In 1988, I was invited to help out a small charity called Be An Angel by wrapping presents, making a contribution, and giving some free radio ads to promote this charity. Be An Angel is focused on helping children with severe or multiple disabilities and their families. At the time the focus was to provide Christmas gifts for the children. In 1988 there were only 5 volunteers, as I recall, and we bought and wrapped specific gifts for the needs of the children with disabilities.
Over the last 34 years, we have grown to a charity that has hundreds of volunteers each year to shop and wrap gifts. We fill multiple 18-wheeler truckloads of toys, clothes, and other needs for thousands of children each year. This year we served over 5,000 children with disabilities.
Each child is shopped for individually. Children who are blind, or deaf, or cannot speak or move need very specific toys. A special needs teacher provides us with a list of the students and their needs. We shop for each child, return the gifts to the teacher and they give them to the parents of that child. It's a sophisticated operation all run by volunteers and a few staff members. It needs to be because each child has very specific needs.
In addition to Christmas, we have built over 30 playgrounds for children with disabilities that they can enjoy with non-disabled children. We supply hearing aids, computers that can speak for children who cannot, equipment to help their parents at home, automated wheelchairs, summer camps for families, and much more.
I am told I have helped raise nearly 20 million dollars over these 34 years through our radio station listeners and many others. It has been a blessing for me and my family these last 34 years to have an opportunity to help. Our overhead is extremely small. We do a lot for these children with a few paid staff. Our goal is to give as much money as we can to those in need.
As the year comes to a close, many people decide on year-end giving. I would ask you to consider adding Be An Angel to your list of giving. We have to replenish our funds each year and prepare for the upcoming year. Thank you for your consideration. For many of our thousands of kids and their families, we are a major help at Christmas and throughout the year to help them with their needs.
You can give here at Be An Angel.
Thank you and may you and your family have a blessed Christmas and New Year.
Sincerely,
Dan Patrick
Lieutenant Governor of Texas
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