WHO/WHAT:

Haynes Boone will present the Eric Nadel Birthday Benefit benefitingGrantHalliburton Foundation on Thursday, May 16, at The Kessler Theater featuring headliner Rhett Miller. KXT 91.7 is the media sponsor.

Tickets are on sale and going fast, with standing-room-only tickets remaining. Sponsorships are sold out. Celebrating its 12thannual concert, the Eric Nadel Birthday Benefit is the namesake’s way of giving back to help further mental health efforts. A mental health advocate, Nadel is best known as the longtime radio voice of the Texas Rangers, the 2023 World Series Champions.

The event features Dallas nativeRhett Miller, acclaimed singer, songwriter, and best known as the frontman of the Dallas-based alt-country band the Old 97’s. He is also a long-time mental health advocate. Opening the show is Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Leslie Mendelson, who drew worldwide attention for her collaboration with Jackson Browne on “Human Touch,” written and performed for the 2019 documentary film “5B.”

The fundraiser event also features a live and silent auction to help raise funds to support the work of Grant Halliburton Foundation, a local nonprofit that provides mental health education, training, and support to North Texas children, teens, and families. For more information, visit GrantHalliburton.org.

WHEN:

Thursday, May 16, 2024

7:00 p.m. Doors open

7:45 p.m. Leslie Mendelson, opener, performs

9:00 p.m. Rhett Miller, headliner, performs

WHERE: The Kessler Theater, 1230 W. Davis St., Dallas

INFORMATION/TICKETS: GrantHalliburton.org/ericnadel.

Talent Bios:

Rhett Miller, a Dallas native, is best-known as the frontman of the Dallas-based alt-country band the Old 97’s, although he has also pursued a critically acclaimed solo career and toured relentlessly for many years. Most of Miller’s solo albums are dominated by cool, melodic pop tunes with a drier and more confessional bent than his work with the band.

An accomplished author, Miller has written two children’s books, “No More Poems! A Book in Verse That Just Gets Worse” and “The Baby-Changing Station” as well as numerous articles for national publications including “Rolling Stone,” “Salon,” and “The Atlantic.” He also hosts a popular podcast, “Wheels Off,” a show about the messy reality of the creative life. A long-time mental health advocate, Rhett appeared in 2016 as part of the Okay to Say campaign, encouraging the use of therapy to address mental health issues.

Leslie Mendelson, a Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter, drew worldwide attention for her collaboration with Jackson Browne on “Human Touch,” written and performed for the 2019 documentary film “5B.” She then toured with Browne, which included a performance at Austin City Limits. Her collaborations with Bob Weir are frequently streamed on YouTube and she has opened shows for Roger Daltrey and The Who, among many others. Leslie will tour extensively this year to support her soon-to-be-released album, “After the Party,” which includes the singles “Other Girls” and “Rock ‘n’ Roll on the Radio.”

About Grant Halliburton Foundation

Grant Halliburton Foundation was established in 2006 in memory of a Dallas teen who battled depression and bipolar disorder for several years before his suicide death at the age of 19. The Foundation that bears his name works to help families and young people through education, resources, and support. Since 2006, the Foundation has provided mental health and suicide prevention education and training to more than 325,000 students, educators, parents, and professionals. The Foundation also offers Here For Texas, which includes HereForTexas.com and the Here For Texas Mental Health Navigation Line. These free community tools, available in English and Spanish, aim to offer easy access for North Texans seeking mental health and substance use information and resources. Learn more about Grant Halliburton Foundation at GrantHalliburton.org.

Event Features 5k Run/One-Mile Walk & Festival With Live Music, Art to Redefine Disabilities

The 30^th Annual U&I Dash will be held Saturday, March 23^rd at Klyde Warren Park in Dallas featuring a 5K & 1 mile benefiting U&I’s Underdogs -- those with disabilities who have been underestimated and undervalued for far too long.

Early registration is available online at thedash24.com. Race day registration and packet pickup begins at 7:00 am and the race will start promptly at 8:30 am. The 5K fee is $35 for adults 18 & over. The one-mile fee is $25 for adults 18 & over. The fee for 5k or 1 mile is $15 for children 17 & younger. Included in the fee is a custom competition medal, a dry fit-style running shirt, race bib, and for participants 21 years and older, a Mi Cocina Mango Margarita at the finish line. DJ D-Train will be setting the mood to keep the celebration going at the dog-friendly race. 

“We’re redefining disabilities,” said Hugh Breland, CEO of U&I, a 72-year-old nonprofit that empowers individuals with disabilities. “Many of the clients we serve have been designated as unemployable and have been told they can’t work. We know they are capable of so much more. Our organization provides employment, housing, transportation and vocational training for veterans, adults and youth with disabilities. This race will help fund programs to assist the most vulnerable across DFW and beyond.” 

