Thank You for Celebrating the 15th Anniversary Callier Cares Luncheon
Together, We Raised $385,000 to Help Patients in Need
A Special Thank You to:
Honorary Chairmen: Beth and Chuck Thoele
Luncheon Chairmen: Megan and Justin Steinbach
Media Sponsor: My Sweet Charity
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Callier Cares Luncheon Raises Record Funds, Honors Supporters
The 15th annual Callier Cares Luncheon on April 27 brought together nearly 300 supporters, all united by a shared commitment to expand access to care for children and adults with speech, language and hearing disorders at The University of Texas at Dallas’ Callier Center for Communication Disorders. This year, more than $380,000 was raised for the Callier Care Fund.
Established in 2007 by the late Dr. Ken and Ruth Altshuler, the Callier Care Fund ensures that patients receive clinical care regardless of income or insurance coverage. Since its inception, the Callier Cares Luncheon has brought in more than $4 million for the fund, and 100% of gifts go directly to patient support.
“As we celebrate the 15‑year anniversary of this luncheon, we are honoring far more than its longevity. We are celebrating the committed community that has sustained it year after year,” said Angela Shoup BS’89, MS’92, PhD’94, the Ludwig A. Michael, MD Executive Director of the Callier Center. “This event raises critical funds, expands outreach and elevates awareness of the Callier Center’s mission, while building a strong foundation for what comes next. The continued generosity of our donors and partners demonstrates how sustained philanthropy strengthens access to care and helps shape lasting impact for individuals and families for years to come.”
Megan and Justin Steinbach chaired the 2026 luncheon, while Beth and Chuck Thoele served as honorary co-chairs. The Steinbachs were joined by their son Lucas, a current Callier patient, at the Dallas Country Club event.
“The center’s compassionate and skilled professionals have ensured that Lucas, and kids like him, can reach their full potential, no matter the hurdles they face. We are thankful for their commitment and the difference they make in so many lives.”
Megan Steinbach, a trustee for the Foundation for the Callier Center and Communication Disorders “Because of the incredible support Lucas has received from Callier, our family is inspired to raise awareness and critical funds to ensure that every child, regardless of their financial circumstances, can access these essential services,” said Megan Steinbach, a trustee for the Foundation for the Callier Center and Communication Disorders. “We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive, and it is our mission to help make that possible for families in need.”
Keynote Speakers
Keynote speakers Megan, Justin and Lucas Steinbach, along with Callier Center audiologist Dr. Lisa Richards, shared the Steinbach family’s journey of care and the role it played in shaping Lucas’ confidence and growth.
“For nine years, Callier has helped our family turn obstacles into opportunities,” Megan Steinbach said. “The center’s compassionate and skilled professionals have ensured that Lucas, and kids like him, can reach their full potential, no matter the hurdles they face. We are thankful for their commitment and the difference they make in so many lives.”
Also celebrated at the luncheon was Linus D. Wright, who received the Ruth and Ken Altshuler Callier Care Award for his lifelong dedication to education, early intervention and equitable access to services for children with special needs.
As superintendent of the Dallas Independent School District from 1978 to 1987, Wright partnered with the Callier Center to expand critical hearing and speech services for students that helped strengthen programs across the district. His commitment continued through 20 years as a trustee of the Foundation for the Callier Center. Over a 45‑year career in education, including two years as undersecretary of the U.S. Department of Education, Wright created one of Texas’ first special needs programs and advanced early childhood education at both the state and national levels.
The luncheon also celebrated emerging leadership with the presentation of the Young Philanthropist Award to Graycie Montfort. Born with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, Montfort began treatment at the Callier Center before her second birthday. Now a high school senior, she turned her gratitude into action beginning in fifth grade through her initiative Super Ears for Super Kids, a small business offering handcrafted headbands, bows, scrunchies and accessories. She donates half of her proceeds to help children access hearing aids and critical care.
“I hope that this award can be used to share my story and ultimately inspire others, no matter their age, to give back to organizations they are passionate about,” Montfort said.
Ruth and Ken Altshuler Callier Care Award
The Ruth and Ken Altshuler Callier Care Award is presented annually to an individual or group who has contributed significantly to the betterment of the community and to advancing the care of patients with communication disorders.
Mr. Linus D. Wright has been a dedicated champion of the Callier Center for decades, driven by his belief that children with hearing and communication challenges deserve exceptional, accessible care. As superintendent of Dallas Independent School District (DISD), he turned to Callier to support students who needed specialized hearing and speech services, building a partnership that strengthened programs across the district. His commitment to Callier’s mission continued through 20 years of active service on Callier’s Foundation Board, where he advocated for patient care, early intervention and sustainable support for families.
Extending far beyond his contributions at Callier, Mr. Wright devoted 45 years to education, pioneered one of Texas’ first special needs programs, advanced early childhood education statewide and served in a cabinet level role under the U.S. Secretary of Education. He has also been recognized as an Outstanding Educator in Texas and named one of the top superintendents in the nation.
