Dallas Fort Worth Nonprofit Business Journal

Category: Education

  • All Saints’ Episcopal School to Open New Student Union

    This story originally appeared on FortWorthBusiness.com

    A 30,000-square-foot, $16.5 million student union is under construction on the All Saints’ Episcopal School campus in west Fort Worth. The project broke ground in May and is expected to be completed in time for the start of the fall 2018 school year.

    Rusty Reid, All Saints’ Episcopal School Board President, told the Fort Worth Business Press: “It’s not only a gathering place, but it’s almost symbolic of arms reaching around the community holistically. All Saints’ is centered around the Episcopal culture and the Episcopal church and I just love the fact that when you’re in that union you’re facing the chapel and it provides an element of a reminder of why we’re all here.”

    The project also included an expansion of the chapel that widened the building to add 150 seats and room for the choir and a new digital pipe organ.

    ABOUT ALL SAINTS’ EPISCOPAL SCHOOL

    All Saints’ Episcopal School is a leading college preparatory day school in Fort Worth, Texas. Grounded in the Episcopal school tradition, All Saints’ offers programming of national distinction in the academic, fine art, athletic and spiritual disciplines, which brings to life its philosophy of promoting each student’s individual genius within.

    Find out more on the school’s website.

  • Fort Worth Public Library Offers Coding Classes for Girls

    The Fort Worth Public Library has brought back its popular “Girls Who Code” classes for 2018. The courses are designed for students with a wide range of computer science experience and are interested in learning more about coding, according to a statement on the organization’s Facebook Page.

    The Girls Who Code’s mission is to close the gender gap in technology.

    The courses will include activities for girls ages 11-17 with zero computer science experience, who are ready for college-level concepts, and everything in-between.

    The classes are from 6:00-8:00 pm on Wednesdays at the Fort Worth Public Library’s eSkills Library & Job Center, located at 2800 Stark St. Fort Worth, TX 76112. Registration is required to attend. Register your child by calling 817.392.6012.

    ABOUT THE FORT WORTH PUBLIC LIBRARY

    The Fort Worth Library’s mission is to welcome and support all people in their enjoyment of reading and recreational materials, and their pursuit of learning and information. Find out more on the Library’s website.

  • Botanical Research Institute of Texas Announces 2018 Winegrowing Competition Winners

    Fort Worth’s Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) announced the winners of its 2018 International Award of Excellence in Sustainable Winegrowing competition in a Jan. 14 press release.

    The platinum medal was awarded to Alexander Valley Vineyards (AVV) of Healdsburg, California, based on the winery’s on-going sustainable programs that address the three elements of sustainability: environmental, economic, social – and the Vineyard’s wine taste.

    Competition for BRIT’s 2018 international award began May, 2017, when wineries submitted applications documenting their sustainable programs relating to environmental, economic, and social aspects of grape growing, and wine production along with their wine samples.

    As a nonprofit, international plant research and knowledge sharing organization, BRIT offers this award to help raise interest and awareness of the value plants bring to our lives and the need for biodiversity.

    Presentation of the platinum award to Alexander Valley Vineyards will be made in Fort Worth on Wednesday, April 11, 2018 during BRIT’s Vine to Table dinner and auction fundraising event.

    Additional BRIT sustainable awards went to:

    • Gold medals: E. & J. Gallo Winery, Modesto, California and Bodega Catena Zapata, Mendoza, Argentina
    • Silver medal: Franciscan Estates, St. Helena, California
    • Bronze medal: Peach Creek Vineyards, College Station, Texas

    BRIT’s 2019 sustainable winegrowing competition begins May 1, 2018, with the competition’s Call for Entries news release and the 2019 application is posted on the BRIT website, www.BRIT.org/wineaward. The submission deadline is September 1, 2018.

    ABOUT BOTANICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF TEXAS

    BRIT’s mission is to conserve our natural heritage by deepening our knowledge of the plant world and achieving public understanding of the value plants bring to life.

    BRIT supports botanical solutions to address globally challenging problems ranging from pollution clean-up to sustainable food sources. By serving as a think tank and catalyst, BRIT inspires learning and forms interdisciplinary collaborations for critical research within scientific, educational, social, cultural, and business communities.

