Allen ISD and Park Place Lexus Plano recently recognized Allen Independent School District Teachers of the Year Kaley Mancuso and Trey Stolp.  Kaley Mancuso a third grade teacher at  Marion Elementary was named Elementary Teacher of the Year and Trey Stolp an eighth grade teacher at Curtis Middle School was recognized as Secondary Teacher of the Year.  The teachers were offered a summer in a Lexus, which included the use of a Lexus IS or NX.

“It is an honor to partner with Allen ISD Education Foundation to recognize these amazing teachers,” said Chris Brunner, Park Place Lexus Plano General Manager. “For several years Park Place has proudly supported the Teachers of the Year in the Allen ISD. These talented educators bring out the best in our kids, which benefits our entire community.”

Park Place Dealerships was founded in 1987. For the past 34 years, the company has been engaged in the community through its support of the arts, medical research, children’s advocacy and education. Park Place Dealerships employs more than 1,400 members and operates eight full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, and Land Rover. For more info, visit parkplace.com.

Carroll ISD and Park Place Jaguar Land Rover recently recognized Carroll Independent School District Teachers of the Year Scott Bishop and Claire Hinkle. Scott Bishop a third-grade teacher at Old Union Elementary was named Elementary Teacher of the Year and Claire Hinkle a math teacher at Carroll High School was named Secondary Teacher of the Year.  The teachers were offered a summer in a Range Rover, which included the use of a Range Rover Evoque for the summer.

“It is an honor to partner with Carroll Independent School District to recognize these amazing teachers,” said Park Place Jaguar Land Rover GM Gary Venner, 2020 Carroll ISD Athletic Hall of Honor inductee. “For several years Park Place has proudly supported the Teachers of the Year in the Carroll ISD. These talented educators bring out the best in our kids, which benefits our entire community.”

Park Place Dealerships was founded in 1987. For the past 34 years, the company has been engaged in the community through its support of the arts, medical research, children’s advocacy and education. Park Place Dealerships employs more than 1,400 members and operates eight full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, and Land Rover. For more info, visit parkplace.com.

 TeamConnor Childhood Cancer Foundation recently added Cynthia Tarle to the Board of Directors. Tarle is the founder of Tarle Law, P.C. and is the managing director of their offices located in Austin and Dallas, as well as San Diego, California. For more than 25 years, Tarle has represented NASDAQ, NYSE-listed, Fortune 500 companies, governmental entities and policyholders.  

“Cynthia brings a wealth of experience and passion to TeamConnor as we continue our mission to fund the top childhood cancer researchers across the country,” said Joy Cruse, Founder of TeamConnor Childhood Cancer Foundation. “We are very happy she will join our Board of Directors which has been instrumental in our success and we know with the addition of Cynthia we will make an even bigger impact for years to come.” 

Tarle acts as a national consultant in the development of her clients’ corporate insurance programs and directs contract negotiations which serve to align contract terms with insurance provisions provided by those programs. Tarle is admitted to practice in Texas, California and Colorado, representing clients in counties across those states and speaks to groups nationally on topics of insurance, contracts and construction loss control mechanisms, risk transfer and litigation. 

“The fragility of life came into laser focus the day I learned of Connor’s neuroblastoma diagnosis,” said Tarle. “No longer was childhood cancer something I read about or heard others discussing from a distance. Through Connor’s mother Joy Cruse, a dear friend of over 30 years, childhood cancer suddenly hit very close to home. No parent should have the burden of outliving their own child, yet every day cancer takes the most innocent among us, leaving families wondering how such a horrible disease can continue without a cure.”

TeamConnor Childhood Cancer Foundation was founded in 2008 while Connor Cruse was in the midst of his four-year battle with neuroblastoma cancer. Connor lost his battle in 2009, but TeamConnor remains committed to fight cancer and ultimately finds a cure for all childhood cancers.

“Working to prevent other families from the devastating effects of childhood cancer is a core mission I want to more actively support,” said Tarle. “TeamConnor is a beam of light and a symbol of hope to families searching for answers to questions they hoped they’d never have to ask.”

TeamConnor hosts events throughout the year to raise funds for childhood cancer research, including the upcoming 17th Annual III Forks Golf Classic, May 3, 2021. For more information on TeamConnor events, contact Sydney Little, special events and outreach coordinator, at slittle@teamconnor.org or (214) 233-6741.

Since 2008, TeamConnor has donated more than $4.5 million to numerous hospitals across the country in its mission to fund improved treatment options and ultimately cures for childhood cancers. For more information on how to join the fight against childhood cancer, please visit teamconnor.org or follow TeamConnor Childhood Cancer Foundation onInstagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Facebook.

 Park Place Lexus Plano recently donated $20,000 to the Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County as part of its December Give Back Campaign.

