Economic Mobility Center welcomes Megan Aghazadian as the next Chief Executive Officer. Megan brings 20 years of experience building organizations and advancing systems change in education and economic mobility. As Deputy Commissioner of Operations at the Texas Education Agency, she aligned a complex agency and Texas’ 20 Education Service Centers around shared priorities. Most recently, as Co-Founder and Principal of Loom Consulting, she partnered with school districts, higher education, nonprofits, and philanthropy across Texas to turn strategy into action.
A systems architect and people-centered leader, Megan shares the belief that lasting impact comes from strong teams, trusted partnerships, disciplined execution, and a culture of care.
Her arrival marks the next step as EMC expands its impact in Dallas County and across Texas. As part of this transition, founder Eric J. Ban Ed.D. becomes Founder and Chief Innovation Officer, focusing on innovation, growth, and business development.
Federal investment will support HHM Health’s mission to humanize healthcare by bringing comprehensive care to more Dallas families.
HHM Health, a nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) serving communities across the Dallas Metroplex, has been selected as the only Dallas recipient of New Access Points funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The funding will help HHM Health expand access to affordable, comprehensive healthcare for underserved communities across Dallas.
Providing integrated, patient-centered care across nine locations throughout the Dallas Metroplex, HHM offers low-cost, high-quality healthcare services for men, women, and children. The organization is dedicated to reducing healthcare disparities and increasing access to care for underserved communities across Dallas.
The award is part of a $102 million national investment to expand the reach of the Health Center Program and increase access to comprehensive primary care for nearly 1 million people nationwide.
“Being selected as the only Dallas recipient of this funding is an important opportunity to expand the care we provide to the communities that need it most,” said Brian Hawkins, CEO of HHM Health. “Too many individuals and families still face barriers to receiving consistent, high-quality healthcare. This investment will help us reach more of our neighbors and continue providing compassionate, comprehensive care that meets people where they are.”
Through this investment, HHM Health will continue building on its mission to provide comprehensive care while addressing the healthcare needs of communities that have historically faced barriers to accessing medical services.
HHM Health’s integrated model brings a wide range of services together to care for the whole person, including adult and internal medicine, pediatrics, women’s health, behavioral health, dental, vision, pharmacy, imaging, and nutrition services. Expanding access to these services allows patients and families to receive care in a trusted healthcare setting while addressing their physical, behavioral, and preventive health needs.
Nationwide, HRSA-funded health centers serve more than 32 million people through more than 16,000 service sites. These health centers play a critical role in providing affordable, accessible care and addressing health disparities in communities across the country.
For HHM Health, the New Access Points award is an investment in the future health of Dallas. As the organization continues to grow, HHM Health remains committed to meeting communities where they are and ensuring that more individuals and families have access to the care they need with love, compassion, and respect.
New three-year initiative will expand access to evidence-based trauma and grief care by equipping local clinicians, schools and families to better support North Texas youth
Soar, the nonprofit mental health initiative of M2G Ventures dedicated to advancing the understanding, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, today announced a new partnership with the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute to launch the Tarrant County Trauma and Grief Collaborative. The three-year initiative will expand access to proven trauma- and grief-informed care for North Texas children and families. This new long-term funding collaboration marks a defining next step in Soar’s evolution to advance research, advocacy and community-based solutions.
Established in 2019, Soar’s approach begins by listening to real-world needs, identifying expert partners capable of addressing them and directing sustained funding toward solutions that can create both immediate and lasting change. Through this partnership, Soar’s investment will support a new, Tarrant County-specific program that would not otherwise move forward—bringing the Meadows Institute’s nationally recognized Trauma and Grief (TAG) Center model directly into local schools and communities.
“When we started Soar, it came from something deeply personal, the belief that no family should face a mental health crisis without the right support in place. Every partnership since has been chosen with that same conviction: find the people already doing the deepest, most important work, and give them the resources to go further. The Meadows Institute and the TAG Center represent exactly that. This partnership isn’t just an expansion of what Soar does, it’s a signal of what Soar has become: a long-term investor in the mental health of this community through research, advocacy, and community building,” said Soar Co-Founder, Jessica Miller Essl.
The search for Soar’s newest partner began after the devastating 2025 Central Texas floods underscored how urgently families need both immediate mental health support and long-term pathways to healing after trauma and loss. At the time, Soar responded with $40,000 to support trauma and grief services in our community, while widening its focus beyond a single disaster to examine how unresolved trauma affects children and families across North Texas—from bereavement and natural disasters to abuse, housing instability and other adverse experiences. The organization then sought a partner capable of pairing compassionate community care with the research, training and infrastructure required to improve outcomes over time.
