In a continuing demonstration of support for local charities, the Lewisville Noon Rotary club gave a total of $3500 in grant funding to three North Texas non-profit organizations at last week's meeting.

 

Olivia Jane Barhorst, Director of Marketing and Development, accepted the donation on behalf of Denton County Friends of the Family, which provides comprehensive services to individuals and families affected by domestic violence and sexual assault. Outreach Manager Matthew Straub accepted the donation on behalf of The First Tee of Greater Dallas, which promotes social/emotional health and life skills development for youth, using the game of golf as the platform. The grant will be used to fund in-school curriculum to teach golf to grade school students and get them plugged into the program. And Rachel Pillar from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Denton County, which matches kids in the local community with mentors for a one-to-one supportive relationship, shared that the grant funds will be used to help get the word out about the need for mentors. The non-profit is aiming this year to not only match the 100 kids currently in the program, but an addition 150 kids in the local community.

Rotarian Sally Quezada (above right) presented Lewisville High School special education teacher Kelsy Mayse with the Teacher of the Month award at last week's club meeting, in recognition of the educator's track record of excellence and dedication to the students she serves.

 

After earning a master's degree in special education from Texas Women's University, Mayse began her teaching career in 2011 in a life skills classroom at Ryan High School in Denton. In 2013, she was honored with the Rookie of the Year and Teacher of the Year Award in Denton ISD. She was also head coach for the Special Olympics team and co-dance teacher of the school's special education dance class.

 

Inspired by an event she put together with Yulissa Arescruenaga, a Zumba instructor with Down Syndrome, who inspires other life skill students through dancing, Mayse created the first life skills prom for Denton ISD in early 2016. The pure joy and excitement she witnessed in her life skill students and their general education peers at the event was an experience she will never forget, Mayse says.

 

Most recently, the dedicated educator accepted a position at Creek Valley Middle School in 2019, and promptly applied for a $5000 dollar grant to explore her dream of sharing a greenhouse with her life skills students. After being awarded the grant money, she was able to set up a greenhouse to teach students how to water, prune and transplant herbs, vegetables, and flowers. Says Mayse, "It is a wonderful experience to watch my students’ vocational skills grow by getting their hands dirty."

 

Rebekah Haskins-Hunt understands what it means to struggle with a rare disease. Diagnosed at a young age with a malformation in her brain, Hunt has endured dozens of surgeries and takes daily medication to mitigate seizures and hallucinations, so she can function normally. Although daily life often can be challenging, Hunt says, her personal experience also has uniquely qualified her to lead the charge with Roll for Rare, a new program under the umbrella of the North Texas non-profit organization, Love For Kids, Inc.

 

Love for Kids provides support and resources for youth and the young at heart by strengthening relationships through education, empowerment, and community engagement, explained Sandy Huffman, president of the non-profit, in her presentation at last week's Lewisville Noon Rotary meeting. The services includes providing food, housing, and knowledge resources for children and seniors, and the charity hosts numerous special events throughout the year.

 

Huffman joined Love for Kids in 1976 and has served in every capacity with the organization over the past four decades. She also has developed several programs for the non-profit, the latest of which is Roll for Rare. The new initiative is designed to raise awareness about rare diseases and help raise money for the non-profit's biggest annual event, All Kids Count. Rare diseases affect 1 in 10 Americans, explained Huffman's colleague, Rebekah Hunt, and 50 percent of those with a rare disease are children. The majority of rare diseases (82 percent) are genetic, and 90 percent of rare diseases have no FDA approved treatment protocol. Sadly, one in three children diagnosed with a rare disease will not live to age five, Hunt noted.

 

The non-profit's new program, Roll for Rare, helps raise awareness and funding for events and support services through “rolling” challenges. Supporters can create their own challenge--whether it’s rolling a wheelbarrow for a mile-long run, or rolling a soccer ball across a sports field with their nose--then challenge their friends to donate to their fundraiser and share a video of their challenge on social media. For more information on Love for Kids or to get involved, visit loveforkidsinc.org.

Donations Committee member Steve Cox (right) and LNR president Dirk Dahlke (center) congratulated Dwayne Middleton on becoming a Paul Harris Fellow at last week's meeting, presenting Dwayne with his Paul Harris pin and certificate. Dwayne took advantage of the opportunity to receive matching funds from the club and the district to reach the $1000 donation goal quickly, and continue our club's track record of success with Paul Harris memberships.