Video and Photos
Linus D. Wright is Honored
2026 Ruth and Ken Altshuler Callier Care Award
Megan, Justin and Lucas Steinbach share Lucas’s Story
Parents of a Child with Hearing Loss
Friends Who Care About Callier
Thank You to Our Generous Sponsors
2026 Sponsors
PRESENTING | $50,000
- Rosemarie and Maynard Ewton
LOVE | $25,000+
- Beth and Chuck Thoele
15 YEARS OF COMPASSION | $15,000 – $20,000
- Bright Family Foundation/Paul Thibodeaux
- Anne and John McPherson
- Felicia and Gideon Powell
- Megan and Justin Steinbach
VALET | $15,000
- Lisa and Clay Cooley
PATRON PARTY | $10,000
- Mrs. Loyd W. Powell, Jr.
KINDNESS | $10,000
- Della and Bob Best
- Frost Bank
- Sam and Helga Feldman Foundation/Natalie and David Taylor
HOPE | $5,000
- Dave Ashworth and Janet Moll
- Kathy Bishop
- Susan and Jeff Brown
- Nancy Carter/Beth Layton
- Suzanne Caruso and Stephen Saldanha
- Children’s Health
- Robyn and Don Conlon
- Claire Emanuelson
- Tricia M. George
- Judy and Jim Gibbs in honor of Linus Wright and Beth and Chuck Thoele
- Patricia and Bill Hall
- Margaret and Lee Jackson
- Kennington Family in honor of Linus Wright
- Jo and BC Kinsey
- Laura and Robert Neely
- Dr. Angela G. Shoup and Mr. Brett Barron
- Southwestern Medical Foundation/UT Southwestern Medical Center
- Texas Health Resources
CONTRIBUTOR | $1,000 – $4,999
- Justin Banta
- Ted Barron
- Katie and Billy Bearden
- Gina Betts in honor of Lisa Cooley
- Ken Braxton, Jr. and Kip Poe
- Thomas F. Campbell and Christine Dollaghan
- Debor and Jay Cassen in honor of Rosemarie Ewton
- ChandlerSpeaks/Bryce Moen
- Clampitt Paper
- Lisa and Tom Connop
- Betsy and Bennett Cullum
- David and Susan Daniel
- Leslie and Bryan Diers in honor of Beth and Chuck Thoele
- Laura and Jason Downing
- Sarah and Jeff Durrant
- Pat Ellington
- Paddy and Barry Epstein
- Nancy and Joseph Foran in honor of Richard Neely and Robert Neely
- Susan and Michael Glassmoyer in honor of The Steinbach Family and Beth and Chuck Thoele
- Louise Griffeth in honor of Megan and Justin Steinbach and Beth and Chuck Thoele
- Julie and Jimmy Grisham
- J.M. Haggar, Jr. Family Foundation
- Judi and Ray Hamby
- Lisa Hembry
- Kim and Greg Hext
- Caroline L. Hunt
- Libby Hunt in honor of Mike McCullough
- Carole Jordan
- Kline Family Foundation/Caren and Pete Kline
- Joyce and Larry Lacerte in honor of Beth and Chuck Thoele
- Sarah Losinger
- Fran and JC Maddox
- Sara and David Martineau
- Shirley McIntyre
- Lincoln Neely
- Debbie and Nickey Oates
- Mary Martha Pickens
- Drs. Carol and Dan Podolsky
- Pamela and Scott Purcel
- Ross Roeser
- Jill Rowlett
- Brooke and Aaron Shelby
- Linda Kay Sim
- Barbara and Robert P. Sypult in honor of Anne McPherson
- Phoebe and Travis Todd
- Stacey and Reid Walker
- Marnie and Kern Wildenthal
- Emilynn Berry Wilson
CONTRIBUTOR | $500 – $999
- Brooke Bailey
- Katy Bock
- Cathy Camalier in honor of Rosemarie Ewton
- Sandi Chapman
- Andrea Cheek
- Amy Cushner
- Marie Dean
- Susan Farris in honor of Beth and Chuck Thoele
- Marianne and Robert Fazen
- Cindy Feld in honor of Natalie Taylor
- Tanya Foster in honor of Lisa Cooley
- Sara Fredericks
- Nancy Gopez
- Marsha Gordon
- Vaughn Gross in honor of Rosemarie and Maynard Ewton
- Catherine Jaynes
- Cheryl and Richard Joyner in honor of Beth and Chuck Thoele
- Angie Kadesky in honor of Anne McPherson
- Mr. and Mrs. J. Luther King, Jr.
