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Development Corner – November 2021

Among the many donors who joined the ranks of supporters for the first time in 2021, was a company that has tackled a few volunteer projects this year. Sterling Construction has built relationships with New Danville while using an essential building material – shared values.

The first time a Sterling Construction crew of volunteers came to New Danville, they tackled painting picnic benches, the bridge, and the residence cabins. A few months later, they spiffed up the lunch/gathering area with bold, geometric patterns painted on the walls and other wall finishings added that changed the room from ho-hum to “hot dog!” Their third service trip for the year had them extending the work of their second trip into the smaller gathering area adjacent to the lunchroom.

Sterling Construction leadership believes in addressing the needs of those with special needs. That is the basis, of course, of all long-term relationships between an organization and those who support it; mutual values. The more one knows about the cause and how the organization addresses it, the stronger the relationship can be.

November 15 is National Philanthropy Day this year. The Sterling Construction story serves as a good reminder of what philanthropy means and the many ways it can manifest. The roots of the word “philanthropy” means “love of mankind.” It is for the love of others that time is given, talent is utilized and treasure is shared. To all who support others, thank you.

Join the family of New Danville supporters. I invite you to learn more about how (and why) the New Danville team serves adults with IDD with a tour or a conversation. I can be reached at Dion.McInnis@NewDanville.org or 936-253-5757.

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.

A Wrangler’s Tale – November 2021

From Day Program to Resident

Morgan’s parents asked, “Do you want to move back home?” She immediately responded “No” with a grin. Everyone laughed. She has come a long way in the four years of being associated with New Danville, recently becoming a resident, too.

Her parents said that she could not converse and interact four years ago the way she did for the interview for “A Wrangler’s Tale.” And what an interview it was!

The reasons she likes New Danville are the same that empowered the transformation her parents talked about, and that she is quite proud of.

“I love the activities,” Morgan said. “And my friends. And the classes. And going to the movies and stuff.”

While several Wranglers enjoy gardening class, Morgan’s preference is getting her hands dirty. No sideline gardener, she. She enjoys working in the dirt. She enjoys a variety of classes that involve busy hands: sewing and crafts, woodwork, and art (including jewelry making). She also enjoys the opportunities to go into the community on field trips and with the Social Club for movies, eats or shopping.

A graduate of Huntsville High School, Morgan likes the various gifts her dad used to bring back from his work travels far away from home, ranging from sweatshirts to jewelry. “I have brought Morgan those flattened pennies you can get out of machines from places all over the country,” her dad said. Morgan smiled and nodded. She likes keeping such treasures.

Her grandpa likes keeping treasures, too…the ones Morgan makes in woodworking, art and craft classes, in particular. He has dedicated a wall in his shop for the display of her handiwork.

When asked what she was most proud of from the past four years, she referenced several things: friends, activities, and learning new things. Her mom asked Morgan, “So, you feel like an adult now, don’t you?” Morgan smiled with her quiet “Yes.” A sense of independence is a beautiful thing, and for Morgan and her family, that is the greatest treasure of all.

Guest Voices – November 2021

Bryan Gill, Program Manager

I had been away from New Danville for a few years, having accepted a job in north Texas in 2018. I worked here from 2015-2018. When I returned to work here in September 2021, I barely recognized it with all the changes. Wranglers recognized me from before though, and I knew I was home again.

I have a special needs daughter who is now a Wrangler. After I moved away in 2018, I looked for a place for her that compared to what I knew then – New Danville. Nothing compared. As a dad, that concerned me. My view of New Danville is that of dad and of the employee. I believe the perspectives serve each other. I understand what parents and guardians are going through when they ask questions or go on a site tour. There is a form of empathy that can only be gained by being in the life situation that they are in. I also understand the difference between what we offer and what other places do.

Safety is a big deal. It is to me as a dad, and I know it is to the parents and guardians of all our clients. As the program manager, I aim to protect that. The quality and engagement of the staff is incredible, which helps explain the smiles on the clients’ faces. It was impossible to not notice their expressions when I returned to New Danville for my interview. The smiles, I believe, are an indication of how the culture of respect here affects the clients. Our clients know they have a disability; they don’t need to be reminded. Our goal is to reveal and remind them of their abilities.

Even if I won the lotto, I would want to be close to New Danville. Maybe buy a house across the street or something. My daughter and I love this place that much.

Grow – November 2021

“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.”
― Maya Angelou

Among the many things that have experienced growth at New Danville is gratitude. Despite the challenges of 2020 and 2021, New Danville has much to be grateful for.

Maya’s quote will appear on our new Gratitude Wall that will be used to acknowledge the many donors who make what we do at New Danville possible. Of course, we hope to see your name on the wall.

We are indeed blessed that so many give cheerfully: donors of their resources, volunteers of their time and talent, team members of their skills…all of which we accept humbly and gratefully.