The 5K is chip-timed, and age group awards will be presented during the post-race ceremony. Age group categories include: Overall Male and Female; Male Masters; Female Masters; as well as Male & Female First to Third Place in the following age categories: 9 & under; 10 – 19; 20 – 29; 30 – 39; 40 – 49; 50 – 59; 60 – 69; and 70+.

The course will wind through the Dallas Arts District and Uptown neighborhoods.  The post-race ceremony and celebration includes a DJ, face painting, balloon artists, a Mi Cocina food truck, the McDonald’s Midway interactive playground, the Redefining Disabilities art exhibit, and the U&I Underdog Wall presented by Michaels for participants to sign their name. 

The festivities continue later in the day with the U&I Dash Festival from 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm at Klyde Warren Park. There will be fun activities for the whole family with DJ Sober mixing live alongside a full line-up of amazing musicians, the McDonald’s Midway featuring games, face painting and interactive activities; culinary delights and spirits by Mi Cocina; live art demonstrations by local artists and items for sale by Dallas-makers and brands in the Shop Local Lane. 

The lineup of performing artists include DJ Sober, Dorrough, Tay Money, Lil Earl, Ash Tag, Carrissa Cruz, Muriel, EJ Galvez, DJ Ari, and Mayta. 

Explore the “Redefining Disabilities Experience” immersive art show and experience the Michaels Creativity Zone featuring the Rise Up Live Art Show and Inspiration Stations. Admission to the family-friendly festival is free and open to the public. Donations are suggested to help U&I fulfill its mission of supporting members of our community with disabilities. 

Visual artists featured at the event are Magdiel Lopez, Temi Coker, Carlos Donjuan, Kyle Steed, Dora Zeneth Reynosa, Mariel Guzman, Agustin Chavez aka Dummy Fresh, Hatziel, and Drigo. Each artist is donating their work to be auctioned off to the public with proceeds going to U&I.

Event sponsors include NAI Robert Lynn, Mi Cocina, Michaels, Kumar/McDonald’s, Klyde Warren Park, Veritex Community Bank, Park Place Dealerships, SPCA of Texas, The Box Company, Artwork 10, Interior Runway, and Pink Porch Productions. 

In 1951, Jean Walker Bentley overcame cultural barriers and spoke out for disabled children and their families. She started the Children’s Development Center to meet the scholastic and socialization needs of children with special needs. In 1981, the federal government mandated that public schools had the responsibility to educate children with disabilities. The organization evolved to help veterans find employment and provide vocational training for special education students preparing to transition out of high school.

Today, as one of the largest workforce development centers in North Texas, U&I continues to meet the needs of disabled individuals by providing vocational training, job readiness training, paid work opportunities and community placement to more than 1000 youth and adults with severe intellectual, physical and/or mental health disabilities. More information about U&I is available at uandispreadthelight.com.

# # #

As spring break approaches, families now have an exciting new option for innovative and memorable activities to do in D/FW. Puttshack, renowned as the world's first upscale, tech-infused mini golf experience, has recently opened its first location in the D/FW metroplex in Addison. Spanning 32,000 square feet over two stories, this social entertainment venue is poised to become the go-to destination for families seeking to create lasting memories over spring break.

Nestled in the vibrant Village on the Parkway, Puttshack is an exciting addition to the already lively open-air shopping destination. With its reputation as a hub for entertainment, dining, and retail, the Village on the Parkway offers the ideal setting for families looking to enjoy a variety of activities during spring break. 

Puttshack Addison now offers two distinct tech-infused mini golf experiences: the 9-Hole mini golf courses and the competitive Challenge Hole. The latter includes a dedicated suite featuring custom games and full-service dining, providing guests with a unique and immersive mini-golf experience. Whether families choose the 9-Hole mini golf courses or the exciting Challenge Hole, they're in for a treat with automated scoring, bonus point opportunities, interactive games, and more—ensuring fun for every member of the family. 

To complement the exciting gameplay, Puttshack's globally-inspired menu has been carefully crafted by their seasoned food and beverage team. Designed to warm hearts and satisfy taste buds, the menu pays homage to local flavors. Highlights include the Texas Tailpipes—spring rolls filled with green chile pork, bacon fat tamale, Fresno chile & Chihuahua cheese, avocado salsa & poblano cheese dipping sauce. The menu also features a local favorite, the Chicken & Waffle Flatbread.

Operating from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. on Sunday through Wednesday and extending the excitement until 1 a.m. on Thursday through Saturday, Puttshack Addison offers family-friendly hours. While kids are welcome until 8 p.m., the venue transforms into a 21+ atmosphere afterward.

Families eager to kick off their spring break adventures can make reservations at Puttshack.com/Addison, setting the stage for a spring break filled with family fun and unforgettable moments.

By Amy Cushner

Associate Head of Shelton School

Educator Elizabeth Stone once wrote that having a child is “to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.” When children are hurt, parental emotions trigger a call to action. But what if the hurt is invisible? What if the struggle is not seen or the effects are not felt until years later? This is the path of a child with a learning difference.

