Dallas Fort Worth Nonprofit Business Journal

Author: DFW501c Reporter

Goodwill North Central Texas expands in Parker County with new Hudson Oaks store

Goodwill North Central Texas is expanding its presence in Parker County with a new retail store and donation center at 2049 Cinema Drive in Hudson Oaks.

The approximately 15,000-square-foot location will give residents a convenient new place to shop, donate and support Goodwill’s mission of helping people overcome barriers to employment through job training, education and employment services. The new location comes as Hudson Oaks and surrounding Parker County communities continue to grow, increasing opportunities for Goodwill to connect with more people in the area.

“Every Goodwill store is an opportunity to connect our community with the resources and services that can help people build brighter futures,” said David Cox, president and CEO of Goodwill North Central Texas. “We’re excited to bring a new Goodwill to Hudson Oaks and expand our ability to serve individuals and families throughout Parker County. The support of our shoppers and donors makes it possible for us to turn everyday donations and purchases into job training, education and employment opportunities for people facing barriers to work.”

The new store will mark Goodwill North Central Texas’ second location in Parker County and its 28th store across its 18-county service area. The location is expected to create approximately 20 jobs. Construction is underway, with the store expected to open in early 2027.

Once open, the store and donation center will be open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. Additional details about the grand opening, including special promotions and opportunities to meet the new Goodwill team, will be announced later this year.

Source: Press release

September 21, 2026
Parrish Classic delivers more than football: four UNT Dallas scholarships awarded to Duncanville and DeSoto students

Roland Parrish and State Sen. Royce West fund scholarships valued at up to $40,000 for students at the two high schools

Today’s Parrish Classic football game between Duncanville and DeSoto high schools provided more than a thrilling competition between arch-rivals. During half-time at the Cotton Bowl, four scholarships to UNT Dallas were presented to the schools’ principals – each valued at up to $10,000.

The scholarships are funded by two donors, both dedicated to education and public service. Two were provided by Roland Parrish, the pioneering entrepreneur and CEO of Parrish Restaurants, for whom the Parrish Classic is named. State Senator Royce West, who was instrumental in getting UNT Dallas built in southern Dallas, provided the other two. UNT Dallas is the only four-year public university in the city of Dallas.

UNT Dallas President, Warren von Eschenbach, PhD, presented the four checks to the Duncanville and DeSoto principals on the 50-yard line of the historic stadium.

“On behalf of the University of North Texas at Dallas, I’m honored to help present four $10,000 scholarships that will open doors for DeSoto and Duncanville students,” said President von Eschenbach.

Each school will receive one scholarship named for Mr. Parrish and one named for Senator West – a $20,000 investment in DeSoto High and a $20,000 investment in Duncanville High, for a total combined gift of $40,000.

The four recipients have not yet been chosen; they will be graduating seniors in spring 2027 and will be named at a later date. The scholarships apply to the 2027-2028 UNT Dallas academic year, beginning in August 2027.

“To every student in this stadium — thank you for considering UNT Dallas. We built this university for students like you: passionate, driven and ready to realize your dreams,” said President von Eschenbach.

Beyond the scholarships presented today, UNT Dallas offers numerous additional scholarships, grants and financial aid opportunities to assist students and families. Through the Trailblazer Tuition Trust, launched in May 2026, Texas high school graduates whose family incomes are $100,000 or less a year can attend UNT Dallas completely free of tuition and fees.

“Congratulations again to the DeSoto Eagles, the Duncanville Panthers and every student who calls these schools home,” said President von Eschenbach . “UNT Dallas is proud to empower students, transform lives and strengthen communities.”

Source: Press release

September 21, 2026
Orphan Outreach announces new name: Everknown

After nearly 20 years of serving children and families around the world, the Plano-based nonprofit organization and global ministry, Orphan Outreach, today announced the debut of its new name and brand, Everknown.

The new name goes into effect immediately and includes the launch of a new website (www.everknown.org) and social media presence (@weareeverknown). “I am honored to lead Orphan Outreach and our global team of dedicated men and
women as we become Everknown,” said Michael Monroe, who joined as the organization’s President and CEO last year after leaving his longtime tenure with Hunt Consolidated. “Everknown speaks to the mission that has led us from day one and
provides space for us to grow into our fullest potential in the years to come. This milestone moment allows us to embrace an identity that reflects who we have become and where we are going, through a lens of respect and empowerment for the children,
families and communities we are committed to.”

