Dallas Fort Worth Nonprofit Business Journal

Category: General

  • Goodwill North Central Texas helps students with disabilities earn summer paycheck

    This summer, more than 30 different worksites hosted students throughout Tarrant County where youth with disabilities had an opportunity to obtain workplace readiness training and paid work experience.

    Goodwill North Central Texas provided the program, Summer Earn & Learn, to help students with disabilities aged 16-22 transition from a classroom environment to the real-world work setting. It was conducted in collaboration with Texas Workforce Solutions Vocational Rehabilitation Services and Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County.

    Students were placed with community partners such as Walgreens, Ripley’s Believe it or Not, Movie Tavern, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, UTA Dining, Mr. Jim’s Pizza, and Baylor Scott and White. The cities of Keller, Fort Worth, Watauga, and Arlington and other entities also hosted students.

    Goodwill North Central Texas has served more than 600 students since 2017 through Summer Earn & Learn. For the 2022 program, 93 students enrolled.

    Goodwill is the largest employer of people with disabilities in the world. Goodwill North Central Texas is based in Fort Worth and serves 18 counties in the region. The nonprofit’s 27 area retail locations provide revenue through the sale of donated goods to support Goodwill’s mission. The organization provides job training and career services programs for people with disabilities, such as physical or mental disabilities and other barriers to employment including lack of education or work experience and homelessness.

  • New CCO joins United Way of Tarrant County

    United Way of Tarrant County today has hired a new Chief Communications and Marketing Officer.

    Deanna Titzler joined the team on July 20.  

    As Chief Communications and Marketing Officer, Titzler will lead, manage, implement and evaluate all marketing communications strategies, including advertising, promotions, and public relations, to support the marketing objectives and maximize positive exposure in local and national markets. Additionally, Titzler will lead the creative development for a wide range of efforts to impact the entire organization.

    Most recently, Titzler served as Interim Associate Vice President of Marketing & Communication at Texas Woman’s University, leading the division responsible for media relations, social media, web communications, creative services, digital content creation, crisis communications, marketing and advertising. She worked at TWU for more than five years in positions of growing responsibility before being named interim AVP.

    “With more than 25 years of marketing and communications experience working in the higher education, nonprofit and private sectors, we are confident she will have tremendous success spreading our mission to Tarrant County communities,” said Leah King, president and CEO of United Way of Tarrant County.

    Before TWU, Titzler lived in Hyderabad, India, where she was president of the Twin-Cities Expatriates Association, heading a multinational board of directors that established the association’s vision, strategy and goals. She previously worked for General Dynamics/Lockheed Martin, including eight years at the Aeronautics division in Fort Worth. During her tenure there, she led the employee giving campaign for the company for several years, leading to record-breaking donations to United Way of Tarrant County and related agencies.

    “As a long-time resident of Tarrant County, I’ve been privileged to see the critical role United Way plays in leading, collaborating and making an impact in the community,” said Titzler. “I’m excited about joining the organization as it enters its centennial year and look forward to contributing to its mission.”

    Titzler holds an MA in Communication and Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University and a BBA in Business Journalism from Baylor University. Her past board positions include Carter BloodCare and the Westlake Academy Foundation.

    Begun in 1922, United Way of Tarrant County brings together individuals, groups, donors and service providers to solve social issues. The organization uses donor funds to invest in partner agencies.

  • DFW501c adds nonprofit profiles to digital news content

    DFW501c adds nonprofit profiles to digital news content

    DFW501c Nonprofit Business Journal is expanding its scope of coverage to better serve local nonprofit news readers. Beginning this month, select issues of the digital publication will feature a spotlight feature highlighting a nonprofit, mutual aid group or community movement in North Texas.

    The profiles will report operational aspects of profiled entities and key organizational highlights. DFW501c is adding this new content to introduce the sector to new or emerging organizations and public benefit efforts in the region.

