Dallas Fort Worth Nonprofit Business Journal

Category: Education

  • Read Fort Worth wins $100,000 prize through Reliant Gives

    Read Fort Worth has won the Reliant Gives campaign, a charitable giving program created in 2016 by Reliant Energy. The program puts the power of nonprofit advocacy in the hands of the public, inviting people to vote and direct the company’s charitable giving to three Texas charities nominated by employees. Read Fort Worth received the must public votes during the campaign.

    A post on Read Fort Worth’s Facebook page said:

    “We offer a heartfelt thank you to Reliant and its employees for nominating and promoting Read Fort Worth for this impactful program. Supporters of Read Fort Worth came together to vote over the past week and their turnout was truly amazing.

    This could not have happened with the tireless efforts of Betsy Price; Dr. Kent P. Scribner; Fort Worth ISD staff, parents and students; Fort Worth City Hall (City of Fort Worth); our partners and the countless champions of Read Fort Worth throughout the community!

    This donation will make a difference in the lives of children across Fort Worth!”

    Elizabeth Killinger, president of Reliant said, “Each round of Reliant Gives feels special knowing we’re able to support causes that are close to our employees’ hearts and rally the public around each nonprofit’s mission. We are excited about the lasting change the gift of reading will make in these children’s lives and the community at large. Congratulations to Read Fort Worth for earning this donation and for making a difference in the community.”

    ABOUT READ FORT WORTH

    Fort Worth has formed an unprecedented coalition of business, civic, education, philanthropic, nonprofit and volunteer leaders to ensure that 100 percent of Fort Worth third-graders are reading to learn – not learning to read – by 2025. The partnership will use data-driven analyses to engage the community, to identify areas of opportunity and to scale up what works to improve results. Find out more on the organization’s website.

  • Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge receives $200k grant for trail enhancements

    Thanks to a fundraising effort led by the Friends of the Fort Worth Nature Center, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has awarded a $200,000 Recreational Trails Grant, which will enhance trail facilities.

    The Friends raised more than $100,000 in matching funds for the project, including a $54,000 required match by the state. The grant will fund additional parking, trail stabilization and restoration as well as a trailhead kiosk and compost toilet. The project will take place at the southern portion of the Nature Center’s 20-miles of trails at Greer Island. This area suffered extensive flood conditions during 2014 and 2015 creating the need for restoration.

    On October 10, Carter Smith, executive director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, presented the Friends with a check for $200,000 at a reception honoring Fort Worth’s own Ralph Duggins, who was appointed as Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Chairman earlier this year. The event also kicked off the initial phase of the Nature Center’s plans to preserve and enhance one of the largest urban nature parks with the goal of making it one of the best in the country.

    “The Fort Worth Nature Center and TPWD are natural partners in that we share a common commitment to stewardship of the outdoors and clearly understand the importance that nature plays in creating healthier and more fulfilling lives for Texans of all ages,” Smith said. “The National Recreational Trails Fund in Texas was made for projects exactly like this that provide more access and greater sustainability to facilities that serve as outdoor resources to their communities. TPWD is honored to help fund this project through the Friends of the Fort Worth Nature Center and we look forward to continuing our great partnership with them and the Nature Center to protect the region’s natural world so that future generations of Texans will be able to enjoy it for many years to come.”

    The Nature Center trails are used by more than 60,000 visitors annually with a growth rate of six percent per year. Visitors arrive from all areas of North Texas and beyond. The Nature Center’s trail system forms one of the largest and most diverse trail systems in North Central Texas.

    “The recreational trail grant is a perfect working model of a public-private partnership,” said Friends Board Member George Bristol. “In this case, a federal-state program was established to encourage nonprofit organizations to work with parks and nature centers to provide new and renewed trails for the benefit of Texas, Tarrant County and Fort Worth citizens – especially our children.”

