When my wife Dr. Bragg and I were looking for a place to plant roots, we chose Forney. Not because the demographics looked right on paper, but because the community felt like home the moment we got here.

We saw young couples building lives. We saw an older generation that was genuinely welcoming. We saw people who looked like us, dreaming like us. We stayed because Forney chose us first.

Earlier this year, we had the privilege of giving something back. We contributed $4,000 to the Forney Education Foundation, an organization that supports local schools, teachers, and students throughout the district.

Why education, specifically

For both of us, this cause is personal.

Dr. Bragg is the first doctor in her entire family. Every step of her path, from undergrad to dental school to building a career, was paved by education. She earned every bit of it, but she’ll be the first to tell you that the opportunity to even try came from the schools and teachers who believed in her along the way.

For me, education was my saving grace. Coming from an immigrant household without a lot of advantages, school is what opened doors that would have otherwise stayed closed. Graduating undergrad in two and a half years, then dental school, none of that was possible without teachers who taught me what I could be, and a system that gave me a chance to prove it.

So when we talk about supporting Forney’s schools, we’re not talking about a charitable line item. We’re talking about the kind of access that changed both of our lives. The kind that’s quietly changing the life of a kid in Forney right now who doesn’t yet know what they’re capable of.

Why the Education Foundation

Schools are the backbone of a growing community. Forney is expanding fast, and the families moving here deserve schools that match the quality of life they’re building. Teachers deserve resources. Students deserve opportunities. The Forney Education Foundation does the work that quietly makes all of that possible.

We don’t make donations for visibility. We make them because we believe in being part of the community we serve, not just selling services to it.

Thank you, Forney

If you’re new to Forney, or if you’ve been here forever, we’d love to take care of you and your family at Essence Dentistry. And if you’re interested in supporting the Education Foundation yourself, we’d encourage it. Their work matters. Here is the link to their website.

https://forneyisdfoundation.org/home

Thank you, Forney, for everything you give to us. We’ll keep giving back as long as we’re here.

Dr. Iro and Dr. Bragg Essence Dentistry & Cosmetics