    To be considered for a profile feature in DFW501c, organizations must complete a profile questionnaire. Entities of all sizes that serve Dallas, Tarrant and surrounding counties are invited to submit responses. Special consideration will be given to emerging and grassroots initiatives as well as nonprofits led by or serving BIPOC communities.

    Interested organizations can email Barbara Clark-Galupi to request the feature.

  • Junior League of Fort Worth accepting applications for volunteer support

    The Junior League of Fort Worth is now accepting applications for its Done in a Day opportunity.

    The initiative responds to community needs and includes short-term volunteers for a 3 hour shift any day throughout the year. Volunteers can assist with nonprofit events or special projects.

    Applications should be submitted at least 60 days prior to the event. Agencies can access the application online. Questions can be emailed to done.in.a.day@juniorleaguefw.org.

  • Fort Worth Weird Moms Club debuts philanthropic award

    Fort Worth Weird Moms’ Club (FWWM) has launched the Michelle L. Sketchley Award for Philanthropic Achievement and is accepting nominations.

    The award will be given to a local nonprofit or business that honors and supports the exceptional courage and commitment of mothers in Tarrant County. Nominations are being accepted through Sept. 1. It will be presented to the honoree at the Fort Worth Weird Mom Prom 2022 fundraiser on Sept. 17.

    The Michelle K. Sketchley Award for Philanthropic Achievement is named for a founding member of FWWM who died from cancer in 2020, just one year after the inaugural Weird Mom Prom.

    “She had such a big heart, was very family-oriented, and was always looking to help,” said Haley Seaux Ballenger, founder and leader of FWWM. “We were devastated [when she passed], and because it was the very beginning of the pandemic, none of us got to say our proper goodbyes. So, this is our way of honoring her.”

    Nominations can be submitted via email to fwwmpromaward@gmail.com. Submissions should include the organization’s name, contact information and a few words about why the nominee qualifies for the honor.

    The award will be presented by Sketchley’s family.

    “We all know the struggle and the village it takes to raise kids nowadays, and there are so many great companies and organizations out there that are doing this amazing work,” said Ballenger. “We wanted to tell them thank you, we see you and appreciate you, and we hope we can help you keep doing what you’re doing.”

    FWWM was founded in 2018 as a safe space for local moms who didn’t fit in the typical mom group and has grown to more than 1,400 members. The club is LGBTQIA+ friendly and supports the Black Lives Matter movement. It is open to anyone who identifies as a mother or grandmother.

    “In FWWM, we’re all about loving each other, our kids, and our community fiercely and boldly,” said Ballenger.

    The group offers opportunities for its members to support one another online and gather in person.

    The first Fort Worth Weird Mom Prom was held in 2019 as a charitable event to benefit organizations that support women and mothers. The first Prom raised $900 for Opening Doors for Women in Need, an organization that provides transitional housing and programs to recently incarcerated women trying to re-enter society.

    This year, FWWM is expanding its fundraising capacity by opening the Prom to the public. Fort Worth Weird Mom Prom will be held at Southside Preservation Hall. The event will include dancing, a food truck, cash bar, a raffle and door prizes. Tickets are $30 and this year’s theme is “Mask-uerade.”

  • GSNETX hosts nontraditional ‘camping and coding’ experience for girls

    Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas (GSNETX) recently hosted 20 high school girls from across the country at its Biomedical Engineering Destination Camp, sponsored by McKesson. The program served girls with an interest in engineering, coding and medicine.

    STEM is the fastest growing sector of the U.S. economy and a space where women are woefully underrepresented. The camp furthered GSNETX’s goal of closing the gap for STEM access and changing the trajectory of the STEM workforce pipeline in North Texas.

    The one-of-a-kind Biomedical Engineering Destination camp was conducted at the GSNETX STEM Center of Excellence in South Dallas and 15 states were represented among the attendees.