We will also introduce a new donor appreciation event for all donors of $100 per year, or more. The event will be held in the spring as a warm, comfortable gathering for New Danville to say thank you and for donors to have a “family reunion,” so to speak.

Our intention is to not only honor the levels at which our donors support the work at New Danville, but also to acknowledge the manner in which they give, e.g., monthly automatic payments and planned giving. Quite simply….thank you.

Work – November 2021

Emily doesn’t complain about work, nor the commute. She enjoys working – always has – and her commute is a two-minute walk from her home at New Danville to the new Charbonneau Family Building where the pallet production team does its magic.

Emily has held several jobs over the years. Her mother said that Emily has been busy all her life whether the work effort was for play or pay. “Emily enjoyed being a cheerleader and playing basketball, as well as racing in the 500m event in swimming. She never quit; she just kept swimming. She has had jobs putting ball bearings on rings and making gift boxes. She works hard at everything, I’d say. She doesn’t want to just do things, but understand them, too. That is the way it was when she learned to read, too.”

An early team member of the Pallets to Partners project, Emily learned her skills from Sherry Franklin, aka “The Pallet Lady,” who recently retired. She is proud to have been able to teach her boyfriend those skills, too, when he joined the pallet team later.

“I enjoy making the pallets,” she said. Almost always seen with earbuds in while she works, Emily enjoys listening to rock music while working amidst the sounds of drills and other power tools. “It helps to keep out the noise,” she said.

When it came time to put names of the pallet team in the sidewalk outside the Charbonneau Family Building, someone put Emily’s in for her. When reminded, “It will be there forever,” she smiled and nodded. There are many ways that work provides long-term results.

Learn – November 2021

“It is not knowledge, but the act of learning, not possession but the act of getting there, which grants the greatest enjoyment.” – Carl Friedrich Gauss

Fall brings the change in leaves, switch from daylight savings time, and change of classes available at New Danville. Some are new and some are golden oldies.

At the core of all the classes is the desire to bring activities and experiences that encourage growth, learning, socialization, independence, and, of course, FUN.

Some of the popular “old classics” that are returning to the schedule after a bit of a hiatus include culinary arts and creative drama. New additions that provide good times, as well as learning, include, Around the World in 30 Days, Let’s Meditate and Dance. Nicole Martinez, the program coordinator, said, “The class Hoop There It Is! caught the attention of the Wranglers. They are very excited about the class. It seems like everyone wants to be part of it.”

According to Bryan Gill, program manager, “It is good, and important, to mix things up a bit, but not too often and not too much. Our Wranglers enjoy variety and are comfortable with the routine. We just don’t want to become too routine. We strive for that perfect balance. By working with the offerings, Wranglers get to choose what interests them the most while being involved in the ongoing act of learning.”

Live – November 2021

Meet Lisa

Lisa is no stranger to living in communities for adults with IDD. New Danville is the third in her lifetime. With such a wide range of experiences covering a few decades, she has important insights into what makes a great place to live.

Her mind is constantly busy as she shares family stories and lineage in great detail. The conversational detours provide a great chance to ask the same question a few times, and for each, the answer was the same. So true was her answer that she never wavered.

“Based on your experiences at the other communities, what do you like best about living at New Danville?” Her answer, each and every time was “the activities.” As busy as she has been throughout her life with various jobs, it is no surprise that activity means a lot to Lisa. She is very active in the various day program offerings at New Danville, and she enjoys the social activities for the residents of Meadowbrook. The recent Halloween costume party was one such event where she went “all in.”

It didn’t take long for her to switch from telling me about a movie she recently attended in town to the various Special Olympics events she has participated in. Even when she is not in motion, her mind is working, as evidenced by the thick book of word games and puzzles that she often engages with during lunch break.

Being busy is a big part of living for Lisa, and she enjoys every second of it.

Volunteers Make it Happen!

Volunteers Make it Happen

Ivan Scheier, a legend in the field of volunteer management, said, “The broadest, and maybe the most meaningful definition of volunteering: Doing more than you have to because you want to, in a cause you consider good.” The New Danville family is humbled by the number of people who consider us a cause worthy of their time, talent, and energy.

In recent months, New Danville had volunteers from Sterling Construction come out for their third visit within six months to help with painting the lunchrooms in bold, colorful patterns. New Danville was also chosen as a Welcome Week volunteer opportunity for the students at Sam Houston State University who assisted with painting in our ECT Building shortly after returning to campus for the start of the fall semester. ExxonMobil volunteers returned for United Way’s Day of Caring in October and spent the day painting.

Volunteers provide great relief to the human and financial resources of New Danville, but they also provide another important benefit: their engagement with our clients (Wranglers) provides a wonderful sense of normalcy and friendly socialization, which are very important in the life of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Thank you, volunteers!

