28
Children Served
1
Years
1
Mission

More than 17,000 children and families have been served
since Vogel opened its doors in 1987. 

Vogel will celebrates Founder’s Day on March 29. It’s a celebration of over 3 decades of caring for the most vulnerable, neglected members of our community– homeless children and their families.

Our agency’s highly-skilled teachers, social workers, counselors, and therapists help children cope with the trauma of homelessness and give parents the support they need to improve their families’ lives. Explore a timeline of our history, photos through the years, our 35th Anniversary Champions, and more, right here.  Become a part of our future! Your gift will help us continue providing our services and programs in the years to come. 

Black and white photo of Vogel Members almost 35 years ago
Bus tour that led to formation of Dallas Jewish Coalition for the Homeless

Vogel Historical Milestones 1986–2022

1985 – 1986

The Greatest Need

 

The Social Action Committee of Congregation Shearith Israel, chaired by Thelma Vogel, goes on a bus tour through Dallas. Moved by the plight of homeless people in the city, they take action.

The committee decides to sponsor a project to address homeless families. They establish a structure to expand participation from the Jewish community with representatives from 21 synagogues and Jewish organizations. The project is named the Dallas Jewish Coalition for the Homeless (DJCH) and childcare is selected as its focus.

The initiative is led by Thelma Vogel (Coordinator) and Doris Budner (Vice-Coordinator).

1985 – 1986

March 29, 1987

Early Foundations

Thelma, Myrna and Doris in 1987

On March 29th, 1987,  the child care project, chaired by Myrna H. Ries, began and provided child care services for up to 15 children to residents of the Downtown Dallas Shelter (now called Family Gateway). By the end of the year, the program grows to serve 28 children.

March 29, 1987

March 1988

Thelma Vogel

 Thelma Vogel receives the Public Citizen of the Year award from the National Association of Social Workers.

March 1988

August 31, 1988

Thelma and Philip Vogel are tragically killed in the Delta 1141 plane crash. More than 2,200 people attended services honoring their memory.

″All of us are poorer for the tragic deaths we memorialized this day,″ said Rabbi Gerald Klein. ″But, oh, how rich we are because they lived among us.″

August 31, 1988

1988–1995

New Beginnings

  • 1988 – Doris Budner steps in to lead as first president of the DJCH

  • 1989 – Dedication of officially named “Vogel” in new building on 1110 Browder St. designed to serve 70 children, ages 6 weeks–14 years.

  • January 1992 – First Arts Performance Event with Itzhak Perlman to benefit the program takes place.
  • November 1995 – Capital campaign for a new building begins and Vogel has a new home at 1100 S. Akard by the end of the year.

1988–1995

1997

Vogel receives NAEYC accreditation a distinction held by only 5% of early childhood education facilities nationwide.

1997

1999–2003

Doris Budner

Doris Budner and friend

  • March 1999 – Doris Budner was named Public Citizen of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers.

  • March 2002 – Vogel building is named The Doris and Lawrence Budner Childcare Center.

  • June 2003 – Doris Budner passes away after a long battle with cancer. In life, Doris also served in a leadership role on more than 30 community boards including United Way, Success by Six; Child and Family Guidance Centers; Family Gateway; Open Arms (Bryan’s House); North Texas Food Bank, and many other worthy causes.
1999–2003

2004–2006

Defining the Mission

  • 2004 – The Vogel board becomes the primary leadership board for the organization, and the previous DJCH board becomes an advisory council.

  • 2005 – Vogel helped organize services for the 17,000-25,000 evacuees displaced by Hurricane Katrina. The initiative aimed to help these evacuee families with their childcare needs.

  • 2006 – Vogel enters a partnership with Headstart of Greater Dallas.

Head Start of Dallas Logo

  • 2010 – The board adopts revised mission and vision statements, and new strategic plan.
2004–2006

2009-2010

Community Connections

2009 – Additional program services, including the visits by the HOMES dental van, staffed by Community Dental Care, and a partnership with Prevent Blindness began. Every child now receives dental and vision screening within the first months of enrollment at the Alcove.

