamson

Thank You to Our Wonderful Host Committee

2023 Host Committee

  • Cynthia Beaird
  • Gina and Ken Betts
  • Kathy Bishop
  • Diane and Stuart Bumpas
  • Pam Busbee
  • Christie Carter
  • Nancy and Gene Carter
  • Mary K. Cobb
  • Katherine and Key Coker
  • Rose Ann Collier
  • Stefanie and Aaron Conley
  • Marybeth Conlon
  • Lisa and Tom Connop
  • Lisa and Clay Cooley
  • Betsy and Bennett Cullum
  • Marjorie and Fred Currey
  • Marie D. Dean
  • Leslie Diers
  • Tiffany Divis
  • Troy Dungan
  • Christina and Chris Durovich
  • Sarah and Jeffrey Durrant
  • Ann and Bob Dyer, Jr.
  • Rosemarie and Maynard Ewton, Jr.
  • Gail Corder Fischer
  • Patti Flowers and Tom Swiley
  • Ola and Randall Fojtasek, II
  • Diane Frank
  • Tricia and Kenn George
  • Susan and Michael Glassmoyer
  • Nancy Gopez
  • Leslie and Richard Greco
  • Randi and Ed Halsell, Jr.
  • Lynda and Jackson Harrell
  • Lisa A. Hembry
  • Elizabeth and David Hunt
  • Darci and Randall Iola
  • Margaret and Lee Jackson
  • Kenneth P. Jaffe
  • Robin Jarrett and Wes Norred
  • Gayle Johansen
  • Carrie A. Johnson
  • Di Johnston
  • April and Timothy Jordan
  • Angie and Kevin Kadesky
  • Debra L. Kaplan
  • Chris and Clark Kennington
  • Melinda Knowles
  • Joyce and Larry Lacerte
  • Beth and Mark Layton
  • Patty and Mark Leyendecker
  • Barbara Lipshy
  • Berkeley and William Litton
  • Sarah and Alan Losinger
  • Rhonda and Fraser Marcus
  • Lynn Markle
  • Sara and David Martineau
  • Lynn and Allan McBee
  • Sharon and Mike McCullough
  • Paul M. McCullough
  • Shirley and William McIntyre, IV
  • Anne and John McPherson
  • Tincy Miller
  • JoAnne and Eddy Moore
  • Pat Morgan-McEvoy and Charles McEvoy
  • Carmyn Neely
  • Kathleen and Richard Neely
  • Laura and Robert Neely, Sr.
  • Elsa B. Norwood
  • Connie O’Neill
  • Pamela and Vin Perella, Jr.
  • Joyce and Bob Pickering
  • Carol and Dan Podolsky
  • Pamela and Scott Purcel
  • Kimberly Quinn
  • Mindy and Lee Ritchie
  • Harry Robinson, Jr.
  • Jill and Tracy Rowlett
  • Patricia and Steven Schiff
  • Debbie and Ric Scripps
  • Carol Seay
  • Linda and Les Secrest
  • Nancy Shelton
  • Shelle and Michael Sills
  • Patty Sode
  • Sunie Solomon
  • Laurie Spitz
  • Barbara Stuart
  • Beth and Chuck Thoele
  • Karen and Courtney Toliver
  • Dee and Trey Velvin
  • Stacey Walker
  • Evy and Dick Washburne
  • Marilyn and Ben Weber, Jr.
  • Debra and Steve Weinberger
  • Kristina and Phillip Whitcomb
  • Marnie and Kern Wildenthal
  • Kerry and Michael Fagelman
  • Emilynn and Claude Wilson
  • Candace and John Winslow
  • Joyce and Linus Wright