Viable Options in Community Endeavors

October 25th- Corsicana Daily Sun

CORSICANA - A home tour like no other will set in motion a VOICE fundraiser with Christmas cheer in Corsicana.
The Holiday Gala Home Tour, set to take place from 5-8 p.m. on Dec. 3, will give participants an early opportunity to get in the Christmas spirit with a tour of seven festively decorated Corsicana homes and sample hors d’oeuvres throughout the evening.
Local businesses including Canterbury Court, Victorian Sample, Cassidy’s and jewelry sold by Tressa Watkins will be set up in the homes to give participants an opportunity to begin their Christmas shopping. A percentage of the proceeds from those sales will be given to VOICE.
“It’s something that has never been done here before,” said event co-organizer Fran Townes. “It’s very flexible. There are some nice choices. Some people might just go to the houses for the shopping experiences.”
“It will be a fun-filled evening with a lot of holiday spirit, good times for all and something for everybody,” added event co-organizer Lynda Sloan of VOICE.
Carol singers will perform Christmas songs outside several of the homes as the tour takes place.
Horse drawn buggies and limousines will also be on hand to transport visitors from home to home at no extra cost if they choose not to use their own transport.
“When you tour the homes not only will you go there and see the home, but you will also have the opportunity to have an hors d’oeuvre. There will be several at each home and they will be decorated for the holidays,” Sloan said.
Addresses have not yet been revealed, but the tour will begin on Elmwood Avenue in Corsicana, where folks will be given a ticket or button allowing entrance to the remaining homes and a brochure. The tour will conclude at an address on Governor’s Drive, said Fran Townes, a co-organizer of the event.
Once the tour is concluded, the evening will continue at the same address with the beginning of a separate gala event from 8-12 p.m.. Heavy hors d'oeuvres will be served and the evening will be filled with live entertainment, dancing and Christmas cheer.
Raffle tickets with a grand prize will also be sold at the Gala evening. Four couples will receive a spa service of their choice at the Corsicana Downtown Spa and be taken to the Wicklow Inn. A large gift basket will be given to each couple full of donations from local businesses. The couples will then be picked up by a limousine for a progressive dinner to be held at four different homes before being returned to the Wicklow for late night European snacks and aperitifs. They will then stay the night at the Wicklow Inn and be served breakfast in the morning.
Money raised from the home tour, gala and raffle will help VOICE pay for programs including the Freedom School, the Navarro County College Achievement program, the Training Our Leaders program and La Voz Para La Familia (The voice of the family program), said co-organizer Toni Brown.
Sloan said Brown and Townes have been working 72 hours a week in support of VOICE and described them both as “wonderful volunteers.”
“This has been generously supported by the merchants and the people who have donated their homes for this. It’s been an overwhelming response to support this,” Brown said.
“It’s critical for us to get local support like this because it lets other donors know that we are valuable to the community, that we provide a service that is needed,” Sloan added. “We can’t continue offering all of the programs unless we do receive this local support.”
Prices for the tour are $60 per person. Prices for the separate gala are $125 per person. A combined package for the home tour and gala is $150 per person. Tickets must be pre-booked by calling Gina Dieterichs at VOICE on (903)-872-0180 between now and November 28th. Raffle tickets will cost $20 per ticket or six tickets for $100.

   

May 12, 2011

The families of the VOICE Program La Voz para la Familia (The Voice of the Family) Program gathered on May 12 to celebrate their accomplishments. The group was treated to dinner at The Cook Center and keynote speaker Eliseo Aldape.

Mr. Aldape had many kind words about La para la Familia and it’s positive influence in the community. He also spoke on the importance of education and parenting. Mr. Aldape pointed out that good values, morals, and ethics are all key in parenting.

The La Voz para la Familia Family of the Year Award was presented to the Villegas Family. The Villegas Family has been very active in La Voz para la Familia and have been a shining example of a family that has learned and achieved throughout the year.

The La Voz Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Rosa Aguero. “Mrs. Aguero has made a huge difference in our La Voz para la Familia Program,” explained Maybeth Mendez, “she has served as a wonderful mentor and had been very helpful and encouraging to other families.”

Most Improved was give to Aracely Morales this year. Mrs. Morales has worked very hard to reach her goals and has exceeded her own expectations.

For more information about La Voz para la Familia call 903-872-0180.