Photo Credit: All Ears! CenterEvents
All Ears! Toast & Taste a Resounding Success
The All Ears! Center 2025 Toast & Taste dazzled on Friday, April 4, at The Woodlands Country Club Palmer Course, where more than 200 guests gathered for an evening of community, celebration, and support of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. The annual event benefits All Ears! Center, which provides life-changing early intervention services, helping children learn to listen and speak as they journey toward mainstream education and lifelong independence. Urgent and timely services are provided to all children in need regardless of the family’s financial circumstances.
This year’s event marked a new milestone with the introduction of the All Hearts Award, presented to Tracy and Gregg Piontek for their extraordinary commitment, compassion, and generosity toward the All Ears! mission. The Piontek’s have long been pillars of support, and their impact has touched countless families.
The evening was masterfully emceed by Anna and Steve Rech, whose heartfelt presence and personal connection to the mission added warmth and energy to the night. Guests were also inspired by remarks from Board Member Brian Wilbanks, who shared exciting news about the Hear to Stay Expansion Campaign, a bold initiative aimed at growing All Ears! Center footprint and ensuring every child has access to vital services.
“We’re not just focused on today’s needs — we’re building for tomorrow,” said Wilbanks. “The Hear to Stay campaign is about securing a future where every child has a voice and a chance to thrive.”
Central to the evening’s message was the All Ears! Journey to Independence — the organization’s mission to guide children who are deaf or hard of hearing from birth to independence through its nationally recognized Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) program. From early diagnosis to confident communication, the All Ears! Center approach empowers children and families every step of the way.
A lively live auction kept the crowd on their toes, thanks to the incredible talent of Rusty Mertink, who served as auctioneer and brought unmatched enthusiasm to the stage.
Special thanks go out to the 2025 Toast & Taste Committee, whose hard work made the night possible, with a shout out to Committee Chair Vicki Fullerton for her outstanding leadership. Executive Director Lee Rech expressed deep gratitude to the entire All Ears! Center team, volunteers, and supporters.
“This night was a celebration of everything we believe in — community, compassion, and the power of language,” said Rech. “We are so thankful to everyone who showed up, gave generously, and made the mission come alive.”
The success of the 2025 Toast & Taste helps fund pediatric audiology and specialized speech therapy services, and family support programs that are vital to helping children learn to listen, speak, read and thrive. Through this journey, All Ears! Center kids are not just learning words — they’re building futures.
To support the Hear to Stay Campaign or learn more about the All Ears! Center Journey to Independence, visit www.allearscenter.org or contact Lee Rech, Executive Director, at lee@allearscenter.org or (936) 251-3021.
Source: All Ears! Center
