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Blank Center for Stuttering Education and Research

"When I first came to the Blank Center, I was looking for someone to help me speak without stuttering. Dr. Byrd told me that the Blank Center could help me communicate, but I didn’t want that – I wanted to stop stuttering. After two years of trying other programs with different approaches...I came back to the Blank Center and decided to at least try their CARE program. I will be thanking them every day for the rest of my life.” - Stephen Washington Jr., Blank Center Participant


Changing the World for People who Stutter 

The Arthur M. Blank Center for Stuttering Education and Research (Blank Center), is changing the world for people who stutter through by empowering children, teens, and adults worldwide to stutter openly, speak confidently, communicate effectively, and advocate meaningfully so that stuttering never stops them from living their lives to the fullest.

“40 for Forty” is an opportunity to build awareness about stuttering and grow philanthropic support for the Blank Center’s mission of generating new knowledge, mentoring a global pipeline of expert clinicians and researchers, and ensuring that quality CARE is accessible to all persons who stutter worldwide.

Will you join us in helping more children, teens, and adults who stutter worldwide to “Dream. Speak. Live.”? 

There are a number of ways to help:

  • Make a contribution. Your gift of any amount will help the Blank Center provide treatment at no cost to more children, teens, and adults who stutter, educate more speech-language pathology students and professionals, and generate more research about stuttering. Contributions will be directed to the “Dream. Speak. Live. Endowed Excellence Fund” to help sustain our mission for the years to come.
  • Engage on social media. Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram to learn more about ways to help destigmatize stuttering by educating the world about what it means to “Dream. Speak. Live.” Participate in our weekly #WhatIWish series and be sure to tag us @UTStuttering when sharing your personal story!
  • Educate your family and friends about stuttering and help us get the word out about this opportunity to support our mission by sharing our “40 for Forty” page. Your participation and advocacy makes a huge difference and we are forever grateful for your support of our community to empower people who stutter around the world.

About the Blank Center

Today, the Arthur M. Blank Center and the three respective branches, the Michael and Tami Lang Stuttering Institute, the Dealey Family Foundation Stuttering Clinic, and the Dr. Jennifer and Emanuel Bodner Developmental Stuttering Laboratory, rests on a foundation of "Dream, Speak, Live," with the evidence-based understanding that when individuals who stutter learn that communication is not and never should be defined or limited by fluency, they have the freedom to pursue their dreams, the courage to speak from their hearts, and the determination to live their lives to the fullest.

With our flagship at UT Austin, a satellite center in Atlanta, Georgia, and more satellite centers to come around the country, the Blank Center offers daily CARE at no cost for persons who stutter of all ages, races, ethnicities, cultures, and languages. We also offer an annual intensive treatment program at no cost, "Camp Dream. Speak. Live.", which has been held internationally in countries such as Ireland, Belgium, Malta, and The Netherlands, and will be launched in additional countries around the world in the years to come.

Our global team consists of volunteers, expert clinicians and researchers, purpose-driven staff members, and students who share a genuine desire to make a difference in the lives of as many people as we can. Together, we strive to empower all individuals who stutter to Dream. Speak. Live.

Your support will enable Dr. Byrd and the Blank Center team to help more children, teens, and adults around the world who stutter to speak confidently, communicate effectively, and advocate meaningfully so that stuttering never stops them from living their lives to the fullest.

Learn more

If you would like to learn more about giving opportunities and ways to have an impact, please contact the Blank Center’s Director of Development, Laura McKnight, at laura.mcknight@austin.utexas.edu or (512) 784-1050.


The Final Challenge Winners
Apr 14, 2023



Thank you to everyone for another amazing campaign! Below are the challenge winners for the final hours of the campaign! 


Hungry, Hungry Bevo Challenge

1st Place: WINNER UT Men's Ultimate Club

2nd Place: WINNER Texas Trap and Skeet

3rd place: WINNER Longhorn Racing

 

Final Countdown Challenge

1st Place: WINNER Texas Trap and Skeet 

2nd Place: WINNER Texas Crew 

3rd place: WINNER The University of Texas Weightlifting Team 

 

Longhorn Pride Social Media Challenge
1st Place: First Gen Equity $1,000 Prize
Runner-up: Texas Taekwondo $250 Prize

 


State & International Challenge Winners - Check your donor wall these have been awarded! 

Leaderboard Challenge Winners - Check the challenges page wall for the final leaderboards. Prizes have been awarded! 

Lucky Longhorn Lottery Winners
Apr 13, 2023

Congratulations to our 40 random winners today!