Picture of HOMES bus

2010 – The board adopts revised mission and vision statements, and new strategic plan.

2009-2010
Vogel alcove logo in 1990

"How can a homeless mother get a job if she has no safe haven for her children?"

-Thelma Vogel

black and white photo of children in classroom almost 35 years ago

Historical Newspaper and Magazine Articles

Step back in time and read about our impact in the last 35 years.

Visit the Gallery 1987–1993

Click Here
black and white photo of mother playing with son almost 35 years ago
photo of people who attended the Fine Arts performance event in 1992
First Arts Performance Event – 1992

Historical Articles

1994–2000 · Step back in time see our impact in the last 35 years.

Visit the Gallery 1994-2000

Click Here
photo of Vogel building building in 1995 almost 35 years ago
1100 S. Akard Building – 1995

Historical Photos

2001–2010 · Step back in time and see our impact in the last 35 years.

Visit the Gallery 2001–2010

Click Here
Photo of Doris and Lawrence Budner almost 35 years ago
Doris and Lawrence Budner
CEO of Vogel Karen Hughes
Karen Hughes, President and CEO

Logos – Through the Years

Vogel logo in 2003 posted on 35 year anniversary page
photo of Vogel logo in 1999 posted on 35 year anniversary page
photo of past Vogel logo on posted on 35 year anniversary page
Photo of current Vogel logo 35 years later

Vogel’s mission is to help young children and their families overcome the lasting and traumatic effects of homelessness. It is our vision at Vogel to make sure that every child in our community has a home, a self-sufficient family, and a foundation for success in school and life.

Picture of Vogel current building after 35 years on contact us page helping homeless families with urgent needs

2011–2014

A New Home

  • 2011 – Vogel has outgrown its building once again. The Board of Directors approves moving forward with construction of new facility.

  • 2012 – Capital campaign planning for a new building launches.

  • 2013 – The Vogel Foundation is created.

  • 2014 – Vogel opens in City Park School at 1738 Gano Street allowing for more programming, like camps for school-aged children.

Historical Video

2000–2022 · Step back in time and watch videos about our impact in the last 35 years.

Historical Video 1994-2022

Watch on Youtube
Photo of teacher and student in garden at Vogel
Photo of black student playing in garden at Vogel
photo of two teachers with little child playing in the sand box
Homeless outreach medical services bus

2015

Outdoor Classroom

  • 2015 – All-Natural playground certified as a Nature Explore Classroom. Visit the gallery.
2015

2016

Day 1

 

  • 2016 – Vogel introduces Day 1 Dallas, a family fun event on New Year’s Day.
2016

2017–2019

Program Expansion

  • 2017 – The on-site health clinic opens with a full-time nurse.

  • 2018 – Parent Opportunity Center opens, funded by the Mavs Foundation.

  • 2019 – An on-site mental health clinic opens for families.
2017–2019

2020–2021

Pandemic Response

  • March 2020 – COVID-19 Response Programming begins, including Vogel Eats, feeding multiple Vogel families during the crisis.

  • April 2020 – For the first time in Vogel history, the annual Arts Performance Event is cancelled due to COVID-19.

  • May 1, 2021 – The Arts Performance Event  returns featuring The Beach Boys. The event takes place outdoors, mitigating COVID-19 risks.

  • 2021 – A Sensory Lab to treat trauma in homeless children is built through a grant from the Santander Consumer USA Inc. Foundation.
2020–2021

2022–

Looking Forward

Family Gateway Logo

Vogel & Family Gateway will expand their partnership with new family homelessness facility. Set to open in the early fall of 2022. 

2022–

The success of our mission and the exponential growth of our programs and services over the last 35 years would not have been possible without the support of donors like you. We’ve made a list of some of the most dedicated leaders and supporters who helped Vogel become what it is now.

YOU can be a part of tomorrow with a gift today