    Attendees explored real-world topics, like how the heart shrinks in size in astronauts that spend significant time in gravity, how to design prosthetic and assistive materials utilizing 3D printing technologies, and how to design an effective sterilization or sanitization system to defend against viral and terminal viruses. Texas Instruments and iCode facilitated the workshops focusing on medical coding.

    Participants also experienced offsite trips to Texas Christian University, Scottish Rite for Children, McKesson Corporation and Reunion Tower. The field trip to the McKesson offices including a discussion with Nancy Flores, Executive Vice President & Chief Information and Technology Officer, who spoke about her leadership journey.

    The camp also incorporated key Girl Scout activities, such as a low ropes course, archery, ziplining and traditional Girl Scout camping.

  • United Way of Tarrant County announces $2.7 million in community investments

    United Way of Tarrant County announces $2.7 million in community investments

    In support of its efforts to provide long-term, systemic solutions to ongoing social challenges, United Way of Tarrant County today announced the investment of nearly $2.7 million in 54 community-based agencies across North Texas, thanks to contributions to United Way of Tarrant County’s Community Fund, Veterans Fund and Women United Fund.

    The funds will be used to address enduring issues requiring substantial attention such as access to affordable housing, educational resources, health care and transportation services. The selected organizations are committed to dismantling the barriers causing existing disparities.

    “Life in North Texas looks much different than it did three years ago for many of our family members, friends and neighbors,” said Leah King, president and CEO of United Way of Tarrant County. “As we continue to recover from the pandemic, our community is faced with new, tougher challenges. Whether it is extreme weather conditions or record-breaking inflation, families are struggling. Through generous donations from companies, foundations and individuals, United Way of Tarrant County is able to provide support to the community in overcoming these barriers.”

    Community Fund

    Donors contributing to United Way of Tarrant County’s Community Fund ensure that vital resources are available in the local community. This fund provides meals for senior citizens, educational programs for PreK-12 students, assistance with rent and utilities for families, job development and training programs for our workforce, preventative and mental health programs, as well as many other basic needs resources. Recipients of funding include:

    • AB Christian Learning Center: $24,000 
    • ACH Child and Family Services: $90,000
    • AIDS Outreach Center, Inc.: $50,000 
    • Alzheimer’s Association of North Central Texas: $50,000 
    • Arlington Charities, Inc.: $20,000
    • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Tarrant County: $20,000
    • Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County: $45,000                        
    • Camp Fire First Texas: $16,000
    • Cancer Care Services: $25,000 
    • Catholic Charities, Diocese of Fort Worth: $90,000
    • Center for Transforming Lives: $25,000                       
    • Christ’s Haven for Children: $90,000
    • Clayton Youth Enrichment: $90,000
    • Communities in Schools of Greater Tarrant County: $60,000
    • Community Enrichment Center: $75,000
    • Dental Health for Arlington, Inc.: $35,000
    • G.R.A.C.E. (Grapevine Relief & Community Exchange): $10,000
    • Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains: $20,000
    • Girls Incorporated of Tarrant County: $91,000
    • Healthy Tarrant County Collaboration: $17,500
    • Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas – Fort Worth: $8,000
    • I Can Still SHINE Program: $5,600
    • Junior Achievement of the Chisholm Trail: $25,000
    • Lena Pope Home: $24,000
    • Lunch Box of Love: $8,000
    • Maroon 9 Community Enrichment Organization: $20,000
    • Meals on Wheels of Tarrant County: $90,000
    • Metro Sports Fieldhouse: $17,500 
    • New Day Inc.: $17,500
    • Pathfinders: $75,000
    • Presbyterian Night Shelter of Tarrant County: $84,000
    • Reading Partners: $82,500
    • Recovery Resource Council: $68,270 
    • Rosa Es Rojo, Inc: $20,000
    • SafeHaven of Tarrant County: $90,000
    • Seasons of Change, Incorporated: $100,000
    • Servolution Network: $50,000 
    • Southwestern Diabetic Foundation: $27,500
    • Tarrant County Samaritan Housing, Inc.: $90,000
    • Tarrant Literacy Coalition: $20,000   
    • Taste Project: $70,000
    • The Women’s Center of Tarrant County: $90,000
    • United Community Centers, Inc.: $93,750
    • Urban Strategies: $15,000
    • YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth: $100,000

