Our Namesakes

Our Namesakes

Our foundation was created by Amber and Steve Mostyn to honor the memory of two caring and generous Texans: Glenda Jean Mostyn, mother, grandmother, sister and educator in East Texas and Texas State Representative Joe E. Moreno, son, brother, friend, and legislator. Both cared very deeply about education and providing the best for the children of Texas.

Glenda Jean Mostyn (1939 – 1996)

Glenda Jean Mostyn – Jean raised four children and was always a positive impact on their lives.  She was at every game, school event, or activity that her children were involved in.  While raising her four children, she lived in three different countries, created a caring home and always put them first. Jean’s love of family and friends was the foundation for her compassionate, dedicated, and loving work with significantly impaired students.

In August of 1988, she accepted a position with the Saint Louis School in Tyler, Texas.  This campus serves children with significant impairments.  Jean loved these students and truly enjoyed meeting their needs.  Jean worked in this position until her death in October 1996. Up and until her death, she was strongly motivated to empower this special group of children to achieve all they could.  Two days prior to her death she was shopping for clothes to wear back to work.  Jean’s love for all children impacted her daughter Jackie’s career choice as an educator of students with special needs. Her youngest son Steve was also impacted by the love of these special children. In Jean’s memory, Steve and Amber Mostyn created the foundation to honor Jean and provide unique and special opportunities for the students that she loved.  Jean’s love for these students was amazing and continues through her children and the mission of the foundation.

The Honorable Joe E. Moreno (1964-2005)

Joe E. Moreno was born in Houston, Texas on August 12, 1964. The first of three children, Joe Moreno grew to love his community and the Houston area. He graduated from St. Thomas High School and later attended the University of St. Thomas and Texas Southern University.

He was elected in November 1998 to serve in the Texas Legislature from House District 143.

Representative Moreno was experienced both as a legislator and staff member in the Texas House of Representatives. He previously worked as a Legislative Aide for former District 143 State Representative Al Luna, as well as serving as Chief of Staff and Campaign Manager for State Representative Jessica Farrar (Houston).

As a long-time activist in helping to improve his community, Representative Moreno had been involved for many years in the Resurrection Catholic Church, Harris County Tejano Democrats, and the League of United Latin American Citizens Council #60.  He had also held the position of Harris County Precinct Judge for Precinct 62.

As a member of the Texas Legislature, Representative Moreno served on the House Committee on Business and Industry and the House Committee on Juvenile Justice and Family Issues. He also served as Vice-Chair before becoming Chair of the Harris County Delegation, which is made up of 25 State Representatives, all of whom represent districts within Harris County.  In 1999, Representative Moreno received the outstanding legislator award from the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities. He also was named the 2003 Legislator of the Year from the Justice of the Peace and Constables Association.

Representative Moreno considered it a privilege and honor to serve the residents of District 143 and always used his experience in the legislature to provide the highest level of representation for the people of Southeast Harris County. Representative Moreno, who was serving his fourth term in the Texas House, resided in Denver Harbor and also represented Magnolia, Manchester, Jacinto City, Galena Park, and parts of Pasadena and North Shore.

Representative Moreno passed away on May 6, 2005.

EMPOWERING TEXAS SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN BY CREATING A LEGACY OF POSSIBILITIES