Newsletter - New Danville

A Wrangler’s Tale – September 2022

A Lot of Changes for Justin

Justin is a walking history book about New Danville. He has seen many changes in the campus and programs; he has changed along the way, too.

He shares details of classes when there were only a few Wranglers who gathered for day program offerings, which was several years before New Danville’s independent living community, Meadowbrook, was opened. Justin was one of the early residents. “When I first started in the day program,” Justin said, “I was shy. I have become more social.”

A graduate of Huntsville High School, Justin lived with his grandparents and learned about New Danville in 2005 when it was only a concept. He recognizes his grandparents’ role in his life and in the lives of others. “Papa was an influencer. Not in the social media way. He did it face-to-face with people. You could tell by how many people were at his funeral (he passed away in 2022). My grandparents took care of me. I always felt that I need to take care of them, too. I help my grandmother now with things and make tea for her.”

As he has developed to be an influencer in his own regard, he has done it through friendships and being busy. He is part of the pallet team that assembles pallets for Charbonneau Industries, and has helped with the landscaping crew. He worked in the community but the COVID situation ended that role. “Getting to work is easy now,” he said, referring to the benefits of working on site.

When not in class or working, he can be found walking or riding his bicycle. “I like to chill and listen to classic rock music, too,” he added. Over the years, he has taken a multitude of classes through the dayhab program. His all-time favorite class is one of the new ones that began in August: Blue Printing 101. “I would like to see a recreational building for us,” Justin said, “but that will take time and a lot of money. I understand.” Among the changes for Justin is wisdom.

Guest Voices – September 2022

Constance McDerby: “Lifelong” Friend of New Danville

I came to Houston from New Orleans in 2000 in the radio marketing business. It turned out to be a great career background for what I am doing now, and coming to Houston turned out to be a great move for a new career that is basically a hobby out of control.

New Orleans had great events that brought together wine and culinary experiences. I was surprised at the lack of those options in the Houston area, so when an opportunity to make a career change appeared, I knew what I wanted to try. Actually, I had wanted to get into the wine and culinary experience realm for a while. I prayed about it. A lot. I kept hearing “not yet” when I prayed. So, I waited.

The wait came to an end when the radio broadcasting company that I worked for went through yet another re-organization. My position was eliminated and I was given a wonderful separation package that enabled me to act on what I had been thinking and praying about: create wine and culinary events that provide great experiences for attendees and support to nonprofits. I was particularly interested in “stealth charities” when I started, that is those who most people didn’t know about and that would benefit greatly from marketing visibility and financial support. I started Food & Vine Time Productions in 2002 and created Wine & Food Week in 2005, the year New Danville was established. It was for the first Wine & Food Week that New Danville and I joined forces. You could say New Danville and business are lifelong friends – their lifetimes, that is.

My husband’s brother was special needs. I have seen the challenges that individuals and families experience when facing the variety of conditions that comprise “special needs.” I am very happy to help others with those challenges.

Our events have benefitted hundreds of nonprofits over the years. We have never turned down a request from a nonprofit. Our support has totaled more than $2 million and includes several ways we support charities with opportunities to garner funds, like Wine & Food Week, or direct contributions or in-kind contributions or…well, we always find one way or another to help out. 25-30% of our revenue goes to nonprofits.

New Danville has been with us from the beginning and I look forward to years to come.

Development Corner – September 2022

Receipt Under the Windshield Wiper

I was in a parking lot in downtown Houston, locked out of my car and an appointment looming in the building in whose lot I sat. While waiting for the wrecker to unlock my car, I struck up a conversation with a homeless man who approached me. I have shared the full story in presentations and writings, but the moral of the story is particularly relevant in today’s climate. After I gave the man money for a meal, he asked if I wanted him to put the receipt under my windshield wiper so I knew that he used the money for food, not booze or drugs. Integrity. Trust. Accountability.

Nonprofits need to take great efforts to “put the receipt under the windshield wiper” so donors know how their funds are being used, what outcomes have been achieved, and who benefitted from the donors’ gifts of any and all sizes.