The name Everknown was selected for its reference to the organization’s mission and its long-held belief that every child should have the opportunity to grow up known, supported and equipped with the care and empowerment they need to flourish.
Founded in 2007, Orphan Outreach and its initial group of donors and volunteers primarily served children who were living in orphanages, through ministry programs in Guatemala, Honduras, India and Russia. Over the course of two decades, that work
expanded and evolved to meet the increasingly complex needs facing children and families living in some of the world’s most challenging circumstances.

Today, Everknown is active in nine countries, where it offers holistic, community-based, faith centered care to children, young adults and families through a network of locally led programs and partnerships that address educational, physical, social-emotional
and spiritual well-being. “I am humbled by the growth and impact of Orphan Outreach over nearly 20 years,” said the organization’s President Emeritus, Mike Douris. “The mission we started with is as important and timeless as ever. As we become Everknown, I am proud for that work to continue under a new name that speaks directly to the unique importance and
potential of every child we serve.”

Everknown will host its annual WOW Houston Luncheon on Wednesday, November 4, and its WOW Dallas Luncheon on Monday, December 7. It will mark its 20th anniversary with a celebration in Spring 2027.

Source: Press release

September 21, 2026
On the Move: nonprofit leaders taking on new roles

This week: Make-A-Wish North Texas, United Way of Tarrant County, Center for Transforming Lives, Communities In Schools of North Texas, Ronald McDonald House of Fort Worth

Make-A-Wish® North Texas is thrilled to welcome four distinguished new members to its Board of Directors; Allison Delzell, Tim Frederick, Justin Lowenfield, and Kathryn Wyker. These accomplished leaders bring extensive experience across business, marketing, philanthropy and community leadership, along with a shared commitment to advancing the organization’s mission to grant life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.

United Way of Tarrant County has named Barbara M. Williams, of counsel at Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson LLP, as its new board chair.

Williams has served on United Way of Tarrant County’s board of directors for six years and brings decades of leadership experience with Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, where she has overseen the firm’s Fort Worth office and chairs its client relations subcommittee.

Sarai Victoria, previously with Presbyterian Night Shelter, announces that she’ll be joining The Center for Transforming Lives as an Accounts Payable Specialist.

Jade Ngo takes on a new role as Grant Associate at Communities In Schools of North Texas. Education has always been at the heart of her career, and she’s excited to contribute in a new way through grant work.

Ronald McDonald House of Fort Worth welcoming three new faces to the RMHFW team.

September 21, 2026
Nation’s first donkey hospital has opened in North Texas

A new era in the medical treatment and emotional care of unwanted donkeys has arrived with the opening of The Center for the Advancement of Donkeys in Grayson County, Texas. The nation’s first specialized medical facility dedicated to donkeys is a groundbreaking venture of Oscar’s Place, a donkey adoption center and sanctuary that has saved close to 500 donkeys destined for slaughter over the last five years.

Oscar’s Place was co-founded by former Time Inc. media executive, Ron King, and Phil Selway, owner of Los Angeles-based Hamilton-Selway Fine Art. Oscar’s Place and CEO Ron King are featured in a 17-episode docuseries, Donkey King, which airs on ABC stations across the nation.

Although donkeys are incredibly intelligent, sensitive, and emotional animals that form lifelong bonds with each other, they are nonetheless victims of a global crisis driven by the demand for the collagen in their hides. Annually, millions of donkeys around the world are slaughtered. Many of them, including pregnant females, are sold at auction to kill pen buyers, who purchase them en masse to harvest their hides.

The new hospital, which opened on September 5, fulfills an essential missing step in Oscar’s Place’s rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming process: it enables early medical assessment and treatment in close proximity to one of the largest kill pen auctions in the U.S. “In nearly all cases, we don’t know the health status of the donkeys we are saving,” said Oscar’s Place co-founder and CEO Ron King. “We may unknowingly save a donkey that is seriously ill, only to put it on trailer for a several-day transport alongside healthy animals, putting in jeopardy the health of all the animals.”