- Melinda Knowles
- Dianne LaRoe in honor of Beth Thoele
- Dr. Mark and Anita Lester
- Paige Locke
- Sharon and Mike McCullough in honor of Sara and David Martineau
- JoAnne and Eddy Moore
- Kathleen and Richard Neely
- Sherry O’Hara in honor of Rosemarie and Maynard Ewton
- Cappy Payne
- Dr. Joyce Pickering in memory of Dr. Robert Pickering
- Kim Quinn in honor of Beth Thoele
- Holly and Chris Rio
- Megan Rose
- Christa Sanford
- Linda and Les Secrest/Leslie H. Secrest, M.D., P.A. in honor of Beth Layton and Nancy Carter
- Elcid Tajon
- Dee and Trey Velvin
- Benedict Voit
- Caroline Snell Wagner
- Dr. Gary and Wanda Webb
- Katherine Weeks
- Candace Winslow in honor of Anne McPherson
- Linus D. Wright
CONTRIBUTOR | UP TO $499
- Ashley Allen
- Lisa Berndt
- Barbara Boettigheimer
- Leslie Cardenas
- Katherine and Key Coker in honor of Beth Thoele
- Stefanie and Aaron Conley
- Annette Corman
- Julie Crowley in honor of Beth and Chuck Thoele
- Elizabeth Dacus
- Fredye Factor in honor of Beth and Chuck Thoele
- Susan G. Fleming
- Jennifer and Zac Fowler
- Cathi and Ron Gramling
- Nancy Greenbach in honor of Natalie Taylor
- Electra Harelson in honor of Megan Steinbach
- Jeff Laceky
- Patty and Mark Leyendecker in honor of Joyce Lacerte, Beth and Chuck Thoele, and Lucas, Megan and Justin Steinbach
- Lisa Longino
- Cynthia R. Mitchell in honor of Nancy Carter
- Melanie Myers/Kuhr Murphy Philanthropic Fund in honor of Lisa Connop
- Marla Nunally
- Elyse Panitz
- Shanon and Michael Patrick in honor of Linus Wright and Beth and Chuck Thoele
- Victoria Ramsey
- Deborah R. Raynor
- Nicholas Salvi
- Anne Seanor in honor of Natalie Taylor
- Carol Seay
- Chad Tidwell
- Kathy and Neill Touchstone
- Lena Uhing
- Lauryn Gayle White in honor of Natalie Taylor
In addition to the generous donors listed above, we are deeply appreciative for the support of those contributors who wish to remain anonymous.
Thank You to Our Wonderful Host Committee
2026 Host Committee
- Ashley Allen
- Brooke Bailey
- Lindsay Ballotta
- Anne Besser
- Gina and Ken Betts
- Kathy Bishop
- Ken Braxton
- Jeff and Susan Brown
- Pam Busbee
- Thomas Campbell
- Christie Carter
- Nancy Carter
- Suzanne Caruso and Stephen Saldanha
- Debor and Jay Cassen
- Andrea Cheek
- Don Clampitt
- Katherine and Key Coker
- Stefanie and Aaron Conley
- Marybeth Conlon
- Robyn Conlon
- Thomas Connop and Lisa Connop
- Lisa and Clay Cooley
- Marie Dean
- Leslie Diers
- Tiffany and Paul Divis
- Jennifer Dix
- Chris Dollaghan
- Laura and Jason Downing
- Christina and Chris Durovich
- Sarah and Jeff Durrant
- Ann and Bob Dyer
- Paddy and Barry Epstein
- Christina Eubanks
- Rosemarie and Maynard Ewton
- Susan Farris
- Patti Flowers and Tom Swiley
- Sara Fredericks
- Clement George
- Tricia and Kenn George
- Susan and Michael Glassmoyer
- Nancy Gopez
- Louise Griffeth
- Sandy Hale
- Lisa Hembry
- Kim and Greg Hext
- Isabell and Trey Higginbotham
- Libby and David Hunt
- Lee and Margaret Jackson
- Dr. Robin B. Jarrett and Mr. J Wesley Norred
- Catherine Jaynes
- Linda and Jim Jenkins
- Carrie Johnson
- Carole Jordan
- Cheryl and Richard Joyner
- Angie Kadesky
- Chris and Clark Kennington
- Kline Family Foundation/Caren and Pete Kline
- Melinda Knowles
- Joyce and Larry Lacerte
- Dianne B. LaRoe
- Beth Layton
- Patty and Mark Leyendecker
- Paige and Chuck Locke
- Lisa Longino
- Sarah Losinger
- Fran and JC Maddox
- Lynn McBee
- Sharon and Mike McCullough
- Anne and John McPherson
- Kathleen and Richard Neely
- Laura and Robert Neely, Sr.
- Lincoln Neely
- Debbie and Nickey Oates
- Connie Blass O’Neill
- Pam Perella
- Drs. Carol and Dan Podolsky
- Felicia and Gideon Powell
- Mrs. Loyd W. Powell, Jr.
- Pamela and Scott Purcel
- Kim Quinn
- Ross Roeser
- Megan Rose
- Jill and Tracy Rowlett
- Carol Seay
- Linda and Les Secrest
- Brooke and Aaron Shelby
- Shelle Sills
- Megan and Justin Steinbach
- Natalie and David Taylor
- Paul Thibodeaux, Bright Wealth Management
- Beth and Chuck Thoele
- Karen Toliver
- Dee and Trey Velvin
- Benedict Voit
- Caroline Snell Wagner
- Stacey Walker
- Evy Kay and Dick Washburne
- Dr. Gary and Wanda Webb
- Debra Weinberger, MD
- Marnie and Kern Wildenthal
- Emilynn Berry Wilson
- Candace Winslow
- Katherine Wyker
Thank you to our previous luncheon sponsors!
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