These are challenging times for nonprofits. We, in the nonprofit realm, must also recognize that times are difficult for those we serve and those who support us, too. It is always important to develop trust and maintain transparency in various ways, some of which are informal, conversational and interpersonal. At New Danville, we are more than happy to “put the receipt under the windshield wiper.” Hopefully, this newsletter reveals some of the ways that donors’ generosity is utilized in service to our Wranglers and residents.

Thank you for the many ways you make it possible for Wranglers to live, learn, work and grow.

Please feel free to contact me at 936-253-5757 or Dion.McInnis@NewDanville.org to learn more about the many ways that gifts affect lives at New Danville.

We are pleased to introduce Live, Learn, Work and Grow: Wisdom from Under the Windmill, an inspiring, motivational, immediately usable presentation by Dion McInnis, development director. Bring this to your organization, association, business or group; everyone’s life can be better with the 15 nuggets of wisdom for living discovered at New Danville. Contact Dion at Dion.McInnis@NewDanville.org to book the presentation for your event.

New Danville is a 501( c ) (3) nonprofit rural community in Willis, TX for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. New Danville provides our clients an opportunity to live enriched and purposeful lives; we proudly call them Wranglers.

From the CEO – August 2022

“Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.” Franklin D. Roosevelt

Once upon a time, a real group called the Secret Society of Happy People decided to dedicate a day to the pursuit of happiness. Members of the society wanted to let happy feelings linger inside them every day. In 2000, the Secret Society of Happy People expanded the celebration to Happiness Happens Month in August.

Here at New Danville we don’t have to look far for moments of happiness. Not to say that we do not have problems or challenges; however, we believe in being joyful for both the little and big successes, and always with a spirit of gratitude. As I think back over this hot, hot summer that will soon come to an end, I’m reminded of the many moments of happiness that I have recently experienced.

This summer has been a thrill to observe the creative efforts of our Wranglers in their classes. The Blushing Beauties class learning to make their own personal spa products and wax candles squares was a moment of sheer happiness. The excitement of all of the ladies wanting me to smell their creations was pure joy of a job well done. Likewise, the art class learned to make beautiful works of art through swirl painting. The simplicity of the task did not match the creative beauty of their finished product. Truly inspiring.

These are but two snapshots of “the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.” Every day we at New Danville are reminded of this. We’ve had a joyful summer and created great memories. Whether the new Wranglers that attended the Summer Camp program, or the increased number of new Wranglers (110 as of this week!), we know that we are serving the needs of our community, creating opportunities to experience joy, and working as a team to achieve our goals. That is surely worth celebrating!

To all of our wonderful supporters and readers, just remember that happiness is right before our eyes. All we have to do is look, or just drop by New Danville and experience the moments of happiness that will take you by surprise.

Upcoming Events – August 2022

2^nd Annual Play a Round for the Wranglers golf tournament is coming on November 7, 2022, at Woodlands Country Club. Mark your calendar! Registration is now open, click on over and signup for a great day of golf!

HEB Wine Walk is coming to The Woodlands on October 6! New Danville is a beneficiary. More information and tickets are available here.

Into the Woods Halloween Event presented by The Woodlands Charities on October 22^nd; New Danville is a beneficiary. Get your tickets today!

Fundraising Factoid

Not every Wrangler can afford to attend our day program the optimal number of days that would benefit them the most. Finances can be a challenge; however, a portion of the funds raised by the upcoming Play a Round for the Wranglers golf event will be set aside for scholarships to help Wranglers who have financial need. Even if you don’t play golf, please consider being a hole sponsor. Learn more about the event and/or register here. Hope to see you November 7^th at The Woodlands Country Club!

Please remember our Amazon Wishlist next time you are shopping online. We have a variety of items that represent all aspects of New Danville’s programs and services.

In the News – August 2022

Remember when we said that we had a donated portable building set to arrive to help relieve space issues brought about by increased enrollment in the day program? It’s here! Thank you, Charbonneau Industries for your ongoing, outstanding support. We’ll have a future article when the building’s renovation to a classroom is completed.

New Danville is upping its social media game in a big way! Check out the latest at these New Danville pages: Linked In, Instagram, and Facebook. PLEASE like and share as we continue to spread the word of New Danville’s Wranglers as they live, learn, work and grow. Engage in conversation; we love the interaction! We will soon be offering some fun prizes to help increase the size of our online family.

