Buckner Retirement Services leads state awards. Posted on July 16, 2026 Buckner Retirement Services was honored with two awards from LeadingAge Texas, recognizing both leadership and advocacy in aging services. LeadingAge Texas is the top nonprofit supporting senior living providers in Texas, providing advocacy, education, support and resources. Doyle Antle, executive director of Buckner Villas, received the Award of Honor, which recognizes an individual who has provided outstanding leadership in shaping the future of aging services. Antle is credited with developing new care models and supporting the senior care workforce. At Buckner, he has helped shift from a traditional medical model to a hospitality-centered approach, elevating resident choice, wellness, independence and dignity. Buckner Retirement Services also received the Excellence in Advocacy Award for its legislative advocacy and educational work with lawmakers on issues affecting seniors and aging services. Andrea Sparks, director of government and strategic relations, emphasized the importance of engaging lawmakers, noting that Buckner teams joined others from across the state to highlight issues affecting seniors and aging services. Advocacy efforts, supported by Sparks and other BRS leaders including Aaron Hargett, senior executive director for Buckner Baptist Retirement Community in San Angelo, Texas, contributed to legislation clarifying and protecting the nonprofit property tax exemption for senior living communities that provide required charitable care. Additional efforts supported legislation clarifying Continuing Care Retirement Community regulations, helping ensure flexibility in care models without jeopardizing licensure or quality of care. Together, the awards reflect Buckner's ongoing commitment to advancing care and supporting policies that benefit older adults across Texas.

Hope Supply Co. provides diapers for Buckner families and children in North Texas. Posted on July 3, 2026 More mothers and children in North Texas will receive critical supplies and support due to a collaboration between Hope Supply Co. and Buckner International. Hope Supply Co. is the largest children's diaper and critical needs bank in Texas. Two years ago, the organization hit their milestone of distributing 25 million diapers. They serve a network of 70-plus partner agencies including homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, pantries, hospitals, and clinics. The supplies they distribute go to families and children that need these resources most. Hope Supply Co. has generously committed to providing Buckner Children and Family Services with diapers, formula, wipes, hygiene items for babies, and PediaSure for older children. These supplies will benefit the families who are enrolled in Buckner programs such as maternity services, Buckner Family Hope Centers and Buckner Family Pathways in the Dallas area. Families in Texas on average pay over $100 monthly per child on diapers. Low-income families often report that diaper need is their greatest financial burden. "In Dallas County alone, 87,000 babies and toddlers don't have adequate access to enough diapers to keep them clean, dry and healthy," states Hope Supply Co. Filling the gap in Dallas County would require at least 52,225,800 diapers annually. For many families, the gift of these supplies will allow them to ensure that other needs are being met for their households. Buckner maternity services provide counseling and support to pregnant women, postpartum moms, and anyone else in the family unit who needs encouragement. Buckner's licensed, bilingual counselors can walk with women at any stage in their motherhood journey.

Buckner receives Service Enterprise accreditation for volunteer integration. Posted on May 28, 2026 In March 2025, Buckner Children and Family Services embarked on a journey to pursue Service Enterprise accreditation through Points of Light and the Association of Leaders in Volunteer Engagement (AL!VE). Service Enterprise is a nationally recognized framework that helps organizations strategically integrate volunteers across all areas of mission delivery and operations. In May 2026, Buckner Children and Family Services officially received the accreditation. Service Enterprise accredited organizations are considered among the top 11% of nonprofits nationally in strategic volunteer engagement and organizational performance. This distinction reflects an organization-wide commitment to effectively leveraging volunteers to strengthen mission impact, organizational capacity, community engagement, and operational excellence. Over the past year, this process has challenged Buckner to evaluate and strengthen many areas related to volunteer engagement and organizational readiness, including: * Leadership support and organizational alignment * Volunteer risk management and safeguarding practices * Cross-department collaboration * Training and onboarding systems * Strategic planning and annual forecasting * Data tracking and impact measurement * Community partnership development * Volunteer integration into mission delivery This achievement would not have been possible without the support and collaboration of leaders and teams across the organization. The accreditation process highlighted the strong foundation already present within Buckner while also helping develop new systems, tools, and practices that will support long-term sustainability and mission growth. From a broader organizational perspective, this accreditation reinforces Buckner's commitment to excellence, stewardship, innovation, and community engagement.