    Veterans Fund

    United Way launched its Veterans Fund in 2013 with corporate contributions from Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company and Bell. The funding helps military service members returning to civilian life in the Tarrant County area through services such as counseling, career and financial coaching, addiction treatment and other high-priority needs. This year’s funding recipients include:

    • Community Learning Center Inc.: $53,535
    • Lift Fund: $56,250
    • Metrocare Services: $64,000
    • nPower: $60,000
    • Pathfinders: $51,215
    • Recovery Resource Council: $50,000
    • S.T.E.P.S. with Horses: $25,000
    • Servolution Network: $40,000

    Women United Fund

    Established in 2008, the Women United Fund supports organizations that empower and invest in women and girls. These organizations provide services and programs that garner a quality education, enhance job skills and extend the opportunity to change lives in other ways. Recipients were honored onstage at the annual Women United Investing in Impact Luncheon in May. Women United Fund grants were awarded to:

    • RiverTree Academy: $20,000
    • The Women’s Center of Tarrant County: $40,000

  • Google boosts nonprofit skilled workforce training programs in North Texas

    Two Dallas-based organizations have announce they will receive support from Google for skilled-trade education and workforce development in the area.

    The Regional Black Contractors Association (RBCA) Community Development Corporation and the United Way Metropolitan Dallas– Southern Dallas Thrives’ Women in Construction Initiative will each receive funding to boost pre-apprenticeship programs offered by the organizations to North Texans. These organizations partner with contractors and local unions in the area to place graduates in full time jobs where they can continue their journeys to stable careers in construction and the skilled trades.

    Google, which has a data center in Midlothian, will allocate $50,000 to the United Way Metropolitan Dallas-Southern Dallas Thrives’ Women in Construction Initiative and $100,000 in funding to the RBCA Community Development Corporation.  

    RBCA advocates for and advances the development and growth of African-American owned businesses. United Way Metropolitan Dallas works to strengthen education, income and health in the community.

    “We are proud to call Ellis County home and are committed to providing much-needed resources to benefit North Texas,” Suzanne Lindsay, Regional Head of Workforce Development for Google, said. “By supporting pre-apprenticeship programs in this area, we hope to bolster training opportunities in construction trades and create a community with ample opportunity for career development,”

    The support from Google will help the United Way Metropolitan Dallas- Southern Dallas Thrives Initiative  improve access and opportunity for women to train for and advance in the high-growth construction and skilled-trade industries. The United Way Metropolitan Dallas will also explore opportunities to partner with local skilled-trade industry leaders to expand the impact of the Women in Construction Program and increase efficiency by boosting community outreach, wraparound services including transportation and childcare, and providing program completion stipends for participants in the construction workforce program.

    “The training provided by the RBCA Community Development Corporation and Southern Dallas Thrives not only helps traditionally underrepresented members of the community move into family-wage career paths, but it also boosts the local economy,” said Lindsay.

    The support from Google will also help the RBCA Community Development Corporation expand their services.  The RBCA Community Development Corporation is dedicated to helping formerly incarcerated people and other underserved and underemployed individuals in the Dallas area rebuild their lives by creating a pipeline of college-certified workers who are ready for on-the-job training through their “Second Chance” program, a comprehensive workforce development model that trains participants in the construction and skilled trades via pre-apprenticeships.  Services include job placement assistance, access to health care, transportation, meals, driver license reinstatement, and obtaining a certification of high school equivalency.

    “For many members of the Dallas community, the ‘Second Chance’ program is a pathway to a stable income and economic independence,” Kim Shaw, President at RBCA Community Development Corporation, said. “This support from Google will help expand the services we provide to program participants, which will ultimately help them combat economic instability, housing insecurity, mental health issues, and strengthen the family unit and reduce crime.” 