According to a local needs assessment conducted by the Meadows Institute, an estimated 78,000 Tarrant County youth ages 10 to 19 experience the death of a loved one each year, while more than 58,000 are exposed to multiple traumatic events. Yet few school- and community-based treatment settings are equipped to provide evidence-based trauma and grief care.
“We are deeply grateful to Soar for its support and generosity in helping children and families across Tarrant County,” said Dr. Julie Kaplow, Executive Director of the Trauma and Grief Center. “Far too many youth in the region are struggling to overcome a pervasive but silent epidemic of childhood trauma and grief. This partnership will allow us to empower clinicians, parents, educators, and other caring adults to help children heal and lead happier, healthier lives.”
Over the three-year project, the TAG Center plans to train at least 180 school-and community-based clinicians across Tarrant County through annual learning collaboratives focused on Trauma and Grief Component Therapy and Multidimensional Grief Therapy (the nation’s only evidence-based treatment specifically designed for childhood grief). Those clinicians are expected to serve approximately 1,440 young people, creating a wider and more sustainable network of care where children already spend their time.
The collaborative will also offer workshops for parents, caregivers and educators to help them recognize signs of traumatic stress and grief, understand when a child may need additional support and make timely referrals for treatment. As clinicians deliver care, standardized outcome data will flow back to the TAG Center, allowing researchers to evaluate what is working, refine interventions and continually strengthen the model in a cycle that connects research to training, training to treatment and treatment back to better research.
“Soar began with something personal—a family’s heartbreak that became the reason we started this work in the first place. That experience opened our eyes to just how many gaps exist in mental health care, especially for children and families navigating trauma and grief,” said Katie Wharry, Director of Social Impact. “Since then, our approach has been simple: find where the need is greatest, find the experts equipped to meet it, and commit real, sustained resources to get it done. The TAG Center at the Meadows Institute is exactly that kind of partner. This is Soar showing up for Tarrant County in the way we always hoped to—not with a one-time gift, but with a three-year commitment to real, lasting change.”
Please join Soar and Meadows on September 15, 2026 for a virtual meet and greet to learn about the partnership between these two distinguished organizations and how they plan to make an impact in Tarrant County in the coming years. To join, please register HERE.
Founded by M2G Ventures co-founders Susan Miller and Jessica Miller Essl following a personal family tragedy, Soar is rooted in both personal conviction and proven business leadership. As entrepreneurs, the sisters have brought to Soar the same discipline, strategic thinking and commitment to long-term impact that have shaped M2G Ventures, building a funding model around mental health needs that are critical but often overlooked. Its inaugural partnership with UT Southwestern’s Center for Depression Research and Clinical Care helped expand youth-focused depression research and clinical resources in North Texas. Its partnership with the Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation broadened that work into evidence-based suicide prevention and education. The addition of the TAG Center at the Meadows Institute completes a more holistic continuum aimed at advancing research and treatment, prevention and now trauma- and grief-informed care.
Through collaborative partnerships with mental healthcare innovators and art-centered signature events—including Muse at the Modern, an education-and advocacy-centered spring program, and Art of the Mind, its annual fall fundraiser—Soar has elevated awareness of the need for new mental health solutions, generated momentum toward change and raised more than $2 million in pursuit of new pathways to healing and wholeness.
For more information about Soar or to set up an interview, please contact Ivy Lopez ativy@hollandcollective.co.
This week: The Family Place, Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center, Jewish Family Service of Dallas, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas, Lumin Education, ChildCareGroup, Literacy Achieves
The Family Place is thrilled to welcome Amy Camp as Sr. Vice President of Fundraising. Amy brings over 30 years of nonprofit leadership, fundraising, and development experience to her new role at The Family Place.
Emily Stewart, who previously served as Senior Director of Philanthropy and Philanthropy Operations at Nexus Family Recovery Center joins Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center as the director of engagement.
Jewish Family Service of Dallas has promoted Maya Lefkovits from Communications Manager to Director of Marketing and Communications
ChildCareGroup welcomes Rachel Nelson Assi, CFRE, CAP as their new Vice President of Development. Rachel brings more than 15 years of nonprofit leadership and fundraising expertise to our team, along with a passion for building meaningful relationships and advancing mission-driven work.
