Well Honors
Founder's Award
The Founder’s Award is given to volunteers who have contributed richly to the well-being of Well members in significant and ongoing ways. The Founder’s Award was created to honor those who carry out the vision and the heart of our founder, Joel Pulis.
Courage and Advocacy Award
The Courage and Advocacy Award is given to those whose actions have opened up new avenues of recovery and hope to individuals suffering with mental illnesses. The Well Community recognizes entities that combat stigma, provide education, promote positive legislation or in other ways address the broad and complex societal issues of mental illness.
Joel Pulis 2017
Joel was awarded the first Founder's Award. While serving as Associate Pastor of Cliff Temple Baptist Church, Joel saw the deep poverty, isolation and hopelessness faced by people in the Oak Cliff community who struggled with mental illnesses. His heart for and vision for these neighbors motivated Joel to form and lead a team of church members and family to start this outreach. While it started as a simple, church outreach to a handful of people, the Well has grown into a flourishing, significant ministry among adults living daily with serious mental illnesses. To learn more about the founding of the Well Community click here.
Ann Tabony 2019
The 2019 Founder’s Award was given Ann Tabony, who served as an art teacher at the Well Community for over 13 years. It drew her interest because from childhood, she’d felt a deep sense of empathy toward the marginalized in her community—be they fellow classmates struggling in her school or the homeless who sat at the back of her church on Sunday mornings. When Tabony retired from her job as a physics teacher at Lake Highlands High School, she began filling her newfound time with printmaking classes. Soon she started teaching art at the Well each Tuesday, until stepping down in 2020. She passed away in April 2025. Read more about Ann Tabony.
Diann Warnock 2021
Diann Warnock faithfully gave of her time and talents to prepare lunches for our members for over 10 years. As a volunteer she brought care and skill to the over 9,800 lunches she provided for Well Community members. As a sous chef at Sur La Table, she made sure that those who came to the Well had healthy, delicious and appealing-looking meals. She also introduced many others to the Well and recruited numerous additional volunteers. Diann’s love for Well Community members was obvious, as was their love for her. We were honored to celebrate her steadfast service and caring attention.
James Barclay 2022
Since he began volunteering at the Well Community the month after he retired from a 34-year career with the Dallas Police Department in 2015, James Barclay has faithfully volunteered every Tuesday, including assisting with the Well’s efforts to provide remote services to members during the COVID pandemic. Each week he helped prepare and serve meals and has stepped in to do whatever else has been needed.
Cerena Fain 2023
Since 2018 Cerena Fain has been doing that consistently brought eager hands and a willing heart to her volunteer service at the Well. Cerena listens attentively to our members as she lends a hand at our Community Life Center every Monday. She laughs with them, hugs them, does crafts with them, prays with them, serves lunch and often gives the morning devotional. But actually, she does even more. In fact, she does anything asked of her by the staff or members, including washing dishes and handing out clothing. And our members love her as they know she genuinely cares. In March 2025 she stepped away from the Well after seven years to move out of the area.
Lupe Valdez 2017
In 2017 Sheriff Lupe Valdez was awarded a Founder’s Award, but this kind of recognition was changed to the Courage and Advocacy Award in 2019.
Valdez gave innovative attention to the needs of inmates affected by mental health disorders. In partnership with Parkland Hospital, she established a health center in the Dallas County Jail and staffed it with professionals who could administer medications and provide counseling and other assistance. Because many inmates dealing with mental health issues may be held on minor, non-violent crimes, Valdez, with her staff, developed a diversion program to enable eligible inmates to have an expedited release.
Charles Haley 2019
Pro football Hall of Famer Charles Haley has demonstrated in so many ways why he is considered a champ. And although for many football fans, Charles Haley is a hero because of his dedication to the sport and his outstanding athleticism, Charles is also a hero to people dealing with severe mental illnesses. His transparency about his struggles with bipolar disorder is popping the stigma bubble that surrounds mental illness. His encouragement for people who live with mental health challenges to get help is making a difference in so very many families. His boldness and encouragement are visible and wide-ranging.
NAMI North Texas 2021
NAMI North Texas, a local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) was recognized for their support and education for individuals and families throughout the region impacted by mental illness. Its vital work includes assisting families in times of crisis, as well as advocating in Austin for legislative action and leading efforts to train law enforcement in handling incidents related to mental health. Over the years, the Well Community and NAMI North Texas have worked together to cosponsor educational events, and the Well has hosted NAMI peer-to-peer support groups and Family-to-Family training classes. Dr. Athena Trentin, former Executive Director of NAMI North Texas, and the late Sherry Cusumano, former board chairman and premiere advocate, accepted this award on behalf of NAMI.
Mental Health America Dallas 2022
Founded in 1947, MHA-Dallas is nonprofit working to promote mental wellness through community education and advocacy. Since its inception, MHA-Dallas has protected and been a voice for the rights of individuals living with mental illnesses. It serves as a catalyst for identifying, assessing and responding to mental health needs in the community.
The organization’s many accomplishments have been deeply beneficial to the well-being of Well Community members and many others in the Dallas area. Starting in 2009, MHA-Dallas led the charge to establish boarding home standards in Dallas and then worked with city and county officials to develop and implement those standards in 2012. The organization has also collaborated with the Dallas Police Department to adopt a 40-hour mental health crisis intervention training course for all patrol officers. Bonnie Cook, former Executive Director of MHA-Dallas, accepted the award on behalf of this organization.
Cliff Temple Baptist Church 2023
The Well was birthed out of Cliff Temple, and in the years since, the church has provided unwavering support for the Well Community in numerous ways. It has opened not only its doors but also the hearts and hands of its people. Cliff Temple welcomes our members in all aspects of the church, from worship to Sunday School classes to the choir, and for many years it held a Sunday school especially for those who are a part of the Well. Cliff Temple staff regularly engage with and care about our members, and they encourage those who attend the church to get involved in the Well. We’re so thankful for the many donors and volunteers who call Cliff Temple their church home. Dr. Lisa Clayton, Well Community Board member, presented the award to Jeff Lane on behalf of the church. Jeff is also a former Well Board member, and longtime Cliff Temple member in addition to being a volunteer since the beginning of the Well.