Here we are, almost 9 years after beginning Legacy of Hope Austin. What a ride it has been! As you've noted as you've been on the site, we are now reorganized and have our 501(c)3 designation through one of the programs we originally started with, 2dance2dream. When we kicked off almost 9 years, 2dance2dream was one of four programs we offered, and over time, it became clear that 2dance2dream was where we needed to focus our energies. A couple of years ago, after serving as the founder and Executive Director of Legacy of Hope Austin and its programs, I determined that it was time to remain on the board, but to have McKenna-Jane Carr continue as the director over 2dance2dream, the legacy of Legacy of Hope Austin. We reorganized at that time and today are thrilled to celebrate that 2dance2dream is growing faster than ever and is serving so many amazing individuals and their families.
Thank you for being part of the journey.
Julie Lyles Carr, founder and former Executive Director of Legacy of Hope Austin, is the wife of Michael and mother of eight children ranging in ages from 28 down to 11 year old twins. Two of her children are children with special needs and it was through the experience of procuring diagnosis, therapies and medical devices that Julie developed a vision for helping serve other special needs families.
She writes:
Over time, that vision has come to fruition, originally in Legacy of Hope Austin, and now in its program 2dance2dream, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to bringing arts and family support to individuals with special needs and their families.While we were not prepared to learn that our fourth child was hearing impaired and our seventh child had experienced a stroke, we were completely unprepared for the fights with insurance companies, the out-of-pocket expenses, the strain on our marriage and finances and emotions. As I sat in many a waiting room with each of my girls, watching the beauty of devoted parents care for their children and the stress they were carrying in their responsibilities, I began to wonder about what kind of support was available to these families. As I began to hear these families' stories and journeys, it awakened in me a longing to bring opportunities to celebrate these amazing kids and their families through the arts, through nights out and through creating support programs that could bring a bit of ease to their lives.
