The amazing, ebullient Jo Alch is an RN and founded one of the most respected in-home caregiving companies extant—Acappella; wrote a book (The Lemon Tree) about her life, including her experiences of being a caregiver to both parents with Alzheimer’s; and founded the non-profit “Pajamas for Seniors.” Jo shared her experiences this year during an event at The Tradition-Prestonwood Independent Living Community.

A classical pianist with a degree from Yale in Musicology, Jeremy eventually became an attorney, then reconnected with his passion for classical music as a volunteer on the Board of WRR. He now serves as Chairman of the Friends of WRR—the year the radio station celebrates its 100th birthday. The mission of the Friends, he says, is to secure the future of WRR— the only commercial, classical-music format radio station in Texas.

“Older adults can be overlooked, but they have so much to offer,” says Stacey. “(At The Senior Source,) we help to give them respect, dignity, financial security, and improve their emotional and mental health.” With Stacey at the helm, The Senior Source helps to maximize the revenue and decrease the expenses of older adults, even aiding with utilities. Often, the non-profit helps with job placement. Socialization also comes into play with one of their most important offerings—placing seniors in volunteer programs.

Betty Morgan’s fourth- and fifth-grade classes put on patriotic plays, had “bring-your-dog-to-class days,” took tests outside under the trees, and generally had fun while learning serious subjects. Oh—and every child was made to feel important. “I will always be grateful to have been a teacher,” said Betty, who taught five years at Longfellow Elementary after graduating from SMU, and at Hyer Elementary for 28 years. “I miss it to this day.” And they miss her.

In addition to serving as the assistant chief of staff and pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Scottish Rite for Children, Karl Rathjen is also the organization’s Foundation President and a Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. When asked about what really gets him up in the morning, however, he answers like a shot — the patients. Most of his clinical time is spent caring for pediatric patients with spine deformities or hip, knee, or foot conditions in children with neuromuscular or syndromic diagnoses.

Dr. Stone has had a magnificent career in medicine, including being the first chief of oncology and director of the Baylor Sammons Cancer Center in Dallas— positions he held for 32 years—and, prior, being on the faculty of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in hematology-oncology. In his new book, When to Act and When to Refrain, A Lifetime of Learning the Science and Art of Medicine, Dr. Stone looks back on teaching, doing research and caring for patients, all three of which he enjoyed tremendously.

“Learning Differences.” To children who are affected, those words and subsequent results can be devasting. But according to Joyce Pickering, “help can be life-changing.” As the Executive Director of Shelton beginning in 1990, Joyce has provided assistance to hundreds of students who otherwise would have experienced low self-esteem and anxiety disorders. Joyce’s love of children is reflected throughout her impressive career, during which she developed a unique, interactive process to remediate these problems. According to Joyce, now Executive Director Emerita, “My work isn’t like work – it’s just rewarding.”

Helping Female Former Inmates & Their Children Change Their Lives

The non-denominational Exodus Ministries is the only non-profit Susan is aware of with such a comprehensive, discipleship program that houses women and their children after the women have been released from prison. “Each woman applies from prison, and if she is a fit … we send her a bus ticket to Exodus from anywhere in Texas,” said Susan. “These women come here to change their lives.” And change they do. According to Susan, the national recidivism rate is between 67% and77% for men and women. If women have spent as little as two weeks at Exodus, the recidivism rate drops to less than 13%.