Dallas Fort Worth Nonprofit Business Journal

Category: General

  • The Warren Center expands autism services

    The Warren Center, a Richardson-based nonprofit that helps children with developmental delays and disabilities, has launched new Autism Assessment Services to meet growing demand.

    Autism is the fastest-growing disability in Texas. As the disability grows, so does the need for assessments. The Warren Center announced its service expansion in conjunction with the Month of the Young Child during a cocktail reception on April 28 at Park City Club. Dr. Mary Ann Morris, a neurologist at Children’s Medical Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities spoke at the event, which was underwritten by Bank of Texas.

    The comprehensive autism assessments offered by The Warren Center are conducted by professionals with expertise across a number of fields. The evaluations include observations, direct interaction, a parent interview, an in-depth look at the child’s developmental history and an evaluation of the following areas: social, communication, sensory, emotional, cognitive and adaptive behavior.

    The team will personally meet with parents to discuss their findings, give specific and meaningful recommendations, answer any questions, provide a detailed written report and work with parents on a plan of action going forward.

    “The earlier that services are delivered, the more likely children are to develop effective communication, language, visual, social and motor skills,” said Amy Spawn, CEO of The Warren Center. “Early intervention services are critical because young children grow and develop so quickly. If they do not receive services before they are five years old, it can have lasting effects.”

  • Bryan’s House adopts off-campus hybrid work model

    Amid the on-going impact of COVID-19, Bryan’s House has shifted operations to a co-working location that will allow the organization to deliver its mission while keeping children in its care safe.

    Bryan’s House serves medically fragile, at-risk children in six North Texas counties. The new initiative will allow staff to host trainings, team workshops, partner agency meetings and more via a new innovation lab at WORK214 in Uptown Dallas. It features a five-desk dedicated work space for a six-month period that begins in April.

    “Bryan’s House has a need to bring people together as it continues telling its story during the COVID era and having this innovation lab separate from the children on our West Dallas campus will help us do that,” said Bryan’s House CEO Abigail Erickson-Torres. “Also, this new hybrid working model and unique, inspiring space will reinvigorate the Bryan’s House team as it does this important work.”

    The venue has modern common areas and meeting rooms that Bryan’s House board members as well as the agency’s volunteer Jubilee Society can utilize for regular meetings. Client meetings will not be held in the space.

    The transition will free-up space in the Bryan’s House campus for mission-critical clinical services. It allows for broader geographic reach and provides a new way for businesses to be exposed to the work that Bryan’s House does. Work214 also hosts monthly social hours that the organization’s staff and board can attend, allowing new individuals to learn about its mission.

    “This space will be quieter than the hustle and bustle that goes on at our West Dallas campus, where we care for children from birth through age 6,” Erickson-Torres said. “It will give the staff a chance to think more creatively about the problems we solve. I envision this space as a think tank to re-energize both our board and staff to envision all that Bryan’s House can be.”

    Bryan’s House departments – children’s programs, social services, development and operations – will rotate use of the innovation lab. The agency hopes this unique partnership will serve to redefine the way nonprofits and corporations can work together to achieve critical community goals.

    Bryan’s House was founded in 1988 at the peak of the HIV/AIDS crisis and works with at-risk children who have special needs. The agency has helped thousands of North Texas families get their lives on track and their children in stable early childhood education programs that also care for their medical and therapeutic needs.

    The pilot hybrid workplace initiative was funded by gifts from donors Sarah Losinger and Rust E. Reid.

  • Junior League of Fort Worth creates youth volunteer program

    The Junior League of Fort Worth (JLFW) has a new program that introduces children to volunteering and the League. Little Leaguers is open to youth of all ages who are affiliated with JLFW members, including children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and neighbors.

    The goal of Little Leaguers is to share the Junior League of Fort Worth’s commitment to voluntarism and community improvement. It is also a way to improve children’s social skills, develop a sense of community, and teach the power of gratitude and empathy. 