With the opening of Collinsville facility, the on-site veterinary staff now administer life-saving treatment in a matter of minutes, rather than days. The state-of-the-art hospital includes a covered intake and assessment arena; temperature-controlled, bio-secure stalls; separate recovery housing for donkeys with strangles, asinine herpes, flu, and other contagious conditions; an on-site lab and pharmacy; an isolation ward for critical-care donkeys; and 40 acres of pastures with shelters, ponds and room to heal.

On Sunday, September 6, Oscar’s Place welcomed its first 14 patients, including moms and babies and seniors, having saved them at auction that day.

“This Center is the first of its kind and is built specifically to receive donkeys immediately, diagnose them accurately, and begin their recovery quickly,” said King. Once they are healthy, the donkeys will be transported to the organization’s adoption center and sanctuary in Northern California.

According to King, there is a much bigger vision for its North Texas operations: educating others about best practices in the treatment and care of donkeys. “We want the new facility to be more than a hospital; we want it to be the epicenter for collecting data, training veterinarians, and advancing the science of donkey medicine,” said King.

The Center will offer internships, externships and residency programs to veterinary students and graduates – and even practicing veterinarians – who will be able to live onsite in a university village. Oscar’s Place currently has educational partnerships with UC Davis and Oregon State University; King hopes to expand that to include Texas-based veterinary schools.

“We will continue our laser focus on rescuing and rehabilitating donkeys in need, but we are committed to investing in training the next generation of veterinarians,” said King. He and his team want to help veterinary professionals better understand and fall in love with donkeys, as they do. “When we transform how donkeys are viewed and treated, we will improve the welfare of donkeys for decades to come,” he added.

The Center will also significantly increase the organization’s footprint and capacity, allowing Oscar’s Place to house and care for up to 500 donkeys at a time. Currently, there are nearly 160 donkeys at the adoption center in Hopland, with an additional 70 donkeys at the sanctuary in Potter Valley.

Volunteers will continue to be essential to the organization’s work as it expands its operations to Texas. Nearly 70 people – from young adults to senior citizens – volunteer each week at the Hopland facility, providing for the daily care and emotional rehabilitation of the donkeys. They work alongside a team of nearly 20 full-time staff, including on-site veterinarian and Head of Animals Dr. Kate Schoenhals, who leads the donkeys’ medical care and rehabilitation.

Source: Press Release

September 21, 2026
United Way Dallas receives historic investment of $15.5 million

United Way of Metropolitan Dallas announced a $15.5 million investment from The Stephens Greth Foundation to support communities across North Texas in building brighter, healthier futures. The largest philanthropic gift in United Way of Metropolitan Dallas’ history will help expand proven programs, support new approaches to persistent challenges, and direct resources where they can make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and families across the region.

The grant will support United Way’s Community Impact Fund and five initiatives—Healthcare Navigators, Data Capacity Building, Once Upon A Month, Pathways to Work, and Social Innovation—that advance education, income, and health outcomes across North Texas. These initiatives reflect The Stephens Greth Foundation’s commitment to expanding access to education and healthcare and helping individuals, families, and communities reach their full potential. The funding will provide both targeted support for high-impact programs and the flexibility needed to respond to emerging needs and pursue long-term solutions that strengthen communities.

“This transformational gift reflects the power of visionary philanthropy to create meaningful change across North Texas,” said Jennifer Sampson, McDermott-Templeton President and CEO of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. “The Stephens Greth Foundation’s leadership demonstrates a deep belief in the importance of investing in solutions that strengthen communities and improve lives. Their generosity will help United Way continue advancing innovative solutions, strengthening community partnerships, and delivering measurable impact for North Texans. We are profoundly grateful for their trust and partnership.”

For The Stephens Greth Foundation, the investment reflects a belief that strong communities are built by people willing to work hard, take responsibility, and help others move forward. Through its partnership with United Way, the Foundation is supporting locally informed efforts that can strengthen families, open doors, and help communities across North Texas prosper for generations to come.