Live – August 2022

“Call me!” Chad Remains Part of the New Danville Family

Known for his “Call Me!” gesture and message, Chad will now be counting on calls to stay in touch with his friends that he made over his eight years at New Danville. With changes in personal circumstances, he has had to move on this month from living at Meadowbrook, New Danville’s residential community, to where he can get a different level of care. Chad made an impression with Wranglers, volunteers and staff during his time here.

Chad was a busy guy, taking in all sorts of class offerings from the day program. Among his favorites were gardening, cooking, bowling and art. The best part of the classes and of living independently was his friends.

His mother said that the “Call me!” message began many years ago. “He is really saying, ‘I love everyone. You’re my friend!’” she said. “He is the most happy-go-lucky person you’ll ever meet and has been since he was young.”

That spirit helps explain why the friendships he made were among the highlights he cited for being part of the New Danville family. He actively participated in the Social Club which provides opportunities for residents to go on a couple of field trips for social activities in the community.

There are plenty of team member stories because of Chad’s spirit and charm.

Nicole Martinez, program coordinator, got married twice on the same day – once at New Danville and once at the formal wedding. She wanted to be sure to have a ceremony at which Wranglers could participate. Chad was a groomsman for the event held here.

Anthony Juneau (aka AJ) has what amounts to a book full of Chad stories. “I call him ‘Chadwick,’ which he loves, and he calls me ‘Daphne,’ which is pretty close to Anthony. He is full of joy and always happy to help with anything around here. He would take on tasks in the gardening class that few others wanted, particularly if he felt it would ‘earn’ him a trip to the gas station. I think given a choice between going to Hawaii and going to the nearby Circle K for a Polar Pop drink, he would choose the Circle K.”

His mom noted that one thing, above all, was Chad’s favorite part of living independently at New Danville. When she referenced it, he finished her statement with “Being an adult.” To be able to make decisions about what to do with his time, whether to come home on weekends, to gather with his friends…making these decisions meant the world to him, she said.

Some decisions are tougher than others; the decision to leave New Danville among the toughest. Life is that way, but relationships are forever. “Hey Chad, call us!” (Editor’s Note: It is for people like Chad that New Danville’s leadership team has included in its vision for the future the addition of assisted living facilities.)

Learn – August 2022

New classes

A new day program session began on August 1. The classes are already getting rave reviews and a lot of smiles. It takes a variety of offerings to assure that the Wranglers live, learn, work and grow to their potential.

Work – August 2022

Employers and Business Owners: Help Us Craft a Vision for Special Needs Employment

New Danville has always been committed to the gainful and appropriate employment of its clients, specifically, and of special needs adults, generally. As we look ahead, we envision using our past successes in, and support for, our jobs initiatives to develop a robust Job Readiness and Support Program that will benefit our clients with jobs on-site and in the community.

If you own a business, manage a human resources office, or represent your company’s efforts regarding the employment of special needs adults, we’d love your thoughts, input and insights. We hope you would be willing to share your thoughts in a call; ideally, you would be willing to participate in a group conversation of the opportunities and challenges of our mutual desire to improve employment opportunities for this population.

Interested? Please contact Eva Aguirre, President and CEO, at Eva.Aguirre@NewDanville.org or 936-344-6200.

Grow – August 2022

Help With Growing Pains

Jordan has grown a lot since he began attending New Danville. He is not taller, nor is he wider, but he is prouder and more accomplished. His big smiles and “thumbs up” gestures remind others of his positive nature which serves him well as a foundation for the growth he has had as a member of New Danville’s Wrangler 2s, i.e., those who need a bit more assistance and attention due to the challenges they face.

“Growth for Wranglers is a function of what we do here, and the people who make it happen are our direct support professionals,” said Eva Aguirre, president and CEO. Jordan’s perspectives reflect that reality.

With an occasional “thumbs up” to accentuate his points, Jordan reveals his pride in how much he has improved in bowling, reading and writing. His interests are broad, as are the opportunities for him to grow. He loves working on puzzles, too. Success and positivity lend themselves to more of the same.

Asked about his favorite things about class, Jordan said, “The teacher,” while reaching out to “knuckle up” with her. Growth is clearly one part “what is done” and another part “with whom it is done.”