    The Little Leaguers program is comprised of three components: donations, service and education. Events are hosted for children to participate in volunteering and learning about the agency partner. Donations are collected prior to the event.

    In its inaugural year, Little Leaguers have served The Welman Project, the JLFW Diaper Bank, the Ronald McDonald House, Meals on Wheels, ACH Child and Family Services, Community Storehouse, and Unbound.  Participants have donated almost 4,500 diapers, filled 100 reusable bags for new teachers, tied 30 fleece blankets, brought toys and gifts for a “Christmas House” at Community Store house, and created 40 bags for the women and children served at Unbound.

    The Junior League of Fort Worth, Texas, Inc. is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.

    Agencies interested in partnering with the Little Leaguers are asked to contact the Junior League of Fort Worth.

  • Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation supports Hispanic community

    The Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation recently hosted an event in partnership with Canales Furniture to open the conversation of suicide and mental health in the Hispanic Community.

    Construyendo por Amor was held on April 12 at All Saints Catholic Church in Fort Worth. The event included Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR) training in Spanish. QPR training addresses suicide data, myths and facts, suicide warning signs, and the three steps that one can use save a life.

    Suicide rates among Hispanic youth have nearly doubled over the last decade and are highest among those aged 20-24. Although the conversation regarding suicide and mental health has been improving, there is still significant stigma. Historically marginalized communities have traditionally been left out of the conversation. Education and training can make a vital difference to help those who are struggling in silence.

    The Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation’s mission is to eradicate suicide by funding depression research and suicide awareness through education. It was created after the 2012 suicide of Jordan Harris, a young woman from North Richland Hills who was in her senior year at the University of Michigan.  Jordan was high school valedictorian, a National Merit Scholarship winner, a tireless volunteer, and a compassionate champion of those less fortunate. 

    She suffered from a brief bout of depression and ended her life without warning, leaving her devastated family and friends to wonder if they could have done more to save her life. Jordan’s loved ones discovered there were no local programs available in Tarrant County providing evidence-based suicide prevention training and education.  The JEHF was founded in 2014 to undertake that role in Tarrant County.

    The organization will host future Constuyendo por Amor events on the following dates (location TBD):

    • June 21st 6–8 p.m.
    • August 9th 6–8 p.m.
    • October 6th 6-8 p.m.
    • December 8th 6-8 p.m.

  • Story telling leads to fundraising success for Interfaith Family Services

    Interfaith Family Services raised more than $294,000 to empower families in crisis to break the cycle of poverty at an event last month.

    More than 300 people attended the 7th Annual Interfaith Auxiliary Luncheon at Brook Hollow Golf Club. Organizers note that $48,000 of the amount raised was achieved the day-of the event from attendees moved by the powerful stories of the organization’s impact.

    NBC 5’s Meredith Land welcomed guests. Reverend Hannah Buchanan with Highland Park United Methodist Church led the invocation.

    For 37 years, Interfaith Family Services has empowered families in crisis to break the cycle of poverty. The organization offers solutions to poverty through both residential and non-residential services. Its Family Empowerment Center houses all programming modeled to eliminate the barriers that keep families in crisis from achieving stability.

    Services include rent and utility assistance, GED/ESL and vocational training, extended-hours childcare to clients who are currently unemployed, financial coaching to reduce debt and increase savings, and career coaching to develop clients professionally – all at no cost to families. For families that are homeless, Interfaith Family Services owns 23 fully furnished apartments that provide transitional housing for six to nine months.

    Co-chairs of the Interfaith Auxiliary Luncheon were Elizabeth Shuford Conroy and Lauren Shuford Laughry. Laughry’s mother, Kathi Shuford, and sister, Adriane Shuford Crosland, served as honorary chairs.

    “Just over a third of Dallas families are considered ‘asset poor,’ meaning they don’t have savings to help them through a crisis,” said Kimberly Williams, CEO of Interfaith Family Services. “These families are incredibly vulnerable to both poverty and homelessness.”

