Welcome Our Newest Advisory Board Member

Welcome to our newest Advisory Board member, Leah Bennett. We are honored!

Leah Bennett, CFA
President, Westwood Trust

Ms. Bennett was appointed President of Westwood Trust, Houston in March 2018. Prior to joining Westwood in 2016, Ms. Bennett was Co-Chief Investment Officer at South Texas Money Management, where she shared responsibility for overseeing the investment strategies of the firm.

Prior to that, she was a Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer at King Investment Advisors, Inc. and a Research Analyst for Capital Research & Management. In June of 2017, Ms. Bennett was elected to the CFA Global Board of Governors, where she serves on the Audit and Risk Committee.

She is a former President and Director of CFA Society Houston and is a Co-Founder of the CFA Women in Investment Management initiative and the CFA Institute Global Research Challenge of the Southwest. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council, on the Wright Fund Oversight Board at Rice University and on the Advisory Council of Executives (ACEs) at the Bill Greehey School of Business at St. Mary’s University. Ms. Bennett earned her Bachelor of Science in economics from Texas A&M University.

 

Sharing a “Thank You”

Sharing a “thank you” from a family we were able to help because of YOUR generosity!

My 6-year-old son was diagnosed with ASD in 2014, ADHD and epilepsy in 2017, and focal cortical dysplasia in 2018. With multiple therapies, doctor visits, tests, procedures, medicine, child care, etc.. During this same time frame, I lost my 6 figure job, went through a divorce, was left with almost $100,000 in unsecured debt, and no income. The reality of all of this hits you in the face going about 1000 mph and to say I was overwhelmed, is an understatement. With insurance, my son’s therapies cost between $800-1000 a month. Testing, ambulatory costs, medical expenses not covered by insurance were mounting up and my savings, all 401Ks, and anything else I had were quickly depleted.

I applied to Autism Rescue Angels because I needed help to get the best care for my son. The grant we received allowed my son to proceed with necessary testing, therapies, and medication. We would be lost without the generosity of ARA.

Thank you to Lisa and the ARA board!

A Personal Trainer for Kids and Adults with ASD.

This article offers a look at the wonderful work Eric Chessen is doing at Autism Fitness. Eric is a personal trainer for kids and adults with Autism. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have an affordable program like this in the Houston Area? Wouldn’t it be even more wonderful if a grant from a fitness foundation helped to offset costs? I am just putting it out there… Take a look at the story here.

 

Learn. Demand Action.

I wanted to share this article and some key points, I know I say over and over.

  • Autism is defined as a disability people as in disabled. As in not able to lead a typically healthy independent life and for some people it comes with comorbid conditions of complete suffering.
  • It is insulting to call it AUsome people please stop doing that. Learn.
  • Demand action. Fight for quality adult programs and residential facilities so that your children will in their future not be overwhelmed by the burden of what to do with all these kids with autism quickly becoming adults with autism. 1 in 36 are the new numbers.
  • 1 in 36 are the new numbers.

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/lets-start-honoring-people-with-autism-by-stopping_us_58dbf66ee4b0487a198a5686?ncid=engmodushpmg00000003