“At The Stephens Greth Foundation, we believe meaningful change happens when organizations have both the vision and the capacity to tackle complex challenges over the long term,” said Lyndal Stephens Greth, Executive Chairman of The Stephens Greth Foundation. “Humility, hard work, integrity, compassion, and a belief in opportunity earned and shared—these values guide our family’s philanthropy and our commitment to organizations that create real, lasting change. United Way of Metropolitan Dallas consistently brings people together, invests strategically, and delivers measurable results for North Texas. We are proud to support their work and look forward to the difference this investment will make for generations to come.”

Jim Burke, Annual Campaign Chair for United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, said the Foundation’s leadership demonstrates the extraordinary impact that philanthropic partnerships can have on a community.

“This remarkable commitment is an inspiring example of how visionary philanthropy can create meaningful, lasting change,” Burke said. “The Stephens Greth Foundation’s generosity reflects the power of investing in solutions that address our region’s greatest challenges. We hope this extraordinary example encourages others to join us in strengthening North Texas and creating opportunities for all who call our region home.” As United Way of Metropolitan Dallas enters its second century, this unprecedented gift will help deepen its impact across North Texas. Together, United Way and The Stephens Greth Foundation are building on a shared vision for a stronger community—one where more individuals and families have the opportunity to thrive.

Source: Press Release

September 14, 2026
New Friends New Life announces 2026 “ProtectHER” award recipients

New Friends New Life (NFNL) announced the recipients of its 2026 ProtectHER Awards: Baker Botts and Toyota Motor North America, Elizabeth Carlock Phillips, and Janet Jensen. The awards, sponsored by Thomson Reuters, will be presented at the annual NFNL Stand for Her Luncheon, on September 24 at the Hyatt Regency Dallas. The luncheon will feature actress, producer, and founder/CEO Tracee Ellis Ross in a conversation moderated by NBC 5 anchor Laura Harris.

Community leaders Lottye and Bobby Lyle will serve as honorary luncheon chairs, joining mother-daughter co-chair teams Beth Thoele and Brooke Russo and Kathy Helm and Marci Kramer in leading the event, which supports NFNL’s mission to restore and empower survivors of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation.

Established in 2013, the ProtectHER Awards recognize individuals, corporations, and agencies whose leadership and service advance the protection, dignity, and value of women and girls in Dallas, across the nation, and around the world. Past recipients include Erin Nealy Cox, The Meadows Foundation, Methodist Health Systems, Santander Consumer USA Foundation, Inc., and Southwest Airlines.

For the past two years, the Baker Botts/Toyota Pro Bono Legal Clinic has played a critical role in supporting members of NFNL’s Women’s Program by providing free legal services that remove barriers to stability and independence. From addressing family law matters to resolving issues that impact employment, housing, and financial security, the clinic has helped survivors move forward with confidence and hope.

“Each year these partnering entities show up with expertise wrapped in empathy, lighting the legal path forward for our members” said Bianca Davis, CEO, NFNL. “Their unwavering commitment helps remove barriers that too often stand between survivors and the fresh start they deserve.”

Through her tireless advocacy for Trey’s Law, Elizabeth Carlock Phillips has become a powerful voice for survivors of sexual abuse and human trafficking. This landmark legislation prohibits the use of nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) to silence survivors of sexual abuse, child sexual abuse, and human trafficking. Inspired by the tragic loss of her brother, Trey Carlock, who experienced childhood sexual abuse at a summer camp and died by suicide in 2019 at the age of 28, Phillips courageously shared his story with lawmakers to help ensure survivors would never again be silenced. Today, Trey’s Law is helping hold perpetrators accountable in Texas and serving as a model for similar legislation across the country.

“At New Friends New Life, we recognize the courage and tenacity required to impact legislative change,” said Davis. “Elizabeth has transformed personal tragedy into meaningful action, creating protections that will benefit survivors for generations to come.”

As founder of The Jensen Project, Janet Jensen has transformed the way organizations serving women and girls affected by gender-based violence build capacity and strengthen their impact. Through strategic funding, leadership development, collaboration, and technical support, The Jensen Project has equipped agencies across the country with the resources needed to expand services, improve outcomes, and better serve survivors.

“The Jensen Project’s advocacy, investment, and commitment to collaboration have strengthened the anti-trafficking movement and created meaningful, measurable progress for survivors nationwide,” Davis added.“Janet understands that lasting change happens when organizations are equipped to work together, and her leadership continues to elevate the entire field.”

