The University of Texas at Dallas Callier Center for Communication Disorders celebrated a milestone that was a decade in the making at its signature fundraising event April 19.
“To date, the Callier Cares Luncheon has raised more than $2 million, which has transformed the lives of countless children and adults with communication disorders,” said Angela Shoup BS’89, MS’92, PhD’94, the Ludwig A. Michael, MD Executive Director of the Callier Center. “I am deeply grateful for the philanthropic leadership of our foundation trustees and the luncheon chairmen over the past 10 years.”
The virtual event, hosted by the Foundation for the Callier Center and Communication Disorders, benefited patients in need through the Callier Care Fund. Last year, the luncheon was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, event proceeds totaled $240,650.
Cason Sherrod, who was born two months premature and suffered from significant hearing loss, is one patient who has benefited. As a child and later as a sophomore in high school, he received hearing aids and services at the Callier Center.
“I walked outside, and the first thing I heard was birds chirp for the first time,” Sherrod said in a video featured at the event.
Sherrod was able to access clinical care through the Callier Care Fund, which is supported by donors to help children and adults with speech, language and hearing disorders who cannot afford treatment. He went on to play baseball for Texas A&M University and is now a pitcher in the Miami Marlins’ minor league system.
“Obviously hearing aids aren’t cheap, but through the help of private funding and the donors that donate to Callier Center, they were able to make that possible for me,” Sherrod said. “Me going to A&M, me doing professional baseball — none of that would have been possible.”
To celebrate the luncheon’s 10th anniversary, founders Sara Martineau, Tricia George, Tincy Miller and Pam Busbee shared the event’s history and impact in a video shown during the event. It pays tribute to former luncheon chairmen who were recognized as the 2021 honorary luncheon chairmen: Libby Hunt (2012), Barbara Stuart (2013), Betsy Cullum and Sissy Cullum (2014), Tiffany Divis (2015), Angie Kadesky (2016), Emilynn Wilson (2017), Beth Thoele (2018), Beth Layton (2019) and Anne McPherson (2020). This year, Busbee served as luncheon chairman, and Christie Carter was underwriting chairman.
Wilson, president of the Foundation for the Callier Center, thanked supporters at the end of the event for their generosity.
“It is especially humbling to know that you are supporting the Callier Center and participating with us, even though we cannot be together in person,” Wilson said. “Your contributions transform the lives of those with communication disorders, helping them to communicate and connect. On behalf of Callier patients, thank you for your support and for caring about Callier.”
Underwriters for the event included Dr. Maynard and Mrs. Rosemarie Ewton; the Mason Brown Family Foundation; Robyn and Don Conlon; Rachel Gonzalez and Dr. Jeffrey Martin; Sally and Steve Hanna; and Lyda Hill Philanthropies.
Callier Care Awards
The Callier Center honored the recipients of the annual Ruth and Ken Altshuler Callier Care Award, which recognizes an individual or group who has contributed significantly to the betterment of the community and to advancing the care of patients with communication disorders.
Barbara and John Stuart received the 2020 award, and Betsy and Bennett Cullum were the 2021 honorees.
Among the Stuarts’ contributions to the North Texas community, they have been longtime supporters of The University of Texas System and the Callier Center.
“You can’t have better community ambassadors in your corner than Barbara and John,” said Brent Christopher, the 2019 award recipient and president of Children’s Medical Center Foundation who introduced the Stuarts during the luncheon.
For over a decade, John Stuart served on the Foundation for the Callier Center board of trustees, including serving as president from 2016 to 2017. Barbara Stuart serves on the board of directors for Children’s Medical Center Foundation.
The Stuarts’ passion for education stems from their college days at UT Austin, their alma mater. The Barbara White Stuart Centennial Professorship in Texas History was established in her honor. John Stuart served as chair of the Chancellor’s Council for the UT System. He also chaired the UT Austin McCombs School of Business Advisory Council.
Betsy and Bennett Cullum also share a long history of serving others in their native Dallas.
Bennett Cullum has served on the board of the Foundation for the Callier Center since 2008, including a term as president from 2014 to 2015. Under his leadership, the board raised funds to help build the Callier Center addition in Richardson, which expanded treatment services in North Texas and increased training opportunities for the next generation of audiologists and speech-language pathologists.
Betsy Cullum’s connection to Callier dates back to its predecessor, the Pilot Institute for Deaf Children. In the 1940s, her great uncle, Roy Munger, and his wife, Fay, contributed significantly to the Pilot School. In 1962 the Pilot School merged with other Dallas centers to form the Callier Hearing and Speech Center.
“The honor is particularly meaningful because Ruth worked diligently for the betterment of the Dallas community in both big and small ways,” said Betsy Cullum BS’77, who currently serves as the board chair of ChildCareGroup. “Ken was an outstanding leader of the Department of Psychiatry at UT Southwestern and devoted countless hours for the advancement of the Callier Center.”