A constitutional learning difference is a person with average to above average intelligence, who is at risk for failing when exposed to standard methods of education, due to neurological processing difficulties. This is not related to effort. Common learning differences are dyslexia (decoding, spelling), ADHD, oral language disorders, dysgraphia (handwriting) and dyscalculia (math). Learning Differences affect approximately 20 percent of the population or one in five children and adults. A learning difference is not overt or transparent like a skinned knee — unless the soft signs are present and the eye is trained to see them. 

Early Signs

Dr. Sylvia Richardson, pediatrician, speech pathologist, Montessorian, former president of the International Dyslexia Association and advocate for early intervention of learning differences, said, “If you would identify children who are high risk for failure in academic learning tasks, with the goal of providing early intervention, evaluate: coordination, language, attention, perception, social-emotional.” 

Delays in these areas during the critical developmental stage of birth to 6 are the early signs of a potential learning difference. Simply remember C-L-A-P-S. Delays, no matter the level of severity in any or all of these areas, can be acted on with early intervention. This is not new information. In 1902, James Hinchelwood was the first advocate of record to give the clarion call of action for early intervention. He said, “The sooner the nature of the child’s deficit is recognized, the better the chances of the child’s improvement.”

Time to Act

The conduit for a parent to understand and get help for these areas of child development can be a pediatrician, speech pathologist or early childhood educator. We can also build awareness and understanding of typical versus atypical child development through the use of online developmental charts and checklists or websites such as Understood.org. Podcasts from researchers like Dr. Sally Shaywitz address early signs of dyslexia. Intervention includes work with a speech-language pathologist, occupational therapist and attending a school that specializes in working with children at risk prior to kindergarten, such as Shelton’s Early Childhood. 

Katrina De Hirsch, a pioneer in early learning disabilities, once wrote, "Our present-day knowledge is sufficient to clear the way for preventive work. We are undoubtedly able to pick out those youngsters in kindergarten who are liable to turn into dyslexic children. Exposing these particular youngsters to a different educational approach would eliminate much of the later-developing frustrations and disabilities." 

We are stewards of our children’s future, for they cannot make decisions regarding intervention. Our children cannot afford for us to “wait and see.”

Amy Cushner is Associate Head of Shelton School, Early Childhood-Sixth Grades at the Shelton School in Dallas, Texas. She holds an M. Ed., is a CALT, Qualified Instructor in MSLE programs for written language disorders and is Montessori certified, Elementary 1. Most important to Amy, she has 30 years of joyful experience in working with children with learning differences and their families. 

Skinny Leg Tribe is proud to support the American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, through Life Is Why™, a cause marketing campaign benefiting the American Heart Association. Life Is Why inspires consumers to celebrate their reasons to live healthier, longer lives – by giving.

"Cardiovascular diseases claim the lives of 1 in 3 women, more than all cancers combined. I am extremely passionate about supporting cardiovascular research and creating awareness of the signs and symptoms of a heart attack or stroke among women. I lost my mother-in-law to a heart attack," said Skinny Leg Tribe Founder Kimberly Scott. "Our cherry red Vacilon over-the-knee style, debuting this month, offers the perfect opportunity for my company to support the American Heart Association's efforts to create awareness and change these statistics while creating a brighter future for all women."

Through the end of the month, a portion of all online sales of the cherry red Vacilon boot through https://skinnylegtribe.com will provide shoppers the opportunity to donate quickly and efficiently to support the mission of the American Heart Association.  Funds raised will be contributed to the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women® program, which supports cardiovascular research and promotes women's heart health awareness during the month of February. Donations through the Life is Why campaign – no matter the amount – allow the Association to implement initiatives such as funding research that can improve the health outcomes of heart and stroke patients, training more than 2.5 million high school students in CPR annually, and supporting the work of local entrepreneurs and organizations working to improve health outcomes in under-resourced communities. To learn more about the Life is Why campaign and other participating companies, please visit heart.org.

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for a century. During 2024 - our Centennial year - we celebrate our rich 100-year history and accomplishments. As we forge ahead into our second century of bold discovery and impact our vision is to advance health and hope for everyone, everywhere. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.  

Skinny Leg Tribe is a collection of luxury leather boots tailored to offer the perfect fit for petite women and women with slender calves. Even more notable, the Skinny Leg Tribe is on a mission to create a community of support for petite and slender-legged girls and women, regardless of their shape and size, while offering footwear that delivers the perfect fit, phenomenal comfort, timeless style, and luxurious quality. Skinny Leg Tribe sells luxury leather boots in US sizes 6 to 11. Calf sizes are 11.5, 12.5, 13.5, and 14 inches, and shin sizes measure 11.0, 12.0, 13.0 and 14.0 inches. Prices range from $795 –$995. For more information, visit the website.