    *Photo courtesy of Friends of the Fort Worth Nature Center. Pictured: Carter Smith, Haily Summerford, Marty Leonard, George Bristol and Ralph Duggins

    ABOUT THE FRIENDS OF THE FORT WORTH NATURE CENTER & REFUGE

    The Friends of the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge was established in 1974 as a volunteer-driven nonprofit
    organization to help financially support and protect the Nature Center for future generations. For more information,
    visit naturecenterfriends.org

  • Tarleton celebrates milestone in new Fort Worth campus construction

    The Fort Worth Business Press reported that Tarleton State University has reached the midpoint of construction of its new Fort Worth campus Friday, Oct. 12.

    The new campus is located on 80 acres in southwest Fort Worth, and will include a three-story 76,000 square foot building accommodating about 2,500 students. The new campus will open fall 2019.

    Read our previous article on this story here.

  • Momentus Institute launches online social emotional health training

    Momentus Institute has launched an online social emotional health training for educators.

    In a statement on the organization’s website, the nonprofit explains, “social emotional health is a key predictor for academic achievement and long-term success. These expert-led training courses give educators access to tangible, research-driven strategies to transform a classroom.”

    The online training course is led by a team of 33 experts in mental health and education. The training includes 10 courses covering different strategies used to equip educators with simple tools to build and repair social emotional health in the classroom.

    The first course, Introduction to Social Emotional Health, is free, while each additional course is $19.97.

    Find out more here.

    ABOUT MOMENTOUS INSTITUTE

    Momentous Institute is a nearly 100-year-old Dallas-based nonprofit organization that has worked in mental health and education to build and repair social emotional health in children’s lives since 1920. Each year, Momentous Institute directly serves over 5,500 children and family members through its innovative therapeutic services and its nationally-acclaimed Momentous School. In an effort to reach far more children than it could ever serve directly, Momentous Institute has created a set of online trainings to impact more classrooms and empower teachers with social emotional health practices. Learn more about Momentous Institute here.

  • Read Fort Worth finalist in Reliant Gives $100k Campaign

    Read Fort Worth announced in a Facebook post that it is one of three finalists in this year’s Reliant Gives Campaign. The Reliant Energy website states that through Reliant Gives, nonprofits are nominated by Reliant employees and then the public directs the charitable giving. Nominated organizations serve communities where Reliant Energy staff live and work.

    In a statement on the Reliant Energy website, Elizabeth Killinger, President of Reliant and NRG Retail, says “We designed the Reliant Gives program as a way to empower employees and communities to help support organizations that are making a difference. Along the way, we realized we created a platform that allowed anyone from anywhere to get involved with communities across Texas with just one click. Congratulations to all of our heroes – the nonprofits, the employees and everyone who votes.”

    The Read Fort Worth Facebook post states in full:

    “Read Fort Worth is one of three finalist organizations in the running for a $100,000 donation from ‘Reliant Gives,’ a charitable-giving program from Reliant. The program expands the company’s community outreach across Texas, sharing the power of giving with local communities.

    Reliant Gives will help support initiatives that promote children’s literacy in Fort Worth ISD, such as Reading Volunteers and the Library Classroom Campaign. The shared mission of Read Fort Worth and Fort Worth ISD is to align partners, strategies and resources to significantly improve early childhood literacy so that 100 percent of Fort Worth third-graders are reading on grade level by 2025. #100X25FWTX

    Kicking off on Oct. 15, and running through Oct. 21, the public can cast their vote for three Texas nonprofits by visiting Reliant.com/vote.

    Learn more about how you can vote here: http://readfortworth.org/read-fort-worth-needs-your-vote-to-receive-100000-from-reliant/”

    The nonprofit with the most votes receives $100,000. The other two nonprofits receive $20,000 and $10,000, respectively, based on the number of votes received. Reliant employees nominated a wide selection of Texas nonprofits, which are narrowed to three finalists for each round. Reliant Gives will celebrate continued community support when the winners are announced on Tuesday, Oct. 23.

    Last year’s beneficiary of the Reliant Gives $100,000 was CASA of Collin County (pictured above).