Image for Update: Lucky Longhorn Lottery Winners
2
Match
Faculty & Staff Big Give Match (Day 1)
The first $5,000 in gifts from UT faculty and staff members made within this period will be matched! Gifts of $5 and above will be matched until the total to be awarded, $5,000, is exhausted. April 12, 6 a.m. – 5 p.m. Central
$5,000 MATCHED
Completed
2
Match
Happy Horns Happy Hour Match
The first $10,000 in gifts from alumni, parents, faculty, staff, friends and students to student support initiatives made within this period will be matched! Gifts of $5 and above will be matched until the total to be awarded, $10,000, is exhausted. April 12, 4 – 9 p.m. Central
$10,000 MATCHED
Completed
2
Match
Faculty & Staff Big Give Match (Day 2)
The first $5,000 in gifts from UT faculty and staff members made within this period will be matched! Gifts of $5 and above will be matched until the total to be awarded, $5,000, is exhausted. April 13, 6 a.m. – 10 p.m. Central
$5,000 MATCHED
Completed
2
Match
Student Support Late-Night Match
The first $5,000 in gifts from alumni, parents, faculty, staff, friends and students to student support initiatives made within this period will be matched! Gifts of $5 and above will be matched until the total to be awarded, $5,000, is exhausted. April 12, 9 – 11:59 p.m. Central
$5,000 MATCHED
Completed
$750
7,000th Gift Milestone Award
To celebrate specific milestones in the campaign, an additional award will be added to the area that receives the following milestone gifts. 7,000th Gift – $750 award
Completed
$2,000
9,000th Gift Milestone Award
To celebrate specific milestones in the campaign, an additional award will be added to the area that receives the following milestone gifts. 9,000th Gift – $1,250 award
Completed
Success!
Pre-Campaign Ambassador Sign-up Challenge
The three participating colleges, schools, units or organizations with the most verified 40 for Forty ambassadors registered by April 10 at 5 p.m. will receive an additional award! 1st Place – $1,000 award | 2nd Place – $500 award | 3rd Place – $250 award
Completed
Success!
Faculty & Staff Challenge
The participating college, school, unit or organization with the greatest number of gifts from UT faculty and staff donors will win an additional award! March 29, 8 a.m. – April 13, 10:00 p.m. Central 1st Place – $2,000 award | 2nd Place – $1,000 award | 3rd Place – $500 award 1st Place - UT Child Development Center Capitol Complex | 2nd Place - Dell Medical School | 3rd Place - Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies
Completed
Success!
Turn the U.S. Burnt Orange
Keep an eye on the main page’s donation heat map! The donor who completes the map by making the first gift from the 50th state (including Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico) will win an additional $400 awarded to their designation. The donor’s state will be determined by the credit card billing address. April 12, 6 a.m. Central – April 13, 10 p.m. Central
Completed
Success!
Lucky Longhorn Lottery
Feeling lucky, Longhorns? 40 donors who make a gift during the challenge period will be randomly selected to win an additional $250 awarded to their designation! April 13, 7 a.m. – noon Central
Completed
Leaderboard
Hungry, Hungry Bevo Challenge
The three participating colleges, schools, units or organizations that receive the greatest number of gifts within the designated period will receive an additional award! April 13, 12 – 4 p.m. Central 1st place – $2,500 | 2nd place – $1,500 | 3rd place – $1,000
Rank Prize Hungry, Hungry Bevo Challenge Gifts
1 $2,500 UT Men's Ultimate Club 281
2 $1,500 Texas Trap and Skeet 271
3 $1,000 Longhorn Racing 270
4 UT Child Development Center Capitol Complex 258
5 Texas Crew 250
Ended
Leaderboard
University-Wide Leaderboard: Greatest Number of Gifts Received
The participating college, school, unit or organization with the greatest number of gifts will be listed on the leaderboard for bragging rights only.
Rank Department Gifts
1 Texas Trap and Skeet 1,403
2 Texas Crew 1,399
3 UT Men's Ultimate Club 1,014
4 Longhorn Racing 724
5 The University of Texas Weightlifting Team 661
Ended
Leaderboard
Day 1 Leaderboard: Unique Donors
The five participating colleges, schools, units or organizations with the greatest number of unique donors during the first day of 40 for Forty will receive awards!
Rank Prize Department Donors
1 $1,000 UT Child Development Center Capitol Complex 150
2 $750 Chapters & Networks 128
3 $500 Texas 4000 for Cancer 87
4 $250 Texas Crew 64
5 $100 Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center 51
Ended
2
Match
Student Support Kickoff Match