Dynamic Development Strategies, LLC is proud to welcome Talia McAllister as their new Senior Associate. From securing millions in grant funding to leading nonprofit organizations, Talia’s experience and passion for strengthening communities make her a valuable addition to their growing team.
Juany Valdespino-Gaytan has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer, where she will oversee organizational operations and ensure alignment across strategy, facilities, transportation, safety, and programming support.
Amanda Ramirez steps into the role of Vice President of Administration, bringing over 15 years of experience to lead our administrative operations, policy implementation, and internal support services.
DeRon Bethea has been named Vice President of Club Experience & Safety, where he will lead club operations, athletics, and safety initiatives to ensure every member has a safe and engaging environment.
Dwaylon Whitmore now serves as Vice President of Programming, leading program strategy and execution to drive consistent, high-quality experiences across all Clubs.
Cerena H. has taken on the role of Training Events Coordinator for the ChildCareGroup for their ELITE (Early Learning Intervention Training and Education) Team.
Lumin Education welcomes Susan Read their new Senior Director of Development. Susan most recently served as Director of Foundation Relationships at Vogel Alcove, following over 14 years as Development Director at the Suicide and Crisis Center of North Texas.
Literacy Achieves is pleased to welcome Susan L. Smith, Ph.D., M.L.I.S. as their new Executive Director. Dr. Smith steps into this role with a commitment to thoughtful, collaborative leadership. During her first several weeks, she will focus on listening, learning, and building relationships with the dedicated people who make the work of Literacy Achieves possible.
Kathryn “Tate” Ringer, interim CEO of Metrocare released her first statement on LinkedIn since taking the helm , “Since stepping in as Interim CEO of Metrocare on April 1, after the board was blindsided by a negative audit, it’s been an intense stretch. We dug into the financials, the operations, the history — and as that work progressed, new information kept surfacing that reshaped our understanding of what we were dealing with today. My focus stayed on protecting our employees and stabilizing the organization before speaking publicly.
Here’s what we have learned: it wasn’t one problem with an easy fix. It was several years of financial, operational, and structural issues layered on top of each other — many born from good intentions – expanding care, meeting community needs, investing in our people – that, combined with outside pressures like funding cuts and inflation, quietly became unsustainable.
But what’s stuck with me most is how people showed up.
Our staff kept showing up for patients despite not knowing what tomorrow held. Our leaders (my colleagues) who remain carried more than their share and worked together to make difficult choices. Community partners, donors, elected officials, and Dallas County leaders stepped up because they knew what was at stake. Our Board made hard calls in service of something bigger than any of us.
Metrocare isn’t just a business. It’s adults finding recovery and resilience. It’s children whose behaviors are often their only way of telling us something is wrong — and caring professionals helping them find healthier ways to express and overcome those challenges. It’s people with disabilities living fuller lives. It’s families getting help when they need it most.
Metrocare is hope.
What gives me confidence today is that we didn’t just react — we got to work. With a deeper understanding and the help of outside experts, we’re building real financial and operational discipline – with radical transparency – so we never end up here again.
There’s still work ahead. But there’s also real progress. Our new partnership with Parkland — both organizations staying independent — isn’t the end of Metrocare’s mission. It’s a chance to build something bigger and better for the people and families who count on us.
To everyone who called, texted, emailed, or simply checked in— to our team, our Board, our community partners, and to Parkland— thank you.
The sacrifices are real. And so is the commitment of the people who continue showing up when it counts.
There are still difficult roads ahead. The loss of team members who made meaningful contributions to Metrocare is still deeply felt and will not be forgotten.
But there is also reason for hope. The future is not without challenges, but it is filled with possibility, and I’m grateful to everyone helping write the next chapter.”
Local news grants include $1.15 million to support 11 organizations expanding reporting, community engagement, and sustainable models for civic information; Additional civic engagement grants total $825,000 to 17 organizations.
As America commemorates its 250th anniversary and celebrates our nation’s history, Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT), the largest community foundation in Texas, is uplifting and investing in civic engagement initiatives that expand access to information, strengthen community connections and community leadership, and help residents engage with one another in the issues shaping North Texas.
“Our local communities continue to shape our future. America’s 250th milestone is an opportunity to reflect and celebrate how communities have always relied on local institutions, including local journalism, to stay informed and engaged,” said Wayne White, president and CEO at Communities Foundation of Texas.