    ABOUT READ FORT WORTH

    Read Fort Worth is the privately-funded, locally-controlled backbone organization formed to coordinate cross-sector, collective impact efforts to ensure that 100 percent of third-graders are reading on grade level by 2025. Read Fort Worth exists to provide unique, actionable data; to organize and align partners under the shared 100×25 goal; to develop strategies for significant improvement, and to communicate best practices and drive results. For more information, visit www.ReadFortWorth.org.

  • Leadership ISD to host series of school board governance trainings

    Leadership ISD has announced it will offer a series of trainings on school board governance over the next few months in response to the state of public education in Texas.

    According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, Texas students perform near the bottom of the barrel – 43rd out of 50 – when compared to other states. Research tells us school boards can have a significant impact on these outcomes.

    Seven thousand school board members are leading districts across Texas, representing the largest group of elected officials in the state. However, only around 10% of eligible voters engage in these elections. There is tremendous opportunity for the public and our elected leaders to work together for the benefit of all kids.

    Much like any organization, vision setting is a critical foundation for progress. In a school district, school boards are the crafters and the keepers of the vision – What do we stand for? Where are we going? How will we get there? – School boards must drive a focus on goals and build systems to support student success at every level. Doing this work in the very complex context of education presents many unique challenges to board members. Leadership ISD aims to support the efforts of school boards who are leading the way to a future full of hope and opportunity for all of their students.

    The trainings offered will include information about preparing to run for district school boards, running a campaign and becoming prepared to govern once in office.

    More information on dates and registration can be found at leadershipisd.org/governance

    ABOUT LEADERSHIP ISD

    Leadership ISD is a nonpartisan nonprofit that advances educational equity by informing and  activating community leaders to shape policy, lead strategically, and champion change. Find out more on the organization’s website.

  • Texas Instruments Grants $8.1 Million to Provide Access to Education in Under-resourced Areas Throughout North Texas

    Texas Instruments announced recently in a release that its corporate and foundation education grants will total $8.1 million in 2018. $6.9 million (85%) of these funds will aim to improve kindergarten through 12th grade science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. More than 155,000 area students and nearly 7,000 local educators are impacted by the grants, 97% of which target under-resourced students in the Dallas area. Grant recipients include a variety of nonprofit partners in North Texas, where giving back and supporting the community is part of the company’s legacy.

    “There is a pressing need to help students deepen their understanding of math and science and to encourage and equip teachers with tools and resources that address that need,” said Andy Smith, executive director of the TI Foundation and TI director of corporate philanthropy, in the release. “We’re on a mission to increase the number of students who receive a quality education, which includes expanding STEM education opportunities to under-resourced communities and under-represented minority students and girls in North Texas. This includes working with like-minded partners to develop effective math and science teachers, one of the greatest influences on student success. Simply put, all children deserve a quality education, no matter their background and circumstance, and we are doing what we can to help provide that.”

    Funded programs include:

    • A STEM feeder pattern within the Lloyd V. Berkner High School attendance zone in the Richardson Independent School District (RISD) in north Texas. The three-year program will be managed through Educate Texas, the public-private initiative of Communities Foundation of Texas, which is working with RISD to implement a “STEM for All” concept to reshape the teaching and learning of STEM subjects across all grade levels, from pre-K through 12th grade within the Berkner feeder schools.
    • Expanding the National Math and Science Initiative College Readiness Program (CRP) to two high schools in the Irving Independent School District –Nimitz and Irving. Through intensive professional development and coaching, the program will train math, science and English Advanced Placement® (AP) teachers to more effectively teach those courses. Success in rigorous coursework, such as AP classes during high school, is a key indicator of post-secondary success. In effect since 2000, the CRP is a proven methodology to increase qualifying AP scores and to improve teacher effectiveness.
    • The Urban Teachers certification program to recruit and retain effective math and science teachers. The hands-on curriculum is specifically designed for urban schools. The TI Foundation grant will support training math and science teachers in Dallas ISD, and in local KIPP and Urban Teachers charter schools.
    • A new, advanced STEM education program for public school principals through the University of North Texas at Dallas Emerging Teacher Institute. The program is implementing an innovative approach to preparing the next generation of school leaders to nurture school campuses to achieve uncommon STEM and Career and Technical Education outcomes for students. The program will train 30 principal candidates, providing them with graduate degrees and principal certifications.

