The Center For BrainHealth get-together on Thursday, March 31, turned into a surprise party of sorts. While guests like Beverly and Don Freeman, Ka Cotter, Debbie Francis, Brent Lake, Cheryl Wattley, Marissa Horne, Steve White, Pam Doeppe, Kevin Ann Marcyes, Cheryl Gosch, Darron Ash, Sarah Jane and Noah Chapman, Mary and TJ Jackson, Gano and Mel Ehlers, Sarah Losinger, Maria Conroy, Josey and Craig Kennington and Gail Plummer thought it was just a friendly gathering at Jean Ann Brock‘s home, there was something afoot. In fact, there were three major developments announced to the group. One was thanks to the ever-generous Sammons Enterprises Inc., while the other two involved a “limitless” project that was well on its way to success. Here’s a report from the field:
Center for BrainHealth closed out the month of March with a reception for friends and friends-of-friends at the home of Jean Ann Brock. BrainHealth Chief Director Dr. Sandi Chapman kept guests intrigued by simply inviting them to hear a transformative announcement from her and her BrainHealth Project co-leaders, former Dallas mayor Tom Leppert, Dr. Geoff Ling and Dr. Ian Robertson, who flew in all the way from Dublin, Ireland.
Jean Ann joked that she knew everyone in the room must truly be dedicated to Center for BrainHealth, since they had trekked all the way to her home (off Keller Springs and the Tollway) at 5:30 p.m. on a weekday! She also gave every guest a special parting gift – a beautiful picture frame. She asked them to put a photo in it of someone they love and, every time they look at it, to think of what it would mean for that person to have better brain health.
What was the big news all about? After much anticipation, Dr. Chapman revealed that Center for BrainHealth just received the largest single corporate donation in its 22-year history: a multi-year gift from Sammons Enterprises, Inc. While the humble and generous Sammons team does not want the amount publicized, their investment is so significant that the Center’s state-of-the-art imaging facility will be named the Sammons BrainHealth Imaging Center in perpetuity.
Sammons Enterprises CEO Heather Kreager shared with those gathered that while Sammons had excellent physical wellness programs for their employees, the missing piece had been well-being and resilience for the brain. She said they were drawn to BrainHealth’s new way of looking at the brain and its upward potential with data-driven science, adding that Sammons is “very pleased and privileged to partner with an organization that is now looking at the next frontier of wellness.”
Dr. Chapman also revealed that BrainHealth is launching the public phase of its comprehensive fundraising campaign, called Limitless. With the Sammons gift and contributions from numerous other supporters, she announced a significant milestone – BrainHealth has surpassed 60% of the $50 million campaign goal.
With his lilting Scottish accent, Dr. Robertson summed up the celebratory environment: “It was inspiring to sense the possibilities that are just around the corner, when people of every age and stripe are able to live their most vibrant, fulfilling lives by making the most of their limitless brain power.”
* Photo provided by Center for BrainHealth