CFT has recently awarded $2 million to strengthen civic engagement across the region through grants to nonprofit organizations, community initiatives, and local media organizations. The $2 million in investments support a broad range of activities, including local news and information sharing, civic education, leadership development, advocacy, volunteerism, community planning, and public engagement.
Together, these grants reflect CFT’s commitment to helping North Texans access information, participate in civic life, and work collaboratively to address community challenges and opportunities.
Local News and Information Grants Overview: $1.15 million
Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT) has awarded $1.15 million in grants to 11 local news and information organizations working to expand access to community-centered information across North Texas.
CFT’s 2026 Local News and Information grant recipients include: Advocate Media, Child Poverty Action Lab (CPAL), The Dallas Examiner, Dallas Free Press, The Dallas Morning News, Dallas Voice, Fort Worth Report, KERA, Press Forward North Texas, The Stewpot, and Texas Tribune. (chart with grant details available on p.3)
CFT’s Local News and Information grant funding supports efforts that help residents better understand the issues, decisions, resources, and events shaping daily life in their communities.
Local news organizations continue to navigate changing business models, reduced advertising revenue, fragmented information channels, and growing demand for community-centered reporting. CFT’s investment is designed to help strengthen the local information ecosystem so residents can have greater access to reporting, better understand local systems, and engage more fully in their communities.
“Together, these grants reflect a range of approaches to strengthen local information across North Texas, from hyperlocal neighborhood reporting and public media coverage to community-led storytelling, audience engagement, and newsroom sustainability,” said Alexander Haj, program officer at Communities Foundation of Texas. “Strong communities depend on residents having access to relevant, community-centered information that helps them understand local issues, connect with one another, and participate in shaping their future. These grants support organizations that are working to reach residents more directly, expand access to local information, and strengthen connections between news organizations and the communities they serve. By investing in local news providers, we are investing in a stronger, more connected North Texas.”
CFT’s latest local news investments were further complemented by support from CFT fundholders, reflecting broader philanthropic interest in strengthening North Texas’ local information ecosystem. Several CFT fundholders recommended an additional $40,000 in total grants to support local news organizations and related initiatives.*
CFT has also granted a total of $825,000 across 17 additional nonprofit organizations that are advancing civic engagement by encouraging sustained, collective participation in community and public life across North Texas to shape decisions, solve problems, and strengthen institutions. Grants for these projects range from $25,000 to $250,000.
Grantees include: American Legion Post 111, Better Block Foundation: Better Block University, Community Council of Greater Dallas, Dallas Eviction Advocacy Center, Dallas Holocaust Museum, Dallas Innovation Alliance, Dallas-Fort Worth Urban League, Global Health Corps, Our Community Law, Project Unity, Southern Methodist University: Dallas County Food Plan, Southern Methodist University: First Amendment Clinic, Texas Women’s Foundation: Women’s Leadership Institute, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas: Hamilton Park Thrives, VolunteerNow, Young Leaders Strong City, and Youth Revive.
“CFT’s vision is a thriving community for all, and thriving communities depend on people having opportunities to engage in the decisions that shape their health, education, public safety, and civic life,” said Robert Kent, chief philanthropy officer at Communities Foundation of Texas. “Collectively, these investments support civic education, leadership development, community planning, and collaborative solutions to community challenges, helping residents actively participate in working together to build a stronger North Texas.”
The following summary provides a full list of CFT’s local news and information grantees, and what CFT’s funding will support:
Grants of $100,000 or more:
Organization
Grant Purpose
Dallas Free Press
To strengthen communication infrastructure, expand direct reach of community news, further Dallas Documenters’ work to share crucial civic information, and deepen collaboration with other news organizations.
The Dallas Morning News
Trust in Local News initiative, Education Lab, and Future of North Texas Initiative: To support listening sessions, pop-up newsrooms, news literacy workshops, community events, and other trust-building strategies that connect journalists directly with residents; and to support Education Lab reporting and Future of North Texas reporting
KERA / North Texas Public Broadcasting
To expand reporting capacity and community engagement in underserved communities in southern Dallas County; and to support the KERA Arts Access reporting partnership with The Dallas Morning News.CFT also contributed a $500,000 grant to KERA’s capital campaign earlier this year.
The Texas Tribune
To expand public service journalism access and increase audience engagement in North Texas by connecting state policy issues to local concerns, including elections, water, energy, data centers, health, education, and the Texas legislature.