    These funds are part of a larger effort to connect more Americans to quality training and jobs. This year, Google is contributing $1.2 million dollars in five states where it operates data centers toward vocational education and pre-apprenticeship training programs for construction and skilled trades.

    “This boost from Google will help us reach more women in our community who have traditionally lacked access to the training and support needed to get into the trades and construction industry,” Ashley Douglas, Sr. Director at Southern Dallas Thrives said. “Our training programs are designed to help women obtain meaningful careers in jobs that offer security and upward mobility, but most importantly, help them to achieve financial stability to provide for themselves and their families.”

  • Goodwill donates to Miracle League of Parker County

    The Miracle League of Parker County has received a donation from another nonprofit to support the health and well-being of the individuals with disabilities it serves.

    Goodwill North Central Texas donated 84 pairs of new youth-sized baseball cleats to the Miracle League, which provides a safe and fun environment where those with special needs can play baseball in a stadium of their own. Games are geared to the ability level of each player, including those who need help swinging a bat and individuals in wheelchairs.

    The two organizations are mission aligned. Goodwill is the largest employer of people with disabilities in the world. Goodwill North Central Texas is based in Fort Worth and serves 18 counties in the region. The nonprofit operates 27 area retail locations that provide revenue through the sale of donated goods to support Goodwill’s mission. Job training and career services programs are provided for people with disabilities, such as physical or mental disabilities and other barriers to employment including lack of education or work experience and homelessness.

  • Game, Set, Match – 35th Anniversary party for The Magdalen House propels mission

    The Magdalen House announces it raised more than $50,000 at the second annual Game, Set, Match event on May 21 at Lakewood Country Club. Funds will cover the cost of live-saving recovery services for 27 women who enroll in the organization’s First Step program.

    A recovery community for alcoholic women, The Magdalen House helps clients achieve and sustain sobriety at no cost. It’s programs are based on 12-step spiritual principles. It has provided free services in North Texas since 1987.

    In celebration of organization’s 35th anniversary this year, the fundraising event featured an 80’s theme. Activities included tennis, live music and food. Tickets were $200 each, which included one guaranteed game of tennis, drinks and dinner. Attendees could choose from three levels of play – beginner, intermediate and Fast4 Knock-Out tournament (Advanced). An award ceremony followed all play. .

    According to a recent study, women increased their drinking by 41% before the pandemic. Today, there are over 250,000 alcoholic women in North Texas alone. Less than 1 in 15 alcoholic women (only 6.9%) will seek formal help. Because women face more stigmatization, shame, family responsibilities, and socioeconomic barriers than men, they frequently have co-occurring disorders and are less likely to seek treatment.

    The Magdalen House offers comprehensive programs.

    • First Step program: A two-week, residential program for an alcoholic woman who wants to stop drinking but cannot. She is provided with the education and resources to achieve sobriety and build a foundation of recovery.
    • Next Step program: A three-phase, nonresidential program for an alcoholic woman at any stage of recovery. She is provided with support and structure to sustain her recovery while growing in her knowledge of 12-Step spiritual principles.
    • Meetings and Fellowship: Solution-focused classes, meetings, and workshops are provided for alcoholic women at every stage of recovery, 365 days a year. We also have dedicated volunteers who provide Family Support to families and loved ones of alcoholics.
    • Resources and Education: Community partnerships help us connect alcoholic women and their families to resources that include sober living, counseling, and women’s health. At the same time, education initiatives allow us to reach and serve more alcoholic women.

    “For 35 years, we have proudly changed the lives of so many alcoholic women by offering compassion and support at every stage of recovery,” says Lisa Kroencke executive director of The Magdalen House. “Funds generated by Game, Set, Match empower us to offer programs that provide solution-based education and resources to alcoholic women as well as their families and loved ones.”