FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Heather Ortner, GRACE Marketing & Communications Manager, 817-305-4652 GRAPEVINE, TX- A 3-alarm fire erupted this morning at the Ridgecrest Apartments near the 2800 block of Mustang Drive in Grapevine. No physical injuries have been reported, but the residential damage is considerable. Update as of May 25, 2016:  We wanted to relay to our GRACE family what we know so far. We know that and that 20 homes were completely destroyed and unlivable and eight apartments were temporarily uninhabitable. Of the 43 displaced residents, nine were children, including two high school students, three elementary students, one toddler and three very young infants. Long after the media coverage has subsided, GRACE will continue to be there for these families to secure housing, material possessions, and emotional support. Many of these families live paycheck to paycheck and do not have renter’s insurance. Likewise, most families do not have

GRACE is teaming up with Baylor Institute of Rehabilitation’s Day Neuro program to integrate patients with traumatic brain injuries, strokes, and spinal cord injuries into the community and offer the opportunity to serve. For patients who opt in the service project, the group plans to come on a regular basis, where the team will sort goods and clothing and perform any special projects as needed.  It was important that the service time was voluntary to lend a sense of achievement and altruism with each patient. The additional benefits of a project at Donation Station are the repetitive movements that are fluid but not cumbersome. Assigning tasks also allows for critical thinking skills and decision making to improve mental and physical health. A special thanks to Baylor Rehab and the neuro patients who give their time and resources to help families in need! If your group is looking for a project or service day, we

If you receive our regular GRACE E-news, you likely catch a lot of buzz about our upcoming Gala Gifting Party on May 25. This party launches the Gala season and provides unique goods and services to make our auction a memorable success. The superb food selection and bottomless champagne make for a great night out, but the mission behind the soirée is a crucial element in serving the community. When a family or business owner makes a meaningful in-kind gift of a unique experience such as box seats, a vacation home stay or airline miles, these donations can be sold as a luxurious Gala Auction packages that generate the “every day funds” required to operate our programs. The proceeds from these gifts allow us to give hope to thousands of families and individuals overcoming hardship throughout the year. GRACE strives to utilize each resource to its fullest, so that children

“You don’t teach Leadership.  You have to live it.  You have to experience it.  You have to share it.  You have to show it.  And you have to provide opportunities for people to display it.” When you have the pleasure of working with a member of the GRACE Family of staff members, you realize very quickly that excellence is the rule, not the exception. Most of us here have heard our Executive Director, Shonda Schaefer, say, “I want you to leave here better than when you got here!” She is fiercely dedicated to developing leaders that will cultivate well-rounded individuals and enrich the community we love. Ample investment is offered to each staff member with the same expectation GRACE has with its clients: to challenge yourself in a way that reveals your best attributes to flourish personally and professionally. Several of our team members were recognized for their passion for leadership and

Thanks to the resources of volunteers and community supporters, GRACE was able to equip 287 qualifying families with tax assistance, financial coaching and nearly $400,000 in tax returns back to local families. There was an unprecedented 53% spike in client participation as compared to last year, broadening its significant impact on families in their journey toward self-sufficiency and financial independence. Each family received an impressive average of $2,000 in Earned Income Credit (EIC), which translates into rent, utilities and family savings. This service is designed for law-abiding residents struggling with a fixed income whose refund would likely been left undiscovered or given a fraction of the return with a costly tax service. The achievement for each family creates a ripple effect that is far reaching, including the intangible support given during tax season for financial stewardship awareness, job coaching, and continued education resources to increase each family’s earning potential. The

You’re invited to help us celebrate the upcoming Gala with live music, hors d’oeuvres and bottomless champagne during our annual Gala Gifting Party, Wednesday, May 25. Entry to this exclusive party is an item donation valued at a minimum of $100, which is auctioned at the Gala to fund GRACE programs. This event is graciously hosted by Gala Auction Chairs Anna Sheehan, Melissa Pritchett on behalf of the Auction Committee, and sponsored by our friends at Brio Tuscan Grille. 100% of all Gala proceeds advance the mission of GRACE by providing program funding throughout the year. In-kind donations of goods and services not only highlight local businesses with attendants, our Gala Auction generations a large portion of event revenue.   Some examples of in-kind donations include, but are not limited to: Any kind of tickets – concerts, sporting events, races – the sky is the limit. Autographed memorabilia. A vacation

When Shane Mara manned the last volunteer shift at the Grapevine Job Fair in April, he never could have planned on a divine appointment that would change the course of one woman’s life in a profound way. Weeks earlier Shane and his fellow Leadership Grapevine peers took a tour of the GRACE site and learned about GRACE programs, including our Transitional Housing program for predominantly single parent families fleeing domestic abuse or other crises. Shane was impressed with the types of services that GRACE offered, but like so many things that we come across from week to week, it had admittedly been a vague recall, until he met *Millie. Shane was conducting mock interviews, and as the day neared an end he found himself lost in conversation with Millie, a job fair prospect who was noticeably articulate and carried a poised demeanor. Shane saw that she would have no problem getting