Grants ranging from $10,000 – $75,000:
Organization
Grant Purpose
Advocate Media
To expand hyperlocal reporting in underrepresented Dallas neighborhoods, with coverage focused on issues such as zoning, development, housing, education, and cost of living.
Child Poverty Action Lab / The Lab Report Dallas
To support The Lab Report’s data-driven journalism and storytelling on the issues shaping economic mobility and family well-being by examining what’s working in Dallas, what isn’t, and for whom.
Dallas Voice / OUT North Texas
To expand direct access to LGBTQ-focused local news and information through reporting, newsletters, and community partnerships.
Fort Worth Report
To expand local reporting and engagement across underserved and fast-growing areas of Tarrant County, including communities with limited access to consistent local news.
Press Forward North Texas
To support the coordination, shared learning, and collaboration among funders, media partners, and other key stakeholders who are working towards strengthening the North Texas news ecosystem so communities stay informed, connected and engaged.
The Stewpot / STREETZine
To expand STREETZine into a broader journalism platform focused on homelessness, poverty, lived experience, and data-informed reporting.
The Dallas Examiner (Vision Team)
To support The Dallas County Blueprint, a recurring journalism and community engagement project focused on elevating resident voices and local perspectives in Southern Dallas County.
*CFT fundholders who also supported some of these organizations with grants include: Courtney Brooks, Kelley Burks, Sun’s Gonna Shine Fund, Kristina Boxer and anonymous (2).
Fort Worth Botanic Garden (FWBG) has officially earned accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the highest national honor a museum can receive. Accreditation from AAM places FWBG among an elite group of institutions nationwide. Of the nation’s estimated 33,000 museums, only about 1,100 are AAM-accredited. That makes the Fort Worth Botanic Garden part of a small, elite circle of institutions recognized for excellence.
“This accreditation is more than a credential — it’s a reflection of years of hard work, integrity, and dedication from our staff, volunteers, and board,” said Patrick Newman, FWBG President and CEO. “It tells our community, our partners, and every visitor who walks through our gates that Fort Worth Botanic Garden meets the highest standards in our field.”
Why a Botanic Garden Counts as a Museum
How does a garden earn a museum accreditation? The American Alliance of Museums (AAM) recognizes botanic gardens as specialized museums — institutions that meet the same rigorous professional standards as art or history museums, but with a distinct focus on living plant collections, conservation, and public education. The Fort Worth Botanic Garden’s work in these areas, as well as the extraordinary achievements of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT), the Garden’s research arm, are what qualified it to pursue accreditation.
“We commend the thoughtful and successful merger of BRIT with the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, bringing distinct institutional identities into a shared mission and operational framework while maintaining a strong level of cohesion across the operation,” said Lisa Tremper Hanover, Chair, Accreditation Commission Independent Professional, Former Museum Director & CEO.
Joining an Elite National Circle
AAM accreditation puts Fort Worth Botanic Garden in the company of some of the most respected cultural institutions in the country. Nationally, AAM accredited institutions include renowned museums such as the American Museum of Natural History, the National Air & Space Museum – Smithsonian Institution, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and other major art, history, and science institutions across the country. Among public gardens specifically, accreditation is even more rare. FWBG joins the Chicago Botanic Garden — one of the largest and most-visited public gardens in the country, the United States Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C., and the New York Botanical Garden to name some of the prestigious few.
Closer to home, FWBG also joins esteemed Fort Worth cultural institutions that have earned this same AAM distinction, including the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, the Kimbell Art Museum, the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, and the Sid Richardson Museum. Being named alongside these institutions places the Fort Worth Botanic Garden squarely within the city’s tradition of world-class cultural excellence.
What Accreditation Really Means
AAM accreditation isn’t handed out lightly. It’s the field’s gold standard for quality, accountability, and public trust — built and upheld by museum professionals for more than 50 years. Earning accreditation means an institution has proven, rigorous independent review, that it operates with excellence, integrity, and a genuine commitment to the public it serves.
The process is as demanding as the honor is meaningful. FWBG completed a full year of intensive self-study, followed by an on-site review from a team of peer experts. From there, AAM’s independent Accreditation Commission — a panel of seasoned museum professionals — evaluated every finding before making its final determination.
