Thank You for Making Celebrity Chef 2026 a Success!
On April 9th, the VNA Haggerty Kitchen was the setting for a truly unforgettable culinary celebration as guests gathered for an afternoon and evening of food, culture, and connection in support of VNA’s mission. The event brought together community leaders, longtime supporters, and new friends for a unique experience that blended culinary artistry with purpose.
Celebrity Chef Rick Martinez – James Beard Award winner, bestselling cookbook author, and beloved host – traveled from Mexico to share the vibrant flavors and rich traditions of Mexican cuisine, thoughtfully infused with his Texas roots. From the lively energy of Comida at the Kitchen to the immersive evening experience of Fiesta at the Kitchen, the space was filled with creativity, conversation, and a shared commitment to compassionate care.
The event was led by Event Co-Chairs Katie and Glen Edwards and Sarah and Luke Pak, whose vision and leadership shaped every detail of the celebration. Honorary Chairs Meaders and Robert Ozarow provided steadfast support and advocacy, helping to elevate the event and deepen its impact.
Generous support from our presenting sponsors – Atmos Energy, Lyda Hill Philanthropies, Della and Bob Best, Trio Community Meals, Sarah and Luke Pak, and Kelby Hagar – along with an extraordinary group of table sponsors, made the day possible and meaningful. Their partnership ensured the event’s success and amplified its purpose.
Thank you to our wine sponsor, Misa Imports.
Together, this remarkable community raised $657,402 in support of VNA’s Meals on Wheels and adult and pediatric hospice programs, transforming an exceptional dining experience into a powerful investment in compassionate, life-changing care for the patients and families VNA serves every day.
Comida at the Kitchen
Fiesta at the Kitchen
Community Champions Week: Local Leaders Step Up for Seniors
This March, VNA proudly celebrated Community Champions Week, welcoming elected officials to experience the impact of Meals on Wheels firsthand through site visits and volunteer delivery routes. Their participation highlighted how daily meals and meaningful human connection help seniors live healthier, more independent lives.
Community Champions Week marks the anniversary of the Older Americans Act Nutrition Program, established in 1972, which launched the nationwide Meals on Wheels network now serving more than 2 million seniors annually, including over 5,000 in Dallas County.
Throughout the month, VNA encouraged local leaders to support the nationwide End the Wait campaign, dedicated to ensuring every senior receives the nutritious meals, vital services, and moments of connection they deserve.
We extend our sincere thanks to the elected officials who delivered meals to seniors and issued City Proclamations in support of this critical effort, including members of Congress, state and county leaders, and mayors from across our service area.
U.S. Congresswoman Julie Johnson Texas State Senator Royce West Texas State Senator Taylor Rehmet Texas State Representative Toni Rose Texas State Representative Rhetta Bowers Dallas County Commissioner Dr. Elba Garcia Mayor of Richardson Amir Omar Mayor of Farmers Branch Terry Lynne Mayor of DeSoto Rachel Proctor Mayor of Irving Rick Stopfer Dallas City Councilmember Chad West
Spots Open for Kids Camp
Are you looking for a meaningful experience for your 8-11-year-old this summer? The Visiting Nurse Association has a great opportunity! Our camp was created to empower the next generation of volunteers and philanthropists by teaching campers:
The reality of senior hunger in our community
The importance of good nutrition
How to combat social isolation
The gift of volunteerism
Who can attend?
The VNA Meals on Wheels Kids Camp is for children 8-11 years old. Each camp is limited to 20 campers.
When is the camp?
Monday, June 8th – Friday, June 12th from 9:30 am – 2:30 pm
Full week option
Three-day option
Two-day option
Need Help?
For questions about VNA Kids Camp, please contact Ryan Jackson at ryan.jackson@vnatexas.org or (214) 689-2653.
At the heart of our hospice program is a simple belief: when someone is facing serious illness, no one should walk that journey alone. That commitment extends beyond our patients to the caregivers and families who stand beside them every day with love, strength, and devotion.
Because of your generosity and compassion, we are able to surround caregivers with meaningful, holistic support during one of the most challenging seasons of their lives.
Our medical social workers play a critical role in helping patients and families navigate complex decisions and systems. They provide guidance with advance directives, benefits, and care coordination – helping to reduce stress and bring clarity at a time when it’s needed most.
Our chaplains offer emotional, psychological, and spiritual support to both patients and their loved ones throughout their time on hospice service. Their presence brings comfort, understanding, and peace. Importantly, this support does not end when a life ends – our team remains a source of grief support for families after their loved one passes, walking with them as they begin to heal.
For families with children, our Child Life Specialists provide compassionate, age-appropriate support. They help children of adult patients, as well as siblings of pediatric patients, understand illness, loss, and grief – giving them tools to express emotions and process experiences in healthy ways.
Our volunteers are a profound gift to the families we serve. By sitting with patients, offering companionship, or simply being present, they allow caregivers the freedom to run errands, attend appointments, or take a much-needed break – knowing their loved one is not alone.
We also provide respite care for caregivers who need time to rest, recharge, or travel. Caregiving is an act of deep love, but it can also be exhausting. Respite care offers caregivers the chance to care for themselves, which ultimately allows them to continue caring for others.
