{"id":1983,"date":"2019-03-15T23:08:38","date_gmt":"2019-03-15T23:08:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fueldev.site\/~callier\/about-callier\/creating-the-ability-to-connect\/creating-the-ability-to-connect-through-hope\/"},"modified":"2019-12-02T14:47:42","modified_gmt":"2019-12-02T20:47:42","slug":"creating-the-ability-to-connect-through-hope","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/calliercenter.utdallas.edu\/about-callier\/creating-the-ability-to-connect\/creating-the-ability-to-connect-through-hope\/","title":{"rendered":"Creating the Ability to Connect through Hope"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Stefanie and Aaron Conley <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Stefanie and Aaron Conley believe in the Callier Center and\nare invested in its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their planned gift of $150,000 will be used to establish the\nStefanie and Aaron Conley Opportunity\nFund for the Callier Center<\/em> as a permanent endowment. Aaron designated UT\nDallas as a secondary beneficiary of his Individual Retirement Account. The\nConleys structured their gift as a source of unrestricted funds to be used by\nthe Callier Center director to propel Callier\u2019s mission and leave a lasting\nimpact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCallier has proven its value to the community and to the\ncause of addressing communication disorders,\u201d Aaron said, \u201cand it can deliver\nbigger on that promise with greater private support. This was a way for us to\nmake a meaningful contribution that made sense at this point in our lives,\nknowing that it would benefit Callier in perpetuity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aaron is founding partner of Academic Advancement Partners,\na consulting firm that helps universities advance philanthropy. Stefanie is a\npharmacy clinical coordinator at UT Southwestern Simmons Comprehensive Cancer\nCenter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aaron\u2019s connection with Callier began on a professional\nlevel, when he served as UT Dallas\u2019 vice president for development and alumni\nrelations. The connection became personal when he was treated at Callier for\ntinnitus, or ringing in the ears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAfter being afflicted with something that I didn\u2019t understand\nand didn\u2019t know why it was impacting me, the care that I received at Callier\nmade me want to get more involved,\u201d Aaron said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, Aaron joined the Foundation for the Callier Center\nboard of trustees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t have kids,\u201d Aaron said. \u201cSo, when I see the impact\nthat Callier has on children, I think, \u2018What a great calling, what a great\ncause to be associated with.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019s nothing more important than the ability to\ncommunicate,\u201d he said. \u201cYou don\u2019t realize how important it is until you are\nimpacted by it. When it happens to you, it forces you to think how lucky you\nare to have a resource like Callier.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur hope is to see unprecedented levels of philanthropic support for the Callier Center. If our gift helps propel that hope forward, then that is very rewarding to us.\u201d <\/p>\u2013 Stefanie and Aaron Conley <\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Stories to Inspire<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
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