GRACE Executive Director Shonda Schaefer received the huge honor of being this year’s Grapevine Rotary “Pro”, a distinguished award given to fellow Rotarians for their integrity, service and community engagement. The Rotary Club will formally recognize Shonda at an awards luncheon immediately following their Golf for Grads tournament on Monday, March 20 at the Cowboys Golf Club. Tournament and raffle proceeds have raised over $150,000 in scholarships to local future leaders. The 2016 “Pro” was City Council Member and Mayor Pro Tem Darlene Freed. Shonda’s fierce dedication to serve the community as her vocation and with her personal time has earned her more awards over the thirteen years as Executive Director than we can recount. The proud Rotarian’s love for the mission of GRACE, her family, staff and the community is unmatched. The Rotary Club, whose motto is, “service above self” is an accurate reflection of the character of its

Not only did DriveintotheNight.com get a new look; now it’s easier than ever to register your team, player spot or sponsorship! Dinner is included, along with contests, specialty drinks and raffle prizes. Download sponsorship options for a tailored plan that gives ample exposure to your civic group or business. Get creative with your team name on the scoreboard the night of the tournament. Don’t have your entire team together? That’s okay, simply put in a confirmation number you receive after purchase and fill in your guest names at a later date. Whether you’re an avid golfer or play par to nine holes of putt-putt, this fan-favorite moonlight event generates one of GRACE’s largest event proceeds to help families in distress. All event revenue sustains GRACE children’s programs like Christmas Cottage, which provides 2,700 family members with new, unwrapped Christmas toys. Feed Our Kids provides an average of 38,000 meals to

The mission of the GRACE Community Garden is to cultivate a healthy community by building collaborations and providing organically grown produce to those in need. Garden workdays are rewarding, feasible opportunities to help local families in a tangible way. Having access to fresh fruits and vegetables is a game changer for families, for whom fruits are a rare luxury and nutrition is key. The GRACE Community Garden provides an average of 1,800 pounds of fresh, organic produce each year to nourish families in need. Be a part of what the Community Garden is yielding for families in need by joining us. Most of the organically grown produce from the garden is donated to the GRACE Pantry.  If you would like to be on our garden e-mail list, please e-mail Alison Shumaker. For volunteer opportunities or information on adopting a raised garden plot, please contact Lara Hohweiler. 2019 Planting/Tending Schedule  

GRACE was honored to take part in nominating key leaders for the 41st Annual Colleyville Area Chamber of Commerce at their Awards Luncheon on February 2 at the Colleyville Center. Winners Community Star Award – Kay Allen Corporation of the Year – Marketstreet Outstanding Service Organization- GRACE Here is a list of the following Nominees: Citizen of the Year- Kay Allen Corporation of the Year – Marketstreet Outstanding Service Organization – GRACE Youth of the Year – Will Mathison Kay Allen is an outstanding Colleyville resident who gives selflessly of her time and resources in the community. As a member of the chamber and having served on several boards, Kay embodies volunteerism by serving alongside causes that strengthen their communities, including the Colleyville Rotary Club, Grapevine-Colleyville Education Foundation and GCISD, the latter of which earned her the PTA’s Friend of Children Award. In addition to her generosity and time, Kay

We are excited to welcome one GRACE’s newest members, Jamé Scott, as Transitional Housing Manager. Next week you won’t want to miss the post on this week’s phenomenal Transitional Housing Graduation ceremony, thanks in part to the fantastic Transitional Housing staff and the instant warmth Jamé brings to the program. Jamé’s well-versed education is only part of what makes her such an ideal fit. She received her Masters of Business Administration at Strayer University, and later earned her Master of Social Work at the University of Memphis. Originally from San Francisco, Jamé spent much of her adult career in Memphis, Tennessee as a Case Manager in various capacities, also serving as an interventionist and recruiter to foster families. As a foster child herself who was raised by a loving family, Jamé’s passion grew for children in the foster system and adoptive parents. As part of the GRACE team, Jamé capitalizes

Foot and Ankle of North Texas (FAANT) put their best foot forward last month by collecting a car load of perishable goods for the GRACE Food Pantry. All the food given will make their way to the tables of grateful families, who, despite financial burdens, no longer have to worry where their children’s next dinner will come from. GRACE relies on groups and businesses to find creative ways to collect nonperishable goods and grocery essentials, so that no local family in need is turned away. Last month the Food Pantry gave an estimated $45,000 worth of food, which allows families to put that additional money in savings or pay their utility bills. HOW THE RESOURCES ARE UTILIZED Volunteer groups might be surprised to know that once the goods are received, programs within GRACE collaborate together to make sure each family gets as much nourishment as possible. For instance, the Community

Now is the opportune time to round up three or more of your friends for a Drive into the Night team. The annual golf tournament will take place on Friday, April 21, 2017 at the Grapevine Golf Course. This is an ideal event to honor your staff while receiving business recognition as a sponsor. Family friends and groups also love the friendly competition under the stars. A barbecue dinner is provided, along with specialty drinks, glow swag and an after party. At $250 per player, each team can be reassured knowing that 100% of all event proceeds sustain GRACE programs that provide food, clothing, and shelter to displaced families and their children. For those who want to attend and skip the green, he or she can enjoy the dinner and festivities for $50. GO BEYOND PAR WITH A SPONSORSHIP Those interested in hosting a team as a sponsor might consider

Souper Bowl of Caring is vowing to “Change the Game” in local communities across North Texas during the weeks leading up to Superbowl Sunday. We are thankful to have such committed partnerships with local businesses, including Albertsons in Colleyville, which has made it their game plan to ensure local families receive nourishment throughout the year. Through Superbowl Sunday, Albertsons gives customers the opportunity to purchase pre-filled bags at the register on behalf of families at risk for hunger. Each filled bag costs $9, and contains protein and nutrient-rich staples such as tuna, soup and vegetables. Souper Bowl of Caring addresses the startling number of chronically-poor households, which equates to one in seven Americans. More troubling still is that 16 million of those Americans are children, some living within miles of our doorsteps. Last year the Colleyville Albertsons received the GRACE Outstanding Community Partner Award for going far and above the

Just like all GRACE events, it takes a lot of volunteers and donors behind the scenes to make the event memorable (or even possible)! This year we are on the lookout for the best raffle prizes for 2017’s Drive into the Night, a glow golf tournament that raises funds for GRACE children’s programs throughout the year. All tax-deductible item donations generate excitement and ensure players come back for another round on the green, which means more resources for children during the summer months and holiday season. Prize donations also lend to creativity, and aren’t limited to gift baskets, golf gear, recreational attire, novelty items or electronics. Gift certificates and unique experiences are also great examples of ideal raffle prizes for Drive into the Night. We appreciate the local businesses, small groups and individuals who galvanize support for events like this. It’s our continual desire to work as hard as our