Jade Monfils at Bea's Kids Benefit Gala

Saturday night there was a benefit gala/auction for an organization known as Bea's Kids. The organization was started by Bea Salazar 18 years ago. She was a disabled single mother of 5, and was barely making ends meet, when one day she went out to throw her garbage away. At the dumpster she found a young boy digging through the trash. Since it was summer time, he was not in school; therefore not getting the breakfast and lunch served there. He was hungry, but Bea threw the piece of bread that he had found back in the trash, and he began to cry. Since she was new to the apartment complex she didn't want her neighbors to think that she was hurting the boy, so she took him home and made him a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. After he left there were 6 more children that came knocking at her door, asking for food. She thought that once school started the children would stop coming. She was wrong, once school started she continued to get kids asking for help with their homework. This was mostly due to the English language barrier that the children had at their own homes. Bea took the initiative and asked her apartment complex to donate an empty apartment to start a safe after-school program. She went to the local high school and asked the Honor Society students if they could tutor these children. What she did many years ago, lives on today. She has 4 after-school centers in the Dallas area, a school named after her, and has been honored by Oprah, President George Bush, and President Bill Clinton. She is an inspiration and I was so honored to meet her and help with the fundraiser for her organization. I had the opportunity to meet several volunteers, and board members at the event which was held at CityPlace downtown. It was a rewarding night, and I am glad that I was able to raise money for this wonderful cause!