His mother said they found New Danville by accident. “As we drove down the winding and hilly street and pulled into your gravel road and saw the miniature horses, I looked at my husband with tears in my eyes and said this is what I always envisioned for Jordan. We sold our home in Pearland and moved to Willis just for Jordan to attend New Danville. Everything fell into place as if it was meant to be. New Danville has done such a great job welcoming Jordan and helping him through such a big transition. I was surprised to see how well he adjusted to such a big move to a new school. I believe that says a lot about the team at New Danville,” she said.

Growth is an ongoing process and Jordan already has his eyes on things he is looking forward to getting better at. “Basketball,” he said with a smile and affirming nod. We’re looking forward to giving him his much-loved “knuckle up” for his hoops successes.

Guest Voices – August 2022

Imani: When the Match is Perfect

I’ve been a part of New Danville for about three months as a Direct Support Professional. Without a doubt, this has been the most fulfilling/rewarding position I’ve worked in. I previously worked in public education where the expectations were high, but the resources were very low. And so it’s been a relief to work for an organization that’s able to supply staff with an overwhelming amount of support.

The clients are the greatest; I’ve learned so much from them. There’s no limit to their creativity, which inspires me to bring my best to work every day. In art class, the Wranglers make use of color combinations that I never would’ve considered beforehand. But somehow, they just work; the artwork they produce is exceptional.

For comic-book club, we’re currently in the process of creating a manga novel series. The storyline and the scenes we’ve developed are so intricate and complex. My mind has been blown away. The Wranglers’ ability to prosper in teamwork is something that a lot of adults normally struggle with.

I’m grateful to be part of such an awesome, family-oriented staff. I’m used to being given a set of instructions, and then I’m on my own to handle a number of situations that would arise in the classroom. But at New Danville, help is always just a question away. It’s been refreshing to work with a group of adults that want the best for each other, and genuinely care. It’s been a great experience so far. I’m excited to work alongside great people while helping clients find ways to express themselves and be open.

A Wrangler’s Tale – August 2022

Part of New Danville’s History Moves Away with a Wave and a Smile

It was clear during the interview with Evan, that he enjoyed waving as Meadowbrook neighbors walked by on their way to the start of day program activities. Evan has lived at New Danville’s residential community since its inception, earning a spot in the first lottery draw of names from those interested in being residents in the first few homes built on site. His waves this day were hello and good-bye.

2020 was a tough year for Evan, what with the COVID situation, his battle with diabetes and the loss of both his parents. The loss of his mom and dad ultimately led to the decision to move him to a community closer to his step-mom and step-sister. He admits to it having been a tough battle, but his spirit remains high and his smile ever-ready.

Proud of his significant weight loss that has freed him from insulin, Evan reveals there are several things he is proud of, including his 10-year pin from Kroger where he worked for almost 12 years. He is a wealth of knowledge regarding sports statistics, carb counts in foods, and other topics that matter to him. He was also proud to learn that there are several “Evan stories” among the staff. He laughed sheepishly at the news.

James Scott, long-time Direct Support Professional, said with a laugh, “Evan had a game where he gave stickers from his sticker book to people. He made up reasons and ‘awards’ in order to give out the stickers. It was a lot of fun.”

Randy Smyth, Director of Operations, shared, “All the staff at all the stores in the strip center of the Kroger where he worked knew him well. He would stop in every day, say hello, have his glasses cleaned and such. My dentist and optometrist are in that center. If I am wearing my New Danville shirt when I go in for an appointment, they ask about how Evan is doing. When driving him to work, he would play a game with me, counting the number of U.S. Flags on our respective sides of the highway. Somehow, he never lost. In addition to the stickers, he also would give out word search pages to people.”

And there are other stories, too. You can’t be as engaging and kind as Evan and not leave in imprint.

Evan said he remembers well his first day at Meadowbrook when New Danville opened it in 2010. Did it feel like home immediately? Evan nodded, grinned broadly and said, “Yes…it did.” Among his favorite memories of life at New Danville were his walks and time with the horses. And the friends…of course, the friends.

To the passersby as he was being interviewed, Evan said, “I’ll know you’ll miss me.” He is right. Everyone agreed. He will be forever part of the legacy of New Danville and its beginnings as an independent living community for very special people, like Evan.