    Find out more on the organization’s website.

  • Friends With Benefits Announces 2018 Application Dates for Scholarships, Grants

    This story originally appeared on the Denton Record-Chronicle

    Denton-based Friends With Benefits announced that it will again offer scholarships and grants to local musicians for education and creative purposes. The application deadline for both funding opportunities is May 14.

    Friends With Benefits will give scholarships to two music students pursuing a college degree in music and grants to two local bands to help further their creative projects.

    “Last year, our organization was able to fund two local students, as well as two prominent Denton-based bands, Swandiver and The Infaminsts,” said Vice-president Dallas Guill to the Denton Record-Chronicle. “With many of us in this organization having backgrounds in the Denton music scene, this program allows us the chance to invest in the career of young musicians and support up and coming local acts.”

    Applicants can view the requirements and application here.

    ABOUT FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS

    Friends with Benefits (FWB) is a 501(c)(3) in Denton, Texas that benefits North Texas charitable organizations that better our local communities, schools and/or neighborhoods. Every year, FWB picks a cause and chooses 3-5 charitable organizations to benefit that fit the theme for the year. Its goal is to put on fun events in Denton, Texas to raise funds and awareness to North Texas charitable organizations and causes. Find out more on the FWB Facebook page.

  • Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame Honors Inductees at 2018 Ceremony

    Fort Worth’s Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame held its annual induction ceremony on Thursday, January 11, welcoming the 2018 inductees. This year’s event welcomed John, Punk & Roy Carter, The Luskey Family, Adriano Moraes, Gerald Sullivan and Bruce Greene into the 2018 class.

    The Rick Smith “Spirit of Texas” Award was presented to Bruce Greene.

    The Induction Ceremony takes place annually prior to the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. This year’s event was held at the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame Museum and included approximately 700 guests.

    In a statement on the organization’s Facebook page, induction into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame is described as “the highest honor bestowed on individuals who have shown excellence in competition, business, and support of rodeo and the wester lifestyle in Texas.”

    ABOUT TEXAS COWBOY HALL OF FAME

    In addition to inducting new members each year, Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame offers guided tours of its museum located in the Historic Fort Worth Stockyards. It hosts several children’s programs as well. Find out more on the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame website.

  • Texas Instruments Foundation funds $2.1 million in grants to philanthropic fellowship program

    TI Foundation announced on its website that the TI Founders Leadership Fellows program will provide three annual nonprofit work experiences to university or graduate students who are planning a nonprofit career.

    “Our founders created a legacy of deep community involvement and giving back,” said Andy Smith, executive director of the TI Foundation, on the website. “That legacy has strongly influenced our culture and has inspired decades of community service by TIers around the world. We want to honor their passion and commitment for making a difference and celebrate the impact their generosity has had on our community.”

    The fellowships were established in collaboration with the Dallas Museum of Art, the University of Texas at Dallas and the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and are expected to build a pipeline of nonprofit leaders in the Dallas area over the next 20 years.

    Find out more on TI’s website here.

  • Tarleton State plans groundbreaking for new campus Feb. 27

    This story originally appeared on Star-Telegram.com

    A groundbreaking for a new multipurpose education building in Tarleton State’s new campus plan will take place on Feb. 27, according to a report from Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The new building will open for classes in the fall of 2019.

    The new campus will be 80 acres and is located just west of Chisholm Trail Parkway in southwest Fort Worth. When opened in 2019, this first building will have the capacity for about 2,500 students.

    In a letter on Tarleton’s website, University President F. Dominic Dottavio said the vision for this new campus is to “create a vibrant, life-long learning environment for the citizens of Fort Worth and surrounding communities.”

    You can find out more about the project here.

  • University of Texas Law School to receive $3 million endowment from Russell and Dorothy Budd

    Russell and Dorothy Budd have formed a $3 million endowment for the University of Texas Law School to fund the Budd Innocence Center, to help students and faculty investigate claims on innocence by Texas prison inmates.

    A press release on the University of Texas Law School’s website stated: “The Budds’ gift will establish an endowment that will support the activities of the law school’s Actual Innocence Clinic. Founded in 2003, the Actual Innocence Clinic allows law students to work under the supervision of experienced faculty to investigate claims, prepare briefs, file motions…More than 350 law students have worked with the clinic since its founding.”

