The Turtle Wing Foundation Toast is an appreciation event held annually to Remember, Rejoice & Renew. This year will be the 9th annual Toast, and the theme is “Turtle Wing’s Got Talent”. The event is open to the families, volunteers, sponsors and community supporters who have helped Turtle Wing become what it is today along with anyone who is interested in learning more about the foundation. The Turtle Wing Toast will be held at Sengelmann Hall in Schulenburg on Thursday, January 23, 2020. The event is free! Doors will open at 6 PM and there will be hors d’oeuvres and tea served along with a cash bar. During this time, board members and staff will be available to share information and answer questions. Additionally, Turtle Wing merchandise will be available for sale and there will be a small silent auction. The program will start at 7 PM, with a welcome from Founder, DeeAnn Hooper, and an overview of the prior year’s activities from Managing Director, Susie Shank. Turtle Wing’s "Dancing Turtles", an inclusive dance program taught at On Pointe Studio and underwritten by Turtle Wing Foundation and Down Syndrome Foundation of South Texas, will perform. Then some of Turtle Wing’s youth and young adults who are participating in a Songwriting Workshop prior to the Toast will be featured. They will share some of their creations, and will be accompanied by Terri Hendrix and Lloyd Maines, who will have facilitated the workshop earlier in the week. Turtle Wing was able to involve Hendrix and Maines due to the very generous support of Texas Commission on the Arts, The Bugle Boy Foundation, and Arts for Rural Texas. A few other surprise talents will be shared throughout the evening, with the intent of cementing Turtle Wing’s vision of “helping children grow wings and fly” in everyone’s mind as the board asks everyone to Renew their commitment to the mission of “helping children with learning challenges in rural areas achieve their full potential.” For more information, contact Susie Shank at (979)505-5090. Turtle Wing has been providing Early Intervention, Supplemental Services and Community Education & Advocacy programming to children and families with academic, social-emotional, behavioral and/or developmental needs since 2012. Annually, over 325 children are receiving direct services with thousands more benefiting indirectly through education and advocacy work. Anyone interested in learning more is encouraged to attend the Turtle Wing Toast, visit the Turtle Wing Facebook page @turtlewingfoundation, or the website www.turtlewingfoundation.org.
Photo: Lloyd Maines & Terri Hendrix