    Other supported initiatives include: KIPP Texas Public Schools in the DFW area, a public charter school network that is currently educating nearly 3,000 kindergarten through ninth-grade students in southern Dallas; middle school and high school robotics competitions — a proven way to increase STEM engagement among participating students; and the Texas Instruments Innovation in STEM Teaching Awards for the Dallas, Garland, Lancaster, Mesquite, Plano and Richardson school districts.

    TI’s commitment to education, which dates to the company’s inception in 1930, remains its highest philanthropic priority. During the past five years, TI’s philanthropic commitment to education totals nearly $150 million and joins giving with volunteering to grow more STEM-capable students. In addition to grants, TI encourages employees to give their time as mentors, tutors and other volunteer roles. For more information about TI’s support of education please see www.ti.com/education. Read about TI’s approach to giving at www.ti.com/giving or in the Corporate Citizenship Report at www.ti.com/ccr.

    ABOUT TEXAS INSTRUMENTS

    Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) is a global semiconductor design and manufacturing company that develops analog ICs and embedded processors. By employing the world’s brightest minds, TI creates innovations that shape the future of technology. TI is helping approximately 100,000 customers transform the future, today. Learn more at www.ti.com.

    ABOUT THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS FOUNDATION

    The Texas Instruments Foundation, founded in 1964, is a non-profit organization solely funded by Texas Instruments providing philanthropic support for educational and charitable purposes primarily in the communities where TI operates. Committed to supporting educational excellence, the foundation works to create measurable, replicable programs and initiatives. The focus is on providing knowledge, skills and programs to improve STEM education and increase the percentage of high school graduates who are math and science capable. More information can be found at www.ti.com/education.

  • Dallas Arboretum Hosts First Ever Quinceañera Fashion Show

    On September 22, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden took part of the Hispanic Heritage Celebration with its first annual Quinceañera Fashion Show. At 10 a.m., selected participants walked the stage in Rosine Hall, showcasing their beautiful and colorful quinceañera dresses. This celebration was the same day as the opening of Autumn at the Arboretum and the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden’s fifth anniversary birthday celebration.

    Among several Spanish-speaking countries and Hispanic communities around the world, girls celebrate turning 15 years old with both a religious and social event called a quinceañera. The ritual symbolizes a girl’s transformation from childhood into womanhood by expressing thanksgiving to God for life and by a purity protection blessing from a priest for the years to come. The party is the second part of the quinceañera with dancing, food and music, ending with a father replacing his daughter’s flat-soled shoe with high heels. Individual rituals can vary between cultures, but the heart of the “Sweet 15” remains as a coming-of-age ceremony.

    J. Mark Wolf, Dallas Arboretum Board Chairman; Adriana Lopez, Telemundo; Amanda Moreno Lake, Dallas Arboretum Board Member

    Mark Wolf, Dallas Arboretum board chairman, said, “We often see these beautiful young ladies get their portraits taken at the Dallas Arboretum, yet many of us are not familiar with the traditions and customs of a quinceañera. By showcasing them as they prepare to celebrate their quinceañera, we learned more about their culture, customs and personal stories during a special coming of age moment.”

  • Read Fort Worth announces new Executive Director

    Read Fort Worth has announced the appointment of a new Executive Director this month. Anel Mercado will succeed founding executive director Kristin Sullivan, who recently accepted a position as Executive Director at JPS Foundation.

    Mercado was selected following an extensive, national search this summer that culminated in identifying the individual with the experience and knowledge that Read Fort Worth leaders have identified as key to the continued success of the initiative.

