Marcus Reese lauded for efforts on behalf of area youths
For years, lifelong Taylor resident Marcus Reese has been well known across Williamson County for his advocacy on behalf of fellow childhood sexual-abuse survivors and as a tireless champion for area disadvantaged youth as president of the Taylor Area Tennis Association.
Next week, an Austinbased nonprofit dedicated to helping abused and neglected children plans to honor Reese for his efforts.
On Tuesday, Oct. 29, Reese will be a community honoree at the 25th annual Champions for Children Awards Luncheon benefiting Helping Hand Home for Children, the oldest continuously operating youth residential organization in Travis County.
“I am thrilled we will be honoring him,” said Julie Freeman, the organization’s chief development officer. “I think it is going to be a great way to showcase his story. We will have 1,100 people at the luncheon, and it’s just going to be a really incredible day.”
Reese will be recognized along with Randy and Don Barr, the founders of Candlelight Ranch, which offers educational and naturebased experiences for families and children; Karen Boeske, a community volunteer and former resident of Helping Hand Home; and philanthropic honoree, the Nolan Ryan Foundation, a nonprofit spearheaded by the namesake baseball Hall of Fame pitcher focused on youth and education.
Freeman said Reese’s work matched with the goals of the event to aid Helping Hand Home.
“Marcus’s resilience and his story about advocacy just stood out, especially with everything he has overcome,” Freeman said. “There are people that have that sense of integrity and loyalty and dedication, and Marcus is one of them. He is a genuine human being. When he says he wants to help, he truly will help.”
In addition to serving as president of TATA, which promotes tennis as a sport for low-income youth and others, Reese in 2023 co-founded the “Break the Silence Project,” a nonprofit aimed at education and prevention of childhood sexual abuse. As a survivor, Reese has served on the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Task Force of Texas and regularly shares his story of bringing his abuser to justice.
Earlier in the month, Reese had an opportunity to tour Helping Hand Home and said the experience inspired him.
“I deal with a lot of people who have been abused, and we find resources and funding to get money to survivors, but I don’t get to see a lot of the facilities that help heal these kids,” Reese said. “It was lifechanging to see how this staff operates in happiness and kindness.”
Lesley Guthrie, who has served on the Helping Hand Home’s community advisory board since June 2020, nominated Reese after being connected through a mutual friend.
“I heard his story and was just so inspired by his openness and the positive impact he has been able to have on youth,” Guthrie said. “I was really blown away by what he has been able to do by shining a light on this important issue. He is a true role model.”