A Milestone Worth Celebrating
This recognition affirms what Fort Worth has always known: the Fort Worth Botanic Garden isn’t just a beautiful place to visit — it’s a nationally respected institution held to the same standards as the country’s leading museums. For the community, it’s a signal that the Garden is trusted, transparent, and built for longevity. For the Garden, it’s a foundation to keep growing, innovating, and serving the public for generations to come.
In celebration of this achievement, FWBG is extending a buy-one-get-one-free admission offer to all guests during the month of August, inviting the community to come experience firsthand the collections and programs that earned the Garden this national distinction. Tickets for this offer must be purchased in person at the Garden and are not available online. Summer hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., with the last tickets sold at 2 p.m.
This week: National Snaffle Bit Association, The Dallas Arts District, BoardBuild
Erica Jobe joins the National Snaffle Bit Association as Foundation Development Manager to help promote and improve Western Pleasure horses and Hunter Under Saddle horses.
The Dallas Arts District has named Ahava Silkey-Jones as its new executive director, selecting a veteran arts administrator to lead the organization as it enters its next phase of growth. Silkey-Jones, who most recently served as vice provost of Dallas College’s School of Creative Arts, Entertainment and Design, brings more than 15 years of experience in arts administration, higher education, nonprofit leadership and civic engagement.
Yván Cuevas, Amanda Badgett, Megan McKennon, and Shon Dorsey, MSW are the newest Board Members of BoardBuild. Each of these exceptional leaders has demonstrated the power of purpose-driven board matching and reinforcing BoardBuild’s commitment to connecting organizations with the right leaders to strengthen governance and drive lasting impact.
Smiles were shining brightly at the home of Sheryl and Gary Wood as they hosted the recent announcement of AWARE’s 2026 grant recipients. AWARE North Texas is a nonprofit organization that empowers North Texans to rise above the challenges of Alzheimer’s and other dementias together.
The funds distributed were raised from supporters of AWARE, as well as funds from the AWARE Affair gala, Boots, Buckles and Brain Health last spring, which was chaired by Katie and Neal Doherty and Heidi and Cole Snadon. The Woods were presenting sponsors of the gala, as well as honorary chairs.
The announcement event was chaired by Mari Epperson and Sharon Ballew, and welcomed supporters and representatives from the 22 grant recipients. Janet Broyles, Vice-President, Grant Review, announced the recipients to a rousing round of applause as a ceremonial check for $403,000 was displayed, symbolizing the total amount of all grants disbursed in 2026. All funds raised stay in north Texas.
Janet said, “I think it is important for you to know our process, because we at AWARE take your donor dollars very seriously. Starting in January, we receive requests for funding. By March, our committee members begin personally visiting each applicant at their location to fully understand their work. Finally, in May, we meet to discuss each organization in detail to ensure we are getting the very best use of your contributions.
“What sets AWARE apart is our balanced approach. We know that research to end these diseases is crucial, but we also believe in walking alongside caregivers and patients right now. If you have ever been in the trenches with a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia, you know how difficult that journey is. Research for a cure does not help those people today. AWARE is proud to support organizations right here in the Dallas metroplex that improve lives immediately.
The recipients are listed below, along with a brief summary of “where the money goes.” For more information about AWARE North Texas and how to participate as a Friend of AWARE, which has many benefits, including events in private homes, educational lunches and more, visit the website at AWARENorthTexas.org and join us as We Rise Above Alzheimer’s Together!
2026 AWARE North Texas Grant Recipients
Baylor Scott & White Health
Bishop Arts Theatre Center
Dallas Museum of Art and Nasher Sculpture Center
Dallas Symphony Association, Inc.
Dementia Care Warriors
For Love & Art
Friday Friends, a ministry of Wilshire Baptist Church
Jewish Family Service of Dallas, Inc.
Juliette Fowler Communities
My Possibilities
NorthPark Presbyterian Church
Plano Symphony Orchestra
Senior Attention
Songs & Smiles
Stomping Ground Comedy Theater & Training Center
Texas Winds Musical Outreach
The Center for BrainHealth at The University of Texas at Dallas
The Senior Source
The University of Texas at Dallas – Dr Chandramalika Basak
The University of Texas at Dallas – Dr Michael Rugg
Westminster Presbyterian Church
Myrna D. Schlegel AWARE Scholarship Fund
Baylor Scott & White Health to support the Care and Support Specialist (CSS) role at the AT&T Memory Center, a non-reimbursable position that helps Alzheimer’s and dementia patients and their care partners navigate education, resources, emotional support, and community services. The program aims to strengthen local dementia care systems, reduce caregiver stress, and ensure families receive personalized guidance throughout the progression of memory disorders.