“During our Lexus December to Remember campaign we partnered with the organization to donate $50 for each car sold during the month,” said Chris Brunner, Park Place Lexus Plano General Manager. “Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County has been a great partner for many years now and we are thrilled to make this $20,000 donation to help them kick off the new year.” 

Since 1992, the Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County (CACCC) has provided life-changing services to children and families victimized by child abuse in Collin County. Last year, CACCC provided services to 3,936 clients. CACCC is the only agency in the community that offers services critical to healing, free for life. For more information, visit caccollincounty.org.

The Park Place Cares program supports more than 250 organizations around the Dallas-Fort Worth area throughout the year. Park Place’s members are also given the opportunity to volunteer their time and resources in their local communities. Teams from each of the Park Place Dealerships have been involved in building a Habitat for Humanity home in Dallas. The build began October, 2020 and will be completed this March. Park Place members have contributed approximately 1,000 hours on the construction of the home. 

Park Place Dealerships was founded in 1987. For the past 33 years, the company has been engaged in the community through its support of the arts, medical research, children’s advocacy and education. Park Place employs more than 1,400 members and operates eight full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Sprinter, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, and Land Rover. Park Place BodyWerks Collision Centers in Fort Worth and Dallas, and the Park Place Auto Auction, round out the company’s offerings. For more info, visit parkplace.com.

This year has been challenging for everyone and non-profits most certainly have had to pivot in their execution of events. For TeamConnor Childhood Cancer Foundation, this meant reducing the number of people participating in outdoor events and getting creative for other events during the 2020 pandemic. As a result of the adjustments, as well as the generous support from donors and sponsors, TeamConnor raised more than $1.5 million this fall for crucial pediatric cancer research.

“No one could have predicted how this pandemic would impact charities when the country was shut down in March,” said Joy Cruse, founder and board chair of TeamConnor Childhood Cancer Foundation. “We immediately began to look at how we could reschedule events to host in a safe manner. With the guidance of our incredible staff and committees, we were able to continue to raise funds for childhood cancer research. Unfortunately, children being diagnosed with cancer doesn’t stop because of COVID-19. It’s imperative we continue to fund researchers, so a child’s prognosis is not negatively impacted in the future.”

TeamTait for TeamConnor was created as a result of a shocking cancer diagnosis in July. Tait Cruse, the father of Connor Cruse and inspiration for the organization, was diagnosed with a rare form of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Lymphoma, a cancer of the bone marrow. TeamTait for TeamConnor was organized by long-time friend Matt Russo, a managing partner in New York for Northwestern Mutual and supported by Northwestern Mutual offices across the country. More than 1,400 virtual participants united for a one-day fundraiser in September, which is childhood cancer awareness month, to benefit TeamConnor in honor of Tait.

The 16th Annual III Forks Golf Classic was held on October 19 at Gleneagles Country Club in Plano. Local media personality Steve Eager, Fox 4 reporter and evening news anchor, was the celebrity event host for the III Forks Golf Classic tournament. The III Forks Golf Classic sponsors included Title Sponsor, III Forks Steakhouse; Presenting Sponsor, Northwestern Mutual – Dallas; Park Place Lexus Plano; BenefitsTexas; Origin Bank; Town & Country Roofing; The Season Ticket; Rick & Becky Welday; Peter Millar; Corey McQuade; and Charles Armstrong.

The 10th Annual Northwestern Mutual Clay Shoot was held on November 2 at the Dallas Gun Club. Sponsors included Presenting Sponsor, Northwestern Mutual - Dallas, Frost Bank, BenefitsTexas, Sewell, KA Wolfe, Charles Armstrong, Mullis Newby Hurst, Venture X, Dr. Matthew Roberts, Pitts Birdsong Bonds & Insurance, Chuck and Christy Harbison, and Michael Aguilar.

TeamConnor also was honored to have been chosen as the beneficiary of many local events including DFW NACE's Got Talent; Coins for Kids with Cancer Program at Leadership Prep in Frisco; Kendra Scott Gives Back; North Texas Giving Day; Queen’s Quest Stonebriar Golf Tournament; and Xtreme Tennis at Lifetime Fitness in Plano. 

Since 2008, TeamConnor has donated more than $4.5 million to numerous hospitals across the country in its mission to fund research for improved treatment options and ultimately cures for our children. 

TeamConnor hosts several events throughout the year to raise funds and awareness for childhood cancer research. For more information on TeamConnor events, contact Sydney Little, special events and outreach coordinator, at slittle@teamconnor.org or (214) 233-6741.

For more information on how to join the fight against childhood cancer, please visit teamconnor.org or follow TeamConnor Childhood Cancer Foundation on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube or Facebook.