While the wait-and-taste continued around the corner at FIG on Friday, March 2, for the North Texas Food Bank’s Empty Bowls, the Dallas Can Academies staff was relieved that their Friday, March 2nd fundraiser — Dallas Cares For Kids — was out of the fray.
Honorary Co-Chairs Carol and Steve Aaron had beat the traffic jam at ground zero (Ross at Akard). As Carol with her Tiffany blue eyes surrounded by a black lashes chatted with Texans Can Academies President/CEO Richard Marquez, Steve took off hiss glasses to eye the signage listing the sponsors. He smiled and said that come August he and Carol would celebrating their 58th wedding anniversary. Chuckling he added he had dated her five years before we wed. That union had produced five children and a dozen grandchild, “But no great grandchildren yet.”
Proudly he told how both their kids and grand kids had become part of the family business, Stevens Transport Trucking and Transport Services, but he added he wasn’t ready to turn the company over to the next generation yet. Perhaps in 58 years? He laughed again, smiled and rejoined Carol.
Just then Co-Honorees Janelle and Larry Friedman arrived to be greeted by Janelle’s mom Shirley Gardner, their daughters (Ava Friedman, Heather Friedman and Taylor Friedman), Yvette Feiger and Dallas Can Academy Ross Avenue students Ka’vasia Johnson and Octavious Strahan.
As Janelle hugged 18-year-old Dallas Can Academy Ross Avenue student Nia Parson, Larry looked like a politician greeting one and all like old friends. Little did many know that Janelle had initiated and conducts an etiquette program for Dallas Can Academy students in addition to having motivational speakers talk with students on how to hone their skills into achieving their plans for the future. Her goal is to prepare the students for life after the Academy.
When asked how his firm’s Puerto Rico office was doing following the devastating Hurricane Maria, he dimmed slightly and said just the day before his Puerto Rico team had reported the day had suffered a power outage. Was the stress getting to him? Nah. The only stress that got to him was Janelle, as he laughed and joined her.