Delores Beall (in the red shirt) with just some of the hundreds of kids she's helped.

Delores Beall is a Giraffe for devoting her life to helping troubled kids in South Dallas gain the self-esteem they need to succeed in life.

Beall started the "I Am That I Am Training Center" to improve the quality of life for abused and neglected kids of alcohol and drug-addicted single parents. She began by walking up to teenage hoodlums and asking them if they'd like to do good things for the community for a change. Beall also teaches the kids the importance of giving back to their community—on holidays, the youngsters prepare meals and fruit baskets for 85 senior citizens.  The I Am Center is open 6 days a week, all year round, providing free courses in self-analysis, remedial reading, survival skills and career preparation.

Beall has organized clothing drives at the Center; her goal is always to get at least one new item of clothing for each of the 40 kids at the Center in time for their first day of school, when it's important to them to make a good impression.  Without the clothing drive, many of these children would go to school in rags. 

Over the years, thousands of at-risk kids have attended classes at Beall's Center. One of them said, "I thought the only good things in life were just hanging around. Now I want to go to school and be someone."