July 24, 2000
Buckner opens rebuilt Dallas campus
___By Scott Collins
___Buckner News Service
___DALLAS--Calling it "one of the most historic days" in the 121-year history of Buckner Children's Home in Dallas, Ken Hall welcomed nearly 500 friends and supporters to help cut the ribbon on the home's $13.6 million renovation project.
___With help from donors, elected officials and Buckner alumni, Hall, president and CEO of Buckner Baptist Benevolences, officially declared the children's home open. The July 14 celebration was the culmination of nearly three years of planning, fund-raising and construction to rebuild the facilities on the historic site of Buckner Children's Home in East Dallas.
ALUMNI OF BUCKNER CHILDREN'S HOME sing the Buckner Hornets fight song during grand opening ceremonies at the rebuilt facility in East Dallas July 14. Former residents of the children's home spanning 80 years attended the festivities, which included the opening of a new Alumni Center.
___Along with $10.6 million being spent in the construction of five new buildings, Buckner also added more than $3 million to its long-term endowment for the children's home. Officials opened two new family style cottages, a new education center and a community center during the Grand Opening. Plans are under way to begin construction on a third cottage early this fall.
___"We have gathered today to continue the legacy and to dedicate the most beautiful children's care facility in the United States," Hall said during a dedication address. "For 121 years, quality, loving care for hurting children has been the mission of Buckner. Through those years, there have been at least three major reconfigurations of this campus. Each time, those who dedicated their new buildings did so knowing they were providing the best possible facilities for the children who live at Buckner."
___Hall called on those attending the ceremony to "offer ourselves for dedication--that we reaffirm our commitment and dedication to the mission of Buckner, so that we may say with our founder R.C. Buckner, 'Not one orphan child, but all orphan children.'"
___Felipe Garza, regional director for Buckner Children and Family Services, said Buckner programs in North Texas provide ministry to more than 14,000 children and families at risk, including after-school care, parenting classes, foster care and residential services.
___Each year, about 400 children live at the Dallas children's home, but never more than 60 at a time. Some stay as little as a few days. Others stay as long as a year. Children requiring homes for longer than that are matched with foster or adoptive families, Garza said.
___That's a different model from the early days of the Buckner Children's Home, when hundreds of children lived on the Dallas campus, many for years.
___"We want to keep the tradition going," Garza said. "The buildings have changed, the faces have changed, but how can you change a tradition of providing a loving home for children and support for families?"
___The Buckner tradition was celebrated during the grand opening by dozens of Buckner alumni who returned to the campus.
___Duncanville resident Jerre Simmons arrived at Buckner in 1943 with her four brothers and sisters after her father shot and killed their mother in front of them and, as the children fled the house, turned the gun on himself.
___She said that, like most children, she didn't appreciate all she had while she was at Buckner.
___"We complained a lot when we were here," said Simmons, who graduated from Buckner 50 years ago. "But Buckner was home to us. It was only when we left that we really understood that."
___
Send this story to a friend
Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!
