Dapper Five: Ambassadors for The Children's Center for Communication and Development
IMPORTANT: To support the fundraising efforts of one of our Dapper Five, click "give now" and add their name in the "in honor of" giving option.
We're so excited to introduce our first ever Dapper Five ambassadors for The Children's Center. These five gentlemen have graciously committed to raise funds for The Children's Center for Communication and Development at Southern Miss through our upcoming private Kentucky Derby-themed event, Run for the Roses.
Each gentleman listed below has set an individual goal of $5,000. And whoever raises the most funds for The Children's Center will be named Dapper Five Ambassador of the Year and will be the first to have their name engraved on the (soon to be) esteemed Dapper Five trophy, which will be passed on to subsequent winners in the years to come.
Read on to meet our Five, and help them help The Children's Center continue providing services for children birth to age 5 with complex communication needs and developmental disabilities at no cost to their families.
To learn more about the impact your gift has on our community, click here.
Introducing our Dapper Five
Brandon Tullos | CRNA, Regional Manager Lifelinc Anesthesia & Owner, Gopher Golf Club Apparel Company
"The Children's Center serves families right here in our community, and supporting local children and families is something that means so much to me and my family.
I’ve always believed that success means more when you use it to help others. I want my children to grow up understanding that giving back to your community isn’t optional - it’s simply part of being a good person.
Being part of the Dapper Five is just one small way I can help shine a light on an organization that is doing meaningful, life-changing work for families across South Mississippi."
David Fortenberry | Senior Vice President, Executive Risk Advisor, Gallagher
"It’s incredibly powerful to see the difference that The Children's Center makes in the lives of families. Through friends whose children have attended, I’ve witnessed how the therapy and educational services provided there can be truly life-changing - not just for the child, but for the entire family.
We are so fortunate to have this nationally recognized organization serving both Hattiesburg and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. I’m honored to serve as an ambassador for a program doing such meaningful and necessary work across South Mississippi.
The greater the support The Children's Center receives through private donations, the greater their ability to transform children's lives."
Dr. Jaime Jiménez | Retina Surgeon, Southern Eye Center
"I’ve had the opportunity to see firsthand the impact of The Children’s Center. I’ve personally witnessed the progress of a child who attended the Center, and the transformation was nothing short of remarkable for the child and family.
Additionally, a former member of my team went on to complete her master’s degree in Speech Pathology at USM and now works at The Children’s Center. She continues to speak passionately about the mission, and her enthusiasm for the work and the children is truly contagious.
As a physician, I know that early diagnosis and intervention can make a lifelong difference for children with special needs. The Children’s Center is committed to making that difference every day, providing vital resources that strengthen not only individual families but our entire community.
I’m honored to support their mission and to be part of an event that helps ensure these critical services remain available for the children and families who need them most."
Seth Hunter | Attorney, Dukes Dukes & Hunter
"Two of our three children have attended The Children's Center. Our five-year-old has communication needs, developmental delays, and autism, and he graduated from the Center in 2025. Our four-year-old has bilateral mild hearing loss and is still enrolled.
The Children's Center has truly been a blessing for my wife, Megan, and me. Both of our boys have benefited tremendously from the services they’ve received and over their time at the Center, we’ve seen incredible growth. We could not imagine where our sons would be today without The Children’s Center!
We are deeply grateful for the way the team at The Children's Center has supported our family and helped shape brighter futures for our boys."
Truitt Taylor | Senior Broker, CRC Specialty
"As the proud parent of a graduate of The Children's Center, I’ve seen firsthand just how vital their work is in our community. The impact of early intervention for young children simply can’t be overstated. The services they provide support every aspect of a child’s growth and development—academically, socially, emotionally, and physically.
I know without a doubt that my daughter, Parker, would not be where she is today without the incredible team at The Children's Center.
Participating and giving back is just one small way our family can help pay that forward, so even more children can receive the same life-changing services that meant so much to our Parker."
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