A sell-out crowd of 276 people attended the ninth annual Buckner Shining Hope Luncheon, which featured a conversation with Barbara Pierce Bush, co-founder and board chair of Global Health Corps and is the daughter of former U.S. President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush. The event raised money to benefit Buckner Midland and its Permian Basin programs, Buckner Family Pathways™ and Buckner Foster Care and Adoption.
 
Former Midland news anchor Tatum Hubbard, now the chief of staff/executive director of communications for the University of Texas Permian Basin, hosted the luncheon and moderated the conversation with Bush. The discussion focused on Bush’s thoughts on family values, the impact her parents had on her life, and the importance of nonprofits to strengthen families and serve the community.
 
“Buckner means hope,” said Bush. “With everything going on in the world, it can be a little overwhelming. Knowing that everyday people are waking up to make sure other people’s lives are better is hopeful to me. Given COVID and everything that has happened in the past two years, families are hurting more than ever before. Buckner is stepping up to make sure that children and their families are being served.”
 
The luncheon also included remarks from Dr. Albert Reyes, CEO and president of Buckner International.
 
“Our work serving vulnerable children and families rests on three cornerstones, or what we call our three pillars,” said Dr. Reyes. “These pillars capture what we are all about: Protect children. Strengthen families. Transform generations. Even with the trials of the pandemic, we are still protecting children, strengthening families and transforming generations.”
 
Reyes shared the story of Brooklyn Cole and her brother, Anthony, who she recently adopted. Brooklyn and Anthony are currently in the Buckner Family Pathways program while she works to accomplish her goals.
 
While the focus of the luncheon was the service of Buckner and the roles of nonprofits in the Permian Basin, organizers and attendees held a moment of silence in recognition of the events unfolding in Ukraine.
 
Buckner is celebrating 25 years in Midland this year and reflected on the number of changed lives and transformed generations through the years.
 
Since 2003, Buckner Family Pathways has impacted the lives of 1,032 single parents in the Permian Basin. Last year, Buckner Midland facilitated nine local adoptions, served 50 single-parent families in the Family Pathways program, and impacted the lives of more than 200 children, families and individuals through free programming such as parenting classes and other activities designed to build strong families and break the cycle of neglect.

See how Buckner Family Pathways strengthens families and helps single parents achieve their educational and financial goals.