    Interfaith has a formula that works to help families. Nine out of 10 clients exit with permanent housing, and four out of five exit employed with a livable wage are still employed a year later.

    “First, we eliminate barriers that cause instability in the first place, with housing or rental assistance,” said Williams. “Next, we equip parents to overcome poverty, with career and financial coaching. Finally, we educate children to help break the cycle of generational poverty.”

    During the event, iInterfaith graduate Jessica Bisor shared her personal story of having an autoimmune disease and dealing with a difficult pregnancy that left her unable to work. After a short time with relatives, Bisor looked for other options and found Interfaith.

    “I went in [to Interfaith] ashamed of having to start over as a single mom, but the staff’s encouragement was sincere, and I left with a renewed hope of better days ahead,” said Bisor. Since her son was born, Bisor has started her own business as a notary and a loan signing agent.

    Event sponsors included:

    Hope Sponsor: Sapphire Foundation, Inc. – Adriane and Andy Crosland

    Home Sponsors: The Hegi Family; Katy and Kyle Miller

    Hand-Up Sponsors: Benchmark Bank; Jill and Grant Henderson; Sapphire Foundation, Inc. – Sandy Crosland and Ali Treaster; Thornton Family Foundation

    Help Sponsors: Susie and John Adams; Susan Baldwin; Allie Beth Allman & Associates; Becky Frey Real Estate Group; Capital Title of Texas-Park Cities; Maura Costello; Margaret Hunt; Lauren and Alex Inman; The Miller Family Foundation; Julie Durham Rado; The Rosewood Foundation; Kathi and Scott Shuford; Kathy Little Shuford; The Stanford C. and Mary Clare Finney Foundation

    Guests dressed in colorful spring fashions. They were invited to arrive early to enjoy wine and take photos at the step and repeat.

  • Prism Health North Texas acquires Community Dental Care of Texas

    Prism Health North Texas (PHNTX) announced it will acquire the assets of Community Dental Care of Texas. The move will help expand the mission of both entities to create access to affordable healthcare for people living in the greater Dallas area.

    Community Dental Care is a non-profit dentistry practice that works to close the gap in access to affordable dental care for North Texans of all ages.

    According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, more people are unable to afford dental care than any other type of healthcare. In 2015, the percentage of people in the United States with no dental insurance was 29 percent and 62 percent for older adults. Over 40 percent of low-income and non-Hispanic Black adults have untreated tooth decay. Among PHNTX’s current patients receiving medical care at one of its health centers, only 16 percent have evidence of at least an annual dental examination in the past year.

    By integrating dental and medical care under a single community health organization, both important needs can be better resourced and managed. The organization will operate under the Prism Health North Texas brand, and the PHNTX Board of Directors will become the single managing board. The change will build PHNTX’s strategic vision towards improving health for more people throughout North Texas.

    All services, locations, and staff currently operating with CDC will migrate to PHNTX.

    Both organizations receive major funding from Ryan White grants. Both also receive unique funding which the organizations say will synergistically will form even greater support and resources for a wider variety of individuals in the greater Dallas area.  

    “CDC has an incredible legacy of providing critical dental care for so many people here in Dallas,” says Dr. John Carlo, CEO of PHNTX. “We look forward to continuing this important work and build together an even bigger safety net of healthcare services.”

    Prism Health North Texas opened services in 1986 during the HIV/AIDS crisis in North Texas, through an initial grant by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Formed as AIDS Arms Network out of the Communities Foundation of Texas, PHNTX for the past 35 years has served the critical role of connecting people living with HIV to care and services in the area.

    PHNTX evolved to be a nationally recognized leader in delivering high-quality HIV and sexual health services, most recently expanding services to address the alarming rise in sexually transmitted infections in Dallas County and North Texas. Roughly 30% of people living with HIV in North Texas receive medical care and support at one of the four health centers.