Bishop Arts Theatre Center to expand PatioLive!, a year-round arts and wellness program that brings live theater, music, storytelling, and interactive workshops directly into North Texas memory care and senior living facilities. The program serves older adults living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias by reducing social isolation, increasing cognitive stimulation, and improving emotional well-being through twice-weekly engagement opportunities.
Dallas Museum of Art and Nasher Sculpture Center to support “Meaningful Moments,” a free arts engagement program for individuals in the early to mid-stages of Alzheimer’s or related dementias along with their care partners. Through rotating sessions between the two museums, participants will engage in guided art experiences, hands-on creative activities, and social interaction designed to stimulate memory, foster connection and dignity, encourage self-expression, and improve quality of life for those navigating cognitive decline.
Dallas Symphony Association, Inc. to support DSO Cares, a free outreach program that brings live chamber music performances by Dallas Symphony musicians to memory care facilities, hospitals, senior living communities, and nonprofit sites across Dallas. The program focuses on improving well-being, reducing isolation, and supporting individuals living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, while also serving caregivers and healthcare staff through high-quality, interactive musical experiences.
Dementia Care Warriors to support the 7th Annual REVIVE REFRESH Symposium for Dementia Caregivers, a one-day educational and wellness event in Southern Dallas. The symposium will provide dementia caregivers with expert-led training, wellness support, legal and financial guidance, community resources, and peer connection, with a focus on underserved care partners disproportionately impacted by Alzheimer’s disease. The program aims to reduce caregiver burnout, improve caregiving knowledge and confidence, and connect families to long-term support services through Dementia Care Warriors’ year-round programs.
For Love & Art to sustain and expand its “Celebrating the Art Experience” program, which uses trained facilitators called Art Angels to engage individuals living with dementia through guided conversations about museum art. The program addresses loneliness, cognitive decline, and the need for enrichment resources. For Love & Art aims to provide consistent, clinically informed, non-pharmacologic dementia care to underserved communities.
Friday Friends, a ministry of Wilshire Baptist Church, to support its twice-monthly respite program serving people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia and their care partners. The program provides structured social activities, therapeutic programming, and community-building to reduce isolation and improve quality of life for participants, while giving care partners four hours of much needed respite.
Jewish Family Service of Dallas, Inc. to support its Older Adult Services program, which provides year-round in-home and office-based counseling, case management, and daily living support for low-income North Texas seniors, particularly those affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Using a whole-person care model, the program coordinates medical, mental health, caregiver, and social support services to help older adults remain independent, improve emotional and physical wellness, and reduce isolation.
Juliette Fowler Communities to expand its dementia-focused community outreach and engagement programs across Dallas through Dementia Friendly Dallas and a new Memory Café/Memory Choir initiative. The program aims to reduce stigma by training Dementia Friends, increase dementia awareness by establishing additional dementia-friendly faith communities and businesses, and improving quality of life for care partners and those living with dementia through socialization and music.
My Possibilities to launch and expand the eMPower Program, a specialized Alzheimer’s- and dementia-informed support program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), particularly those with Down syndrome who are at significantly higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease. The program will provide structured cognitive engagement, therapeutic activities, individualized support, and care partner resources to help participants remain connected to their community and maintain stability as cognitive decline progresses.
NorthPark Presbyterian Church to support Casa de Vida, a weekly dementia respite program that provides cognitive engagement and therapeutic activities for individuals with dementia while giving care partners much-needed relief. The program offers evidence-based services such as music therapy, yoga, memory exercises, and at-home activity kits, all delivered through a unique 1:1 volunteer-to-participant ratio and a fully fee-free model to ensure accessibility for all families.
Plano Symphony Orchestra to support “Healing Notes for Seniors,” a music therapy–informed initiative serving older adults with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias across North Texas. The program brings interactive musical experiences directly to memory care facilities, adult day centers, and hospitals, using familiar music and guided activities to improve cognitive engagement, emotional well-being, physical movement, and social connection while also supporting caregivers.
Senior Attention to expand its in-home respite care program for low-income family care partners caring for loved ones with dementia at home. The funding would provide weekly companion care scholarships, giving care partners temporary relief from the physical and emotional demands of round-the-clock caregiving.
