On Monday, October 17, 2022, The Bridge lost our dear friend and Board Member John Raymond Castle Jr.
John’s impact at The Bridge is undeniable. Our mission statement is a reflection of his commitment to The Bridge and the work of homeless recovery in the City of Dallas. There is no better way to pay tribute to John and his commitment to The Bridge other than to let you hear his words about the significance of our organization:
“The Bridge is a homeless recovery center. Yes, we shelter people, but at the end of the day, we’re about recovery. So one of the things I think people may not realize is their hope. If you think, ‘Well, the homeless people are homeless because they choose it. They want to just be out here panhandling. They don’t want to work…’ Not true. You come down to The Bridge. You look at the long lines of people trying to get help, trying to engage a care manager, trying to get a job through workforce solutions, or trying to get help in some fashion. You know, people are struggling. Yes, that’s right. And they’ve had some bad breaks in their lives. But this is a place of hope. This a place where recovery can happen.”
John facilitated how we at The Bridge deliver hope to our Guests, to our employees, and to our stakeholders in the community. John knew the significance of providing an exit strategy from homelessness, and his words reflect that.
To his wife, daughter, and extended family, we send you words of consolation, words of celebration of his life, his impact. We are proud as an organization of the endearing relationship that he sustained with us. We send you prayers of peace, thoughts of goodwill, and hope that his memory will remain true in your hearts.