    Russell Budd is President and managing shareholder of Dallas law firm Baron & Budd. Dorothy Budd is a former Dallas prosecutor and co-author with daughter Peyton Budd of Tested: How Twelve Wrongly Imprisoned Men Held Onto Hope.

    “This extraordinary gift from the Budd family will let our students pursue one of the most noble aims of all lawyers: to protect the innocent,” said Dean Ward Farnsworth in a press release on the school’s website. “Russell and Dori have each dedicated their lives to helping those who have been victims of injustice. This is their passion, and we couldn’t be more pleased to open the Budd Innocence Center to honor the commitment that they’ve made to this cause.”

    To find out more about this project, click here.

  • Dee Simmons and Bentley Dallas host a holiday tea to benefit After-School All-Stars North Texas

    Event highlighted After-School All-Stars North Texas 

    Dee Simmons and Bentley Dallas kicked off the holiday season Dec. 1 with an afternoon tea in the French Room at The Adolphus Hotel in downtown Dallas. The event showcased the charitable work of the After-School All-Stars North Texas, which provides comprehensive after-school programs that keep children safe and help them succeed in school and life.

    Bentley Dallas has provided approximately $10,000 in funding to After-School All-Stars North Texas this year. Bentley Dallas General Manager Heath Strayhan serves on the organizations’ advisory board.

    About two dozen ladies were invited by Dee Simmons to the holiday tea. Guests perused fashions by Neiman Marcus Downtown, which featured a selection of traditional and contemporary furs.

    Guests were treated to three courses, including finger sandwiches, scones, teacakes and sweets with a variety of teas, including an exotic “monkey-picked” Ti Kuan Yin Oolong tea.

    Monkey-picked oolong tea dates back to the early 18th century. Chinese legend has it monks trained monkeys to pick the choicest leaves from the very top of wild tea trees for the rare tea blend. In ancient times, the monkey picked tea was enjoyed exclusively by the Imperial Court.

    After the Holiday Tea, guests left with a hand-selected fragrance by  Houbigant Parfum, a French perfume manufacturer founded in 1775 that was perfumer to the royal courts of Europe. Today, Houbigant Parfum is available at Neiman Marcus.

    Bentley Dallas is part of the Park Place Premier Collection, located at 5300 Lemmon Ave., near Love Field.

    Ken Schnitzer founded Park Place Dealerships 30 years ago with a single Mercedes-Benz dealership on Oak Lawn. Today, Park Place Dealerships employs more than 2,000 people and operates 16 full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Lotus, Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Bugatti, McLaren, and Maserati. Park Place’s new Land Rover Jaguar dealership opened recently in Grapevine. A new Park Place Porsche dealership debuts in Grapevine next year. For more info, visit parkplace.com.

    More info about After-School All-Stars North Texas at http://asasnorthtexas.org

    LEAD PHOTO: Bentley Dallas General Manager Heath Strayhan, Dee Simmons, D’Andra Simmons, After-School All-Stars North Texas Executive Director Marissa Castro Mikoy, All-Stars North Texas Development & Marketing Manager Lizzie Arrington, and Mack Campbell, After-School All-Stars North Texas.

    Photos: Rhi Lee

  • Rent-A-Center scholarship program accepting applications

    Rent-A-Center announced that its Make-A-Difference Scholarship Program, in which $60,000 is awarded to 60 high school and undergraduate students across the country, is open to accept applications at www.rentacenter.com/scholarships.

    Customers and coworkers at all lines of business including Get It Now, Home Choice, AcceptanceNOW and Rent-A-Center Franchising are eligible to participate. Applications will be accepted until midnight Feb. 1.

    The Make-A-Difference Scholarship Program is administered through a partnership with Scholarship America, the nation’s leading nonprofit scholarship and educational support organization.

    Scholarship beneficiaries must pursue their first undergraduate degree at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, vocational school or technical school in the United States or Puerto Rico.

    Recipients will be announced in April and awarded their scholarships in August.

    Plano-based RAC has donated more than $730,000 to hundreds of students through the Make-A-Difference Scholarship established in 2004.