Viola’s House is having its second Annual Gala, set to take place on Saturday, Dec. 2, at the historic Statler Hotel in Downtown Dallas.
The event is geared toward fostering community support for mothers and babies, with a focus on addressing homelessness and providing essential resources for lasting change.
Viola’s House’s mission is to assist mothers and their infants by providing maternity housing and support services to mothers who are faced with an unplanned pregnancy.
Founder and Executive Director Thana Hickman-Simmons faced what many young mothers today face.
At 17, Hickman-Simmons faced an unplanned pregnancy just as she was making plans to attend college, but with the help and support of her godmother Viola, she changed the course of her future.
“I had a village,” said Hickman-Simmons.
“Old school godmothers make a difference, we don’t have them like we used to have, and again Viola was my godmother, and the concept of the village is how we thrive at Viola’s house,” Hickman-Simmons added.
“It doesn’t necessarily mean that your parents are incapable because mine were very, very capable they just needed additional support.”
Hickman-Simmons not only provides that support with Viola’s House but has also provided an escape from abusive situations.
“When people who are in domestic abuse, they feel so hopeless and it is hard to garner the strength within yourself to get out of those situations or when you’re pregnant and you feel so alone you have to reach out to someone and not try to handle it by yourself,” said Tina Knowles, mother to Houston native and superstar singer Beyonce.
Knowles will be the keynote speaker at the gala, whose theme is “Love Rules Our City.”
Knowles explained to The DeSoto Tribune that when she was younger, she didn’t have group homes or organizations such as Violas House, she says now they’re right at your fingertips.
“It is important to have someone that can support you through this process,” said Knowles.
“Seek some type of help through your church, through your organizations that are local, just a good old godmother as we talked about earlier. Someone in your life, somebody that can mentor you and help you through that process.”
For more information on Viola’s House and the resources that are provided, please visit ViolasHouse.Org