    Mercado brings two decades of experience working in leadership with nonprofits and educational institutions to her new position. She previously served as director of Thriving Together, the cradle-to-career educational collective impact effort in Phoenix, and also served as Community Outreach Manager for Molina Healthcare in Washington State in addition to operating her own consulting business. Mercado most recently served as director of programs at Arizona Center for Youth Resources.

    Mercado shared the following statement in a press release: “I am truly excited to join the Fort Worth community and lock arms with the Read Forth Worth leadership, partners and team to continue and grow the work that has been established.”

    Fort Worth ISD Superintendent Dr. Kent Scribner welcomed Mercado in a post on his Facebook page:

    “Welcome, new Read Fort Worth Executive Director Anel Mercado. #ReadFortWorth continues to positively impact students through several initiatives, including its 2018 Summer Scholar Providers, which achieved a 59 percent gain in literacy.”

    Founding executive director Kristin Sullivan will continue to serve as an informal consultant to Read Fort Worth through October 15.

    Pictured: Dr. Kent Scribner and Anel Mercado. Photo courtesy of Read Fort Worth Facebook page, taken at 2018 Summer Scholars Cohort Celebration Luncheon.

    ABOUT READ FORT WORTH

    Read Fort Worth is the privately-funded, locally-controlled backbone organization formed to coordinate cross-sector, collective impact efforts to ensure that 100 percent of third-graders are reading on grade level by 2025. Read Fort Worth exists to provide unique, actionable data; to organize and align partners under the shared 100×25 goal; to develop strategies for significant improvement, and to communicate best practices and drive results. For more information, visit www.ReadFortWorth.org.

  • Young Women’s Leadership Academy receives $100k donation from Mark Cuban

    Fort Worth ISD has announced that its Young Women’s Leadership Academy will receive a $100,000 donation from Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. The funds will come through Cuban’s recent donation to the Foundation for the Young Women’s Leadership Academy of Fort Worth. The donation was made on North Texas Giving Day.

    The Foundation, which supports the mission of Fort Worth ISD’s first and only single-gender school for young women, was among seven North Texas nonprofits Mr. Cuban committed a combined $850,000 to during North Texas Giving Day, Thursday, September 20.   The donations are part of $10 million in donations Mr. Cuban announced Wednesday that he’s contributing to women’s advocacy nonprofits following an NBA investigation relating to the workplace climate with his basketball club.

    The Foundation for the Young Women’s Leadership Academy of Fort Worth is the only Fort Worth-based organization and the only education institution benefitting from the contribution, according to Foundation officials.

    The Foundation for the Young Women’s Leadership Academy supports YWLA’s three pillars: college readiness, leadership and wellness life skills as well as its STEAM initiatives. With the Foundation for the Young Women’s Leadership Academy of Fort Worth’s support in just the last year, YWLA students have had opportunities to study abroad, participate in college test preparation courses and visit colleges and universities, according to school officials.

    Courtney Radcliffe, executive director for the Foundation, told Fort Worth ISD that she found out about the donation Thursday evening, when North Texas Giving Day officials sent her an email informing her of Cuban’s donation. She said the gift came as a surprise.

    ABOUT THE FOUNDATION FOR THE YOUNG WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

    The Foundation supports Young Women’s Leadership Academy, a single-gender public school in the Fort Worth Independent School District. Its purpose is to provide funding for programs that enhance academic achievement and offer leadership opportunities that promote the success of every student in college, career and life. For more details, visit http://ywlafortworth.foundation/

    ABOUT YOUNG WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

    Young Women’s Leadership Academy (YWLA) is a U.S. Department of Education recognized, National Blue Ribbon School. Fort Worth ISD’s first and only single-gender school for girls is designed to prepare young leaders for college readiness, college completion, and life-long community leadership. This seven-year program optimizes student potential through rigorous academics, social-emotional programming, community service, leadership development and individualized college planning.  YWLA is a member of the Yung Women’s Preparatory Network, which provides the private enhancements to our public school based on college readiness, leadership and wellness life skills, so that our graduates achieve academic success and are prepared for college and life.  Learn more at www.fwisd.org/ywla.