“Thomson Reuters is proud to stand alongside New Friends New Life in honoring these ProtectHER Award recipients,” said Heather Panton, Senior Advisor of Social Impact and Human Rights, Thomson Reuters. “Their tireless efforts reflect the values we champion – truth, justice, and human dignity. We are committed to leveraging our data, technology, and subject matter expertise to help combat trafficking in communities across the U.S. and around the world.”

Underwriting sponsorship opportunities begin at $3,000. A limited number of individual tickets are available at $300. To reserve sponsorships or seats, visit www.newfriendsnewlife.org/luncheon, email events@newfriendsnewlife.org, or contact Chief Development Officer Priya Murphy at 214-217-8652. Media Sponsor is NBC 5/ Telemundo 39.

Source: Press Release

September 14, 2026
Junior Achievement of Dallas and Richardson ISD open JA Discovery Center at Greenwood Hills
Junior Achievement of Dallas (JA Dallas) and Richardson Independent School District (RISD) opened the JA Discovery Center at Greenwood Hills Learning Center on Thursday, Aug. 27, with a ribbon-cutting followed by a community open house. The experiential learning center is a hands-on financial literacy and career readiness space where students run a simulated city and build a personal budget.

Every RISD fifth grader and every RISD seventh grader will participate in learning experiences at the center. That totals 5,000 students in the first year, and more than 7,500 annually at full capacity.

Speakers in the ribbon-cutting ceremony included:
1. Tabitha Branum, superintendent, Richardson ISD
2. Chris LaTurno, president and CEO, JA Dallas
3. Angie Lee, executive director of student success and leadership, Richardson ISD
4. Wendy Stewart, board chair, JA Dallas
Attending the evening’s celebration were Richardson Mayor Amir Omar, Richardson ISD board of trustee members, JA Dallas board of directors members, community sponsors of the JA Discovery Center and students who attend RISD schools and their families.

The center is built as a small city with familiar Richardson-area landmarks like Main Street and storefronts sponsored by area businesses including CORE Construction, Credit Union of Texas, FedEx, Glenn Partners, Richardson ISD, State Farm and Toyota.

RISD fifth graders will spend weeks in the classroom on business and economics, then come to the center for JA BizTown. They apply for jobs, run the storefronts, open bank accounts, pay taxes, meet payroll and take out and repay business loans.

Seventh graders will come for JA Finance Park beginning in spring 2027, where they build a personal budget, evaluate financial choices and manage real-life scenarios tied to income and expenses.

“At The JA Discovery Center, we aim to help young people see themselves and opportunity differently,” said LaTurno. “It’s about a fifth grader realizing they could own a business someday, and a seventh grader understanding that the smart financial choices they make today can shape the life they build tomorrow. “The fifth grader who discovers maybe I could own a business someday. The seventh grader who begins to understand that the choices they make today can shape the life they build tomorrow.”

The JA Discovery Center also revives a piece of district history. RISD previously ran its own simulated city, Enterprise City, at Canyon Creek Elementary starting in 1985, and generations of RISD graduates still name it as a favorite school memory.

“One of the most difficult moments as a superintendent just a few years ago was making a recommendation to consolidate schools, and this school, Greenwood Hills, was one of them,” said Branum. “But we delivered a promise that we were going to continue to invest in it and make it something special for their students and for generations to come. We have taken a space that, if we allowed, could be empty of dreams, and instead it hosts a whole new generation of dreams,”

“The open house ran from 6 to 8 p.m. with guided tours, a DJ, giant games, face painting, the Richardson Library outreach van and food provided by the Credit Union of Texas Community Grill. The first student sessions at the JA Discovery Center begin Sept. 15.