Songs & Smiles to expand its free Alzheimer’s-focused memory café programming into Dallas County and distribute its Joyful Memories magazine across five North Texas counties. The project would provide monthly singalong and music bingo events for people living with Alzheimer’s and their care partners, while also supporting emotional connection, care partner engagement, and community awareness.
Stomping Ground Comedy Theater & Training Center to expand “Improv for Caregivers,” a therapeutic improv-based program that helps Alzheimer’s caregivers build communication skills, emotional resilience, and social connection through experiential workshops and support groups. Led by a licensed therapist, the program will offer free and donation-based workshops across North Texas, strengthen partnerships with physicians and memory clinics, and serve family care partners while reducing stress, improving communication confidence, and decreasing isolation.
Texas Winds Musical Outreach to support “Concerts for Older Adults with Memory Loss” program. The project provides free live professional music performances in memory care communities, nursing homes, hospitals, and assisted living facilities across North Texas, using music to reduce isolation, improve mood, stimulate memory, and encourage social engagement among older adults living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
The Center for BrainHealth at The University of Texas at Dallas to support research analyzing longitudinal data from the BrainHealth Project, a large ongoing study tracking cognitive health in adults. The project aims to identify subtle early signs of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s risk before traditional screenings detect impairment, while also evaluating how factors like sleep, health conditions, lifestyle, and participation in brain health training influence long-term cognitive outcomes.
The Senior Source to support the Senior Companion Program, which provides dementia-informed companionship, care partner respite, volunteer training, and community education for older adults experiencing isolation and dementia-related challenges. The program aims to reduce loneliness and care partner stress through trained senior volunteers, while expanding dementia awareness through Dementia Live® experiences and ongoing staff education.
The University of Texas at Dallas – Dr Chandramalika Basak for research focused on developing machine learning–based digital tools to detect early signs of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease before symptoms become clinically apparent. The project will combine existing NIH-funded datasets with newly collected MRI, cognitive, and biomarker data from adults with MCI to build and validate predictive models that could improve early diagnosis and inform future digital therapeutics.
The University of Texas at Dallas – Dr Michael Rugg to study whether highly sensitive “memory precision” tests and brain imaging can detect the earliest signs of Alzheimer’s disease before symptoms appear. The project will examine cognitively healthy adults ages 65–80 using fMRI and structural brain scans to determine how subtle memory differences relate to changes in Alzheimer’s-vulnerable brain regions such as the hippocampus. Findings could help improve early diagnosis, track disease progression, and evaluate the effectiveness of future Alzheimer’s interventions.
Westminster Presbyterian Church to support “Making Memories,” a twice-monthly respite and enrichment program for individuals living with early- to mid-stage dementia and their care partners. The program provides cognitive, social, and therapeutic activities to improve mood and social connections, including neuro-music therapy, exercise, art, and intergenerational engagement with kindergarteners—while also offering care partners emotional support, connection, and relief from caregiving responsibilities, isolation and stress.
Myrna D. Schlegel AWARE Scholarship Fund to support scholarships for nursing students for their studies in gerontology, especially in the fields of Alzheimer’s and related dementias.
Methodist Justice Ministry (MJM) announced the establishment of its first endowment, made possible by a $3 million grant from a local private foundation. This fund will help ensure that survivors of domestic violence and caregivers protecting children from abuse and neglect continue receiving free family law representation for generations to come. Community members impacted by intimate partner violence often face overwhelming financial and legal barriers as they seek safety for themselves and their children. The endowment will generate annual investment earnings that support MJM’s mission while preserving the principal, strengthening the organization’s long-term financial sustainability, and helping meet the growing demand for pro bono legal services.
“Safety shouldn’t depend on whether you can afford an attorney,” said Aaryn Landers Lamb, Executive Director of MJM. “This fund helps ensure that when someone reaches out for help years from now, we’ll still be here to answer that call. It is an investment in safer families, stronger communities, and hope for future generations.” The announcement comes during MJM’s 20th anniversary year. Founded in 2006, the nonprofit has grown beyond attorney representation to include supportive services and community partnerships that strengthen household stability. Last year, MJM received more than 1,200 requests for help, and demand for assistance is already 25% higher than it was at the same point last year.
“This gift positions MJM for the next decade and beyond by ensuring under-resourced neighbors facing crisis will continue to have access to justice”, Lamb said. Individuals seeking family law assistance related to domestic violence, child abuse, or child neglect may contact MJM at 817-339-2407 or mjm@myfumc.org.