Upcoming Events – November 2021

Coming up this week!
Charbonneau Family Building ribbon cutting November 17, 10 a.m. to noon. The Charbonneau family donated the building, materials, and tools for the pallet production program. The goal with the new building is to expand our capabilities. Read more about this partnership in this article in the June 2021 edition of The Wrangler Gazette.

The City of Willis Christmas Parade will be held on December 4. We hope to see you there!

LARA (Legally Authorized Representative Alliance) Christmas Market will be held on December 8. The group of avid supporters again sets up a market for the Wranglers to get some Christmas shopping done at no cost to them. Their great tradition continues.

New Danville’s Christmas Party will be held on December 15. Clients, parents, and guardians will receive more details via email.

Spring Thing, April 22, 2022. To hat or not to hat, that is the question. Mark your calendars! The Spring Thing (formerly known as Tea on the Lawn) is back! Troy Ball will be our speaker. Originally scheduled for the events that were canceled, Troy will share her story of life and resilience while raising two children with special needs, and also starting a distillery in North Carolina. She has attracted audiences around the country and her story is detailed in her book Pure Heart: A Spirited Tale of Grace, Grit and Whiskey.

Reminder: For our current clients – Information and phone numbers can be found here: https://www.newdanville.org/clients/

In the News – November 2021

News from local media and external sources, please follow the links to read the entire articles:

Collaborating with Keep Us Fed for a Jelly Drive and Christmas Cards https://hellowoodlands.com/nonprofits-collaborate-for-food-and-cheer/

Announcement of Respite Care Services at New Danville https://www.conroetoday.com/npps/story.cfm?nppage=8723

Jazzy Junque Becomes Christmas Wonderland https://communityimpact.com/houston/conroe-montgomery/impacts/2021/11/09/jazzy-junque-resale-store-converts-to-christmas-wonderland-through-dec-23/

New Danville team members and volunteers recently staffed a booth at the H-E-B Wine Walk at Market Street. We garnered almost $5,000 from this wine pull event that benefitted New Danville and The Woodlands Arts Council.

From the CEO – November 2021

Eva Aguirre, president and CEO of New Danville nonprofit

“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgiving, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” William Arthur Ward

Thanksgiving is a holiday dedicated to the focus of being thankful. This time of year can give us that warm, fuzzy feeling when we spend time feeling thankful for the things our lives include.

By now, most of you have received our year-end Annual Appeal letter. We are thankful for the blessings of those who have already made a donation as your support makes our reality and dreams possible.

As noted in our appeal letter, New Danville’s commitment was truly tested in 2020, along with the uncertainty of 2021. However, because of our committed donors like you, we made it through the worst of times and are thankful for the struggles we’ve been through. It has helped to make us stronger, wiser, and truly grateful.

As the year comes to an end, please consider us in your year-end giving. We have a clear vision of our future, and it is a bright one. Your support will truly help to shape “ordinary opportunities into blessings.”

Wishing all of you a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday as you share with friends and family.

A Wrangler’s Tale – October 2021

“I wouldn’t trade this place for anything,” Luke said. His mom, Christina, nodded in agreement. “I remember the smile on his face,” she said, “after a visit here. It took us a year to decide, but we both knew it was the right place because it gives him a sense of independence.”

Independence is hard to come by, thanks to the many effects of a dozen brain surgeries. Luke continues to grow more independent, the journey bringing challenges to both Luke and his mom. She explained the challenges she has faced to make sure Luke has as many experiences as possible, like walking across the stage at high school graduation. Luke shared about facing the challenges of limited mobility and vision.

Among Luke’s favorite programs at New Danville are cooking and the “What’s Happening” class. When asked whether his reputation for liking to share his opinions on a variety of topics was true, he nodded, smiled, and replied, “Yes.” His favorite topics? Politics, current events…life.

“I was his caregiver for eight years,” his mom said, “and I wanted to be sure that he would be safe and appreciated wherever he landed. The staff at New Danville are loving and understanding. It was scary when I heard that there were field trips to town for movies or pizza. Luke’s sister joined in and now she loves being a part of the fun. I was worried for his safety and about the responses of people. People can be cruel in what they say or how they act. Being around people with challenges who are growing more independent has been good for Luke.”

“We respect each other’s disabilities,” Luke said. Respect is at the heart of the journey for independence, self-esteem, and relationships.

Luke’s mom shared a moment that she and Luke are particularly proud of. A while back, there was a fellow Wrangler who was having a hard time drinking a soda because of his tremors. Luke, being personally familiar with the condition and its frustrations, put a straw in the can and held it so his friend could drink easily. Luke smiled at the sharing of the story. His mom re-emphasized that a lot of Wranglers have been through a lot, but they, along with the staff, are there for each other.