Source: Press Release
September 14, 2026
Junior League of Fort Worth welcomes 97th President and announces new board and projects for 2026–2027 year
The Junior League of Fort Worth (JLFW) begins a new League year under the leadership of President Alli D’Acosta and a 12-member Board of Directors whose service extends well beyond the League. In addition to providing strategic leadership across JLFW’s councils and initiatives, these accomplished women hold professional roles throughout Fort Worth and Tarrant County, bringing a wealth of experience, expertise, and commitment to service to their work within the League. Together, they reflect JLFW’s longstanding tradition of developing women leaders who make a meaningful impact in their professions and throughout the community. Meet the members of the JLFW Board of Directors and learn more about the leadership roles they hold both within the League and beyond:
- Alli D’ Acosta, President
  - Cook Children’s Health Foundation
- Janie Latimer, President-Elect
  - First Tee – Fort Worth
- Meredith Lynch, Administrative Vice President
  - Storm Guard Franchise Systems
- Krista Bohr, Communications Vice President (not pictured)
  - Ofi Chito
- Michelle Chapellier Arrington, Community Vice President
  - The Archway
- Danielle Jackman, Education Vice President
  - Texas Christian University
- Jenna Cox, Finance Vice President
  - Luther King Capital Management
- Tiffany Payan, Finance Assistant Vice President
  - Crescent Real Estate
- Kelly Ray, Fund Development Vice President
- Magellan Taylor-Brickey, Membership Vice President
  - Cook Children’s
- Laura Kirspel, Nominating Chair
  - AWA Theatrical
- Becky Escott, Sustaining Advisor
  - BKV Corporation
- Meg Plank, Assistant to the Board
  - Olsson Associates
Listed below are nine projects for the 2026–2027 League year which receive both funding and volunteer involvement:
- ACH Child and Family Services, Youth Emergency Shelter Security Enhancement Project
  - $46,000 and 8 volunteers
- Cristo Rey Fort Worth, Expanding Opportunity, One Van at a Time
  - $30,000 and 4 volunteers
- Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, Legacy and Extension Project
  - $35,000 and 12 volunteers
- Fort Worth Youth Orchestra, Orchestra Hall Rehearsal Facility Project
  - $30,000 and 8 volunteers
- Gladney Center for Adoption, The Gladney Home LIFT Project
  - $55,000 and 8 volunteers
- Ronald McDonald House of Fort Worth, Meals from the Heart: Box Meal Project
  - $32,000 and 8 volunteers
- Spotlight Cast & Crew, The Spotlight Studio
  - $30,000 and 7 volunteers
- Stone’s Throw Farm Co., Garden Expansion Project
  - $42,000 and 12 volunteers
- Wings of Hope Equitherapy, Providing the Partnership of Horses and Humans Project
  - $50,000 and 12 volunteers
Source: Press Release
September 14, 2026
Center for Transforming Lives earns reaccreditation from National Council on Accreditation

Center for Transforming Lives has earned reaccreditation from the National Council on Accreditation (COA), reaffirming its commitment to the highest standards of quality, accountability and excellence in serving children and families. Center for Transforming Lives is one of only three organizations in Tarrant County and one of only five organizations in all of North Texas to hold this distinctive accreditation.

COA certification is among the most demanding nonprofit credentials available, evaluating governance, financial management, service delivery and staff practices against the highest national standards. It is a lengthy, intense process that is designed to strengthen organizational capacity, improve service outcomes and instill trust in families, communities and stakeholders.
“COA reaccreditation is an incredible achievement that reflects our ongoing commitment to quality and continuous improvement,” said Carol Klocek, president and CEO of Center for Transforming Lives. “These values are embedded within our culture and how we approach our work. We help thousands of families move from crisis to stability every year, and COA accreditation ensures that their trust in us is well-placed.”

The designation follows a landmark year for Center for Transforming Lives, which serves single mothers and their children through an integrated model that combines housing support, early childhood education, economic mobility and counseling.
In 2025, Center for Transforming Lives opened its new Riverside Campus in southeast Fort Worth, a 65,000-square-foot facility designed to increase service capacity by 30% and bring multiple services together under one roof. Located in a ZIP code where poverty rates among single mothers are among the highest in Tarrant County, the campus includes early childhood education, counseling, financial programs, healthcare partnerships and Riverside Coworking, a new entrepreneurship hub that offers free on-site childcare.

Over the past decade, Center for Transforming Lives has helped more than 2,000 families move from housing crisis to stability and reduced homelessness among participating families by 91%. Participants in economic mobility services increase their income by an average of $1,399 per month, while 90% of children enrolled in the organization’s early childhood education programs enter kindergarten ready to learn.

“COA reaccreditation reflects the commitment of our entire team to meeting rigorous standards and delivering services that families can trust,” Klocek said.

September 14, 2026