Dallas real estate icon Ebby Halliday Acers cut the ribbon Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at the dedication of “The Ebby House,” a new innovative transitional community for young women who have aged out of foster care.

The facility is opening at Juliette Fowler Communities in the Lakewood neighborhood of Dallas.

Fowler Communities is the only intergenerational residential community in Dallas, providing a loving, Christian environment to senior citizens (those living independently or in need of assistance) as well as long and short-term rehabilitation care, foster care residences for children under age 18 and now the newly constructed “Ebby House,” for young ladies.

Every year, about 1,500 young women age out of the foster care system. Before the age of 21, many of them face severe outcomes due to lack of family and adult connections.

“The Ebby House” program seeks to reverse that negative trend by offering them a home to live in and mentors to love them while they learn to become self-reliant adults before having to face the challenges of the world on their own.

Attending the ribbon cutting to help commemorate the occasion and to celebrate Halliday’s legendary efforts to empower women were several members of Dallas’ Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), where Halliday is a long-time member.  She and her late husband, Maurice Acers, were married at Central Christian Church on Easter Sunday in 1965.

“Knowing that The Ebby House will be a place for young girls to reach their potential is just wonderful,” said Halliday.

After the ribbon cutting ceremony, guests had the opportunity to tour the beautifully re-furbished Ebby House where the girls will live while they are in the program.