This week, six women crossed the stage to receive their certificate of completion for the GRACE Transitional Housing program and it was nothing short of excellence. Hosted at the Vine Arts & Events Center in Grapevine once again, the Transitional Housing graduation was one for the books. These amazing women have been embarking on a life-altering journey for two years, and with the support of our wonderful community, they can achieve their goals of becoming self-sufficient. Every supporter, volunteer, and graduate was warmly welcomed by GRACE’s Chief Executive Officer, Shonda Schaefer, to another successful year of the Transitional Housing graduation. She noted that every graduate on stage had put in countless hours of hard work to pursue a new and improved life for themselves and their families. Rev. Sterling Smith, Pastor of White’s Chapel United Methodist Church, offered the invocation, while GRACE Board President, Traci Bernard, touched on great achievements

We would like to acknowledge Classic Chevrolet Fleet & Commercial, our cherished partnership and presenting sponsor, as we prepare for the upcoming GRACE Gala. For 14 years, Classic has been the presenting sponsor of the GRACE Gala. Their efforts to promote charity and community involvement have become a motivating factor for many individuals and organizations in the community. The Classic Charity Golf Tournament was held the last year, with the proceeds going to local charities like GRACE. The success of this competition allowed Classic Chevrolet to donate $47,000 to GRACE in support of our programs. Beyond being contented members of the dealership team, Classic Chevrolet’s employees have taken on tasks that go far beyond that. They have made an effort to contribute back to the community, by hosting annual luncheons, runs, and other events to help raise money for nonprofits and their efforts. GRACE has been blessed to partner with

You are cordially invited to help us kickoff to Gala season at our GRACE Gala Gifting Party. The Gifting Party helps to spread the word around the community about the GRACE Gala and the auction, all of which are fun for everyone who participates. We are incredibly thrilled to be hosting this well-liked event again this year, making it even bigger and better than before, and what better way to do so than to hold it at Crush It! Sports Lounge right here in Grapevine. Basha Ramsey, GRACE’s Special Events Manager, predicts that this year’s Gifting Party will be a successful night. “While we continue to work on the Gala, the GRACE Gala committee and especially the Auction Subcommittee, have done an excellent job preparing for the returning Gifting Party and I can guarantee that this will be an outstanding time. We are so excited.” On Wednesday, August 31st, from 5:30 pm to

This summer, The British Emporium put on a tasteful celebration of The Queen’s remarkable 70 years of service for those who couldn’t quite make it to London. Guests were able to participate in a variety of activities, such as “A Taste of Britain”, ‘Meet a Brit’, and U.K Author book signings. To top off the festivities, The British Emporium offered raffle tickets to win the rare Barbie Signature Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Doll, fit with a luxurious gown, accessories and all. All proceeds from the raffle were generously donated to GRACE, and it was a huge success! The funds raised by the limited edition collectors item will directly help clients involved in GRACE programs, and the winner could not have been more excited to accept the regal doll. We are so grateful for The British Emporium’s support and belief in what we do at GRACE. Donations of every size and

We have some of the most talented individuals in the GRACE community, ranging from future pilots to aspirational leaders in several nearby areas. They have all had an impact on others through their charisma, optimism, and talent, and we enjoy everything that they do. Ana Fores Tomayo, a member of our GRACE staff, has released her debut novel, Peregrina. The book is a collection of poems about Ana’s early life and what it was like to be an immigrant. The book takes the reader on a journey with a group of young ladies as they struggle through hardships as “pilgrims” looking for a better life. Ana has always been passionate about writing, despite the fact that she only recently began to publish her poetry. Many of her poems have appeared in journals, magazines, and other publications. She has also sold a number of her poems along with her photos at art

In preparation for the GCISD Back to School Fair, GRACE Client Services will be closing at 12:30pm on Friday, August 5th. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. In the case of an emergency, please call 817.602.1204.

Last week, over two dozen GRACE staff members, friends and volunteers enjoyed a Sunday afternoon of creative expression at the Painting with a Twist studio in Grapevine. All proceeds of the monthly Painting with a Purpose event directly benefitted GRACE. This year, almost $1100 was raised for the GRACE Transitional Housing program. Together, Colleen Grant and her team organized a two-hour painting session that beginners and professional artists alike could enjoy. All painting supplies and instructions were provided, and participants were able to create their personal interpretation of Sunny Bouquet, a bright, poppy sunflower scene. Participants at Painting with a Twist were encouraged to bring snacks and refreshments to sustain their creative endeavors. Instructors even ensure the artists well-being by announcing multiple “hydration breaks.” Previous painting experience is not necessary and is never required for any classes at the studio – which is where the refreshments come in handy! The classes

As our community expands daily, more and more fantastic groups are emerging to work alongside GRACE in serving our lovely community. A developing group called Latinos in Grapevine works to connect Latinx in the area with resources and other opportunities so that everyone can feel a part of and entrenched in the community. Latinos in Grapevine was established in 2021 by Yvette Lopez with three main objectives: to empower Latinx, to act as a link to the Grapevine leadership team, and to provide numerous Latinx families and children in Grapevine with opportunities for information and educational purposes. According to a recent DataUSA survey, 21% of the population of Grapevine is currently Latinx. Earlier this year, the husband of GRACE’s Bilingual Client Services caseworker Ana Fores Tamayo spoke on a panel hosted by Latinos in Grapevine. While discussing GRACE’s service opportunities with Ana’s husband, Yvette had the idea to hold a

Every day is a good day to give back to the community you love, and we appreciate the growing number of people who consider GRACE when deciding how they might help their community. This fabulous community has consistently supported GRACE for many years, whether it’s through volunteer work, a food donation, or even 275 pairs of unworn jeans! In 2019, Jennifer Lipman established Porter Blue Apparel, a line of sustainable clothes, with the intention of giving customers high-quality, carbon-neutral denim staples. One thing that draws attention to Porter Blue is that they take their cues from bygone eras, appreciating timeless and classic silhouettes that have been given a contemporary makeover. When Jennifer contacted GRACE last week, she told our staff that she had discovered a “unique situation” in which she had a total of 275 pairs of brand-new, first-quality jeans that she wanted to donate to GRACE! When questioned why she

The 19th annual GRACE Gala is 16 weeks away as of this Saturday, and one can only imagine the amount of preparation that goes into transforming the Irving Convention Center into one of Grapevine’s most anticipated black-tie premiere events. Staff and committee members alike are doing an outstanding job at bringing this spectacular production to life. Earlier this week, the Gala committee met at Stone House restaurant in Colleyville, for a light happy hour and to discuss auction items for the Gala. Everyone enjoyed themselves immensely during the meeting as they dove into deep thought for new and exciting auction items this year. The owner of Stone House, Lisa Pardo, and her cordial staff kept spirits high with mounds of delicious appetizers and beverages. Most importantly, everyone had a chance to share ideas with one another on how they could get more of the community involved with the GRACE Gala.