None of this would be possible without you. Your support – whether through giving your time, your resources, or your advocacy – makes it possible for us to care for the whole family, not just the patient. You are helping to ease burdens, bring comfort, and remind families that compassion surrounds them at every step. Caregiver resources can also be found at www.vnatexas.org/caregiver-resources.
Thank you for believing in this work and for making moments of dignity, peace, and love possible.
With deep gratitude,
Chris Culak President & CEO Visiting Nurse Association of Texas
Established in 1934, the Visiting Nurse Association of Texas (VNA) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization providing care to our community, enhancing health and well-being with compassion, dignity and integrity. VNA is North Texas’ most trusted provider of quality health care services in the home and is the first, most experienced Hospice Care provider in Texas. VNA offers Meals on Wheels in Dallas County, Supportive Palliative Care, and adult and pediatric Hospice Care in Collin, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Fannin, Grayson, Henderson, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Navarro, Rockwall, Tarrant, Van Zandt, and Wise counties. Visit www.vnatexas.
A list of surrounding Meals on Wheels locations outside of Dallas County are provided below. Additional Meals on Wheels locations may also be found by visiting Mealsonwheelsamerica.org.
Collin County
972-562-6996
Denton County (Lewisville, The Colony)
940-382-2224
Ellis County (Ennis, Ferris)
972-351-9943
Forney County
972-564-7348
Johnson County
817-558-2840
Kaufman County
972-563-1421
Kaufman County (Terrell)
972-563-7960
Kaufman County (Forney, Crandall)
972-564-7348
Metro Port Area (Grapevine, Roanoke, Keller)
817-491-7348
Navarro County
903-641-0166
Rockwall County
972-771-9514
Smith County (Tyler)
903-593-7385
Tarrant County
817-336-0912
Terrell County
972-563-7960
Tyler County
903-593-7385
Van Zandt County (Canton)
903-593-7385
Wylie County
972-824-0001
Jewish Family Services-Kosher Meals (Dallas/Denton)
972-437-9950
Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care
Our care team is specially trained and certified to care for patients with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Our goal is to ensure our patients have pain control, are comfortable and safe, helping to reduce trips to the emergency room or hospital. Hospice care can also provide a great support to loved ones and caregivers.
Heart Failure Care
VNA manages complex patients with multiple contributing conditions such as renal failure, pulmonary disease, etc. Our symptom management experts help patients with symptoms often found in end-stage heart disease such as chest pain, shortness of breath, edema (swelling), and blood pressure concerns. Our experienced RNs can also manage supportive intravenous cardiac medications, as well as infusion lines and complex oxygen needs.
Cancer Care
Your VNA care team is trained to provide the care and education needed for patients and families facing difficult treatment decisions. In coordination with your physician and our hospice physicians, our team will address any treatment-related symptoms, as well as complications that may arise from stopping treatment. To ensure symptoms are treated quickly, your team will work with specialized pharmacists to have the necessary medications delivered right to your home.
Music Therapy
Music has been determined to be a highly effective therapeutic tool for healing and wellness. It can help remind patients of cherished memories, alleviate pain, promote relaxation and enhance one’s quality of life. Each music therapy session is individualized to fit the patient’s requirements. Depending on the needs and abilities of the patient, the therapy may involve composing a new song, singing old favorites or even improvising new music with an instrument.
Music is used as a tool to facilitate wellness in a target area such as mental, physical, spiritual, emotional or cognitive functioning.
Pet Therapy
Pets have a unique way of providing companionship and unconditional love for people. They can help reduce anxiety, stress, depression and loneliness that can come with facing a terminal illness. When appropriate, pet therapy also promotes active movement to help improve overall range of motion and strength of our patients. Pet therapists and the animals we work with are all specially trained and certified to provide safe companionship as part of a care plan.
VNA Meals on Wheels provides hot, nutritious, freshly prepared meals on weekdays to Dallas County residents who cannot provide for themselves due to illness, advanced age or disability. These meals contribute to the overall health and well-being of participating seniors, including those with chronic illnesses that are affected by diet, such as diabetes and heart disease, and frail seniors who are homebound.
Palliative care is patient and family-centered care with a goal of optimizing quality of life by anticipating, preventing and treating suffering. Palliative care involves addressing physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual needs and to facilitate patient autonomy, access to information and choice. Patients may continue to receive curative treatment while using this program.
Bereavement
Bereavement is the process of coping with grief and loss. Feelings of grief and loss can happen at any time during the course of facing an illness. Dealing with personal grief is unique to each person. Having experienced, trained professionals to help you navigate change and loss can help establish a foundation of healthy grieving. Our bereavement team may visit you in person, reach out to you over the phone, or host group events and activities.
SafeHaven for Children & Teens
VNA SafeHaven is a free grief support program in Denton offering emotional support to families with children and teens who have experienced loss through the death of someone significant in their lives. VNA SafeHaven is open to any child ages 5 to 18 and their family who have experienced the death of a loved one. Adult professionals and highly trained, caring volunteers lead small groups of children of similar age in age-appropriate activities and discussions on grief and coping skills.
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