The first $10,000 in gifts from alumni, parents, faculty, staff, friends and students to student support initiatives within this period will be matched! Gifts from $5 – $500 will be matched until the total to be awarded, $10,000, is exhausted. April 12, 6 a.m. – noon Central
$10,000 MATCHED
Completed
2
Match
Midnight Madness Match
The first $7,500 in gifts from alumni, parents, faculty, staff, friends and students to student support initiatives made within this period will be matched! Gifts of $5 and above will be matched until the total to be awarded, $7,500, is exhausted. April 13, midnight – 7 a.m. Central
$7,500 MATCHED
Completed
2
Match
Student Support Final Match
The first $10,000 in gifts from alumni, parents, faculty, staff, friends and students to student support initiatives within this period will be matched! Gifts from $5 – $500 will be matched until the total to be awarded, $10,000, is exhausted. April 13, 4 – 8 p.m. Central
$10,000 MATCHED
Completed
$1,000
1,883rd Milestone Award
In September 1883, The University of Texas was officially opened in a ceremony inside an incomplete building on a grassy hill where the Tower now stands. To celebrate UT's founding year, the 1,883rd gift will receive a $1,883 award!
Completed
$1,000
8,000th Gift Milestone Award
To celebrate specific milestones in the campaign, an additional award will be added to the area that receives the following milestone gifts. 8,000th Gift – $1,000 award
8,000 / 8,000 Gifts
Completed
$750
10,000th Gift Milestone Award
To celebrate specific milestones in the campaign, an additional award will be added to the area that receives the following milestone gifts. 10,000th Gift – $750 award
Completed
Success!
Longhorn Pride Social Media Challenge
Show your Longhorn pride and help a participating 40 for Forty group win $1,000! Share your burnt-orange selfie to your Instagram story and tag @UTAustinTX and #UT40for40 for your chance to win. April 10, 6 a.m. Central – April 13, 4:59 p.m. Central
Completed
Success!
U.S. State Challenge
Keep an eye on the main page’s donation heat map! The first donor from each state, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico will win an additional $100 awarded to their designation. The donor’s state will be determined by the credit card billing address. April 12, 6 a.m. Central – April 13, 10 p.m. Central
Completed
Success!
International Challenge
Keep an eye on the main page’s international donation heat map! The first donor from each continent will win an additional $250 awarded to their designation. The donor’s country will be determined by the credit card billing address. April 12, 6 a.m. Central – April 13, 10 p.m. Central
Completed
Leaderboard
Longhorn Lunch Special Challenge
The three participating colleges, schools, units or organizations that receive the greatest number of gifts within the designated period will receive an additional award! April 12, 12 – 4 p.m. Central 1st place – $2,500 | 2nd place – $1,500 | 3rd place – $1,000
Rank Prize Longhorn Lunch Special Challenge Gifts
1 $2,500 Texas Crew 395
2 $1,500 UT Men's Ultimate Club 377
3 $1,000 Texas Trap and Skeet 376
4 UT Child Development Center Capitol Complex 235
5 Texas Women's Rugby 85
Ended
Leaderboard
Final Countdown Challenge
The three participating colleges, schools, units or organizations that receive the greatest number of gifts within the designated period will receive an additional award! April 13, 8 – 10 p.m. Central 1st place – $3,500 | 2nd place – $1,500 | 3rd place – $500
Rank Prize Final Countdown Challenge Gifts
1 $3,500 Texas Trap and Skeet 706
2 $1,500 Texas Crew 663
3 $500 The University of Texas Weightlifting Team 606
4 Longhorn Racing 434
5 UT Men's Ultimate Club 337
Ended
Leaderboard
University-Wide Leaderboard: Highest Amount of Dollars Received
The participating college, school, unit or organization with the highest number of dollars raised will be listed on the leaderboard for bragging rights only.
Rank Department Raised
1 Dell Medical School $2,526,675.00
2 Department of Accounting $2,001,100.00
3 McCombs School of Business $433,094.00
4 Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics $350,435.00
5 New Student Services $200,140.00
Ended
Leaderboard
Day 2 Leaderboard: Gifts
The five participating colleges, schools, units or organizations with the greatest number of gifts raised during the second day of 40 for Forty will receive awards!
Rank Prize Department Gifts
1 $1,000 Texas Trap and Skeet 999
2 $750 Texas Crew 938
3 $500 Longhorn Racing 713
4 $250 The University of Texas Weightlifting Team 639
5 $100 UT Men's Ultimate Club 633
Ended
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