I want to wish everyone a very happy and healthy New Year. We are already on track for another great year. I also want to thank the new Board members for wanting to be part of the big dreams coming true for the organization. I look forward to great things this year with you. This past year we had some successful fundraisers, big response on Grants and continued donations from businesses and the community at large.

We opened a third Center in North Dallas in August 2007 and the fourth Center will open mid-February in the Dallas in the Northwest Highway/Bachman Lake area. New staff has been hired to provide the best help for the children.

We had a very successful Christmas Program and thanks to a very caring community all the children enjoyed a very pleasant holiday season.

Our number of Volunteers also continues to increase. This means with their able assistance the children now have a much better chance at learning.

Thank you to everyone who in one way or another has helped us make a big difference in children’s lives.

If just one person cares
That little love will go far
And change a child’s life forever

Who would have thought 17 years ago that a peanut butter and jelly sandwich would grow to be something that changed in a very good way so many children’s lives?

Make a difference in a child’s life - make your donation online today, or contact our office at 214.417.9061.

Bea Salazar
Founder/President, Ex-Officio

It is also my hope that you give back to someone or some organization that serves the less fortunate. Of course, it is my hope that you would select Bea’s Kids as the recipient of your resources but any giving back to any organization enriches us all.

It is exciting times as we open our fourth tutoring Center in the Bachman Lake / Webb Chapel/ Northwest Highway area in mid-February, and we once again forge ahead to help more students stay in school and break the cycle of poverty.

Thank you to those of you who have already contributed to the 2007-08 Annual Giving Fund and if you have not, we hope that you will consider contributing to Bea’s Kids as we continue to grow and touch more lives.

If you have an hour or two a month (or more!) to be a Volunteer tutor we can guarantee that the return on your investment of time will be much more than you can calculate.

Thank you to all of you for your continued support of Bea’s Kids.

Diana Franzetti
Executive Director, Ex-Officio

Carrollton Center

The beginning of 2008 saw changes at the Carrollton Tutoring Center. Rhonda Miller became the Director and Deborah Dalrymple stepped into the Tutoring Manager position.

Rhonda comes to Bea’s Kids via New Orleans, holds a MA in Political Science from American University in Washington, DC and currently teaches at Eastfield College in Mesquite. She is adamant about all Bea’s Kids students graduating from high school and going on to college, and is very excited to be with Bea’s Kids. The students are already responding positively to her.

Deborah has been with Bea’s Kids almost a year and is thrilled to have the opportunity to rotate amongst the four tutoring Centers working with all the students. Her expertise in tutoring and interacting with the students is a great asset to the program. Deborah holds a BS in Math and Computer Science from the University of Texas Arlington and has more than 20+ years experience in Management IT Systems.

The fourth Bea’s Kids Tutoring Center will open in several weeks and Gerald Krumenacker, Jr. was hired in December as Director. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Dallas and a Master of Divinity, Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, Evanston, Illinois. His bilingual skills have already been put to use as he works to open the new Tutoring Center in the Webb-Chapel/Bachman Lake area of Dallas.

Farmers Branch Center

Cathy Foxworth, Director, continues to successfully assist the numerous students at the Farmers Branch Tutoring Center as she and the Volunteer tutors continuously encourage the students to achieve their goals. Over the holidays Cathy and Deborah created an Accomplishment Log which allows the students to track their homework and worksheets to accumulate points to be used for computer time. Under Cathy’s guidance the Farmers Branch students are already seeing positive results.

North Dallas Center

The North Dallas Tutoring Center has been going full speed since it opened in August 2007. Kids have come and gone for various reasons, but those that have stayed, are all hard workers and have been a joy to work with. Even with some of the challenges they face, mainly the English barrier, some have been able to excel. Jesus Mendoza, a third grader, earned all A’s the second six weeks. Bianca Fabela, a second grader, is a great reader who is setting an example for other Bea’s Kids. She often chooses reading over television or playing games and the other children recognize this.

Thanks to generous volunteers/donors, the students were given a wonderful Christmas and some have been able to go on field trips. From visiting a half million dollar home to taking their first trip to Barnes and Noble, the North Dallas Center students are being exposed to new adventures and possibilities.

Thank you to our volunteers!

On December 15th, Bea’s Kids hosted a Volunteer Appreciation Reception to honor the wonderful volunteers who served in our tutoring Centers this fall. Our theme was The Essential Piece as we celebrated the important role that over 40 volunteer tutors play in the lives of the children of Bea’s Kids. Special recognition was given to Nancy Van Tiem, Sheila O’Malley and Julie Garrett who all served over 30 hours tutoring in our Centers. Also recognized were Teresa Douglas, Reggie Foxworth, Placida Hernandez, Nancy Lopez, Blixa Markham, Mechelle Moore, Adam Sebastian, and Mahnaz Tseng for their special service to Bea’s Kids.

We would also like to recognize several groups and organizations who took time this fall to volunteer with us, supporting our Mission to keep children in school and to break the cycle of poverty.

These include:

• Boy Scout Troop #114
• Hitachi Consulting
• National Charity League – Golden Corridor Chapter
• Parish Episcopal School
• The Pilot Club
• Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
• Newman Smith High School Key Club
• Sonshine Girls
• Xerox Capital Service – The Hispanic Forum
• Young Men’s Service League

Lisa Vaughn
Director of Volunteers

Be sure not to miss out on any of the upcoming Bea's Kids events:

Casino Night/Texas Hold'em - February 2

Ribbon Cutting for New Dallas Center - March 1

Woman of Inspiration Luncheon - May 2

972.417.9061