  • Network for Good becomes Bonterra

    Network for Good®, CyberGrants®, EveryAction™, Social Solutions®, and their respective entities, are coming together as Bonterra™.

    Aligning the technology and expertise behind the four entities will facilitate connectivity between social good organizations and their community of supporters and constituents. Bonterra calls the new product family a “landscape-defining software platform.”

    This collaboration will support the work of nonprofits, public agencies, corporations, philanthropic organizations, and foundations by creating more ways for social good organizations to maximize their impact in the communities they serve. 

    “This collaboration has the power to reshape philanthropic giving, empower digital transformation, and bring the social good sector the technology it needs to accelerate lasting social change,” said Erin Mulligan Nelson, CEO of Bonterra. 

    Bonterra’s technology solutions include:

    • Case management: Social Solutions’ Apricot®, ETO®, and Penelope™ products provide actionable, data-driven insights to help nonprofit and public sector leaders better coordinate the delivery of essential services, measure impact, and improve outcomes for those in need.
    • Corporate social good and philanthropy: CyberGrants’ Grants Management, Employee Giving, and Volunteerism products provide corporate social responsibility, employee giving, grants management, and volunteerism solutions coupled with deep analytics that power corporate philanthropy impact.
    • Nonprofit fundraising and relationships management: EveryAction, GiveGab®, Network for Good, and SalsaLabs™ provide omni-channel engagement platforms to help nonprofits of every size cultivate donor relationships, optimize stakeholder interactions, raise more money, and advocate for positive change.

    Based on internal company data, Bonterra helps over 15,000 nonprofit customers manage cases, fundraise, and receive funds. In 2021, Bonterra’s technology solutions were used by its more than 19,000 customers across all segments to direct giving of over $7.4 billion to more than 225,000 nonprofit organizations.

    Going forward, CyberGrants, EveryAction, Network for Good, Social Solutions, and their respective entities will operate as Bonterra. NGP VAN, the political fundraising, organizing, advocacy, and email solution, will continue to operate as NGP VAN. ActionKit™ and Mobilize™ will roll up to NGP VAN.

    Bonterra is the second-largest and fastest-growing social good software company in the world.

  • Mommies In Need launches podcast

    Mommies in Need has announced the debut of a podcast that will address issues in the childcare, healthcare and nonprofit spaces. 

    Culture of Caring with Natalie Boyle will premiere May 2. Hosted by Mommies in Need Founder and CEO Natalie Boyle, the podcast will tie-in elements of fun and education to every episode. Among the initial episodes, topics will include authenticity, compassion, innovation, collaboration and being extraordinary.

    The only nonprofit of its type in the nation, Mommies in Need seeks to improve access to healthcare by removing lack of childcare as a reason to miss preventative, general, and emergency appointments. The organization, which was founded in 2014, cares for kids so their families can access healthcare, primarily servicing patients of Parkland Hospital in Dallas while they receive medical treatment. 

    Children are welcomed to Annie’s Place, a childcare facility at 2131 Butler Street that opened in November of 2020. Care is also offered for children of emergency room patients, the siblings of children receiving medical care, and in-home care for families in need. 

    Culture of Caring with Natalie Boyle will be available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify or anywhere podcasts are available. The first episode is now available online.

  • Dallas Arboretum honors corporate supporters

    The Dallas Arboretum held a Corporate Dinner on March 22 to recognize companies and businesses that support the garden at a high level.

    During the event, more than 200 people representing the honored organizations were treated to cocktails, passed hors d’oeuvres, dinner, trams tours throughout the garden and music provided by a jazz trio. The event also featured a ‘state of the garden’ update, including a recent accolade from Travel+Leisure that asserted the garden’s springtime tulip festival “may be the most beautiful springtime destination in the U.S.”

    Caruth Protection Services sponsored the dinner. Additional sponsors recognized as part of the event include: 

    alliantgroup 
    Amazon 
    Amegy Bank 
    Baker Triangle 
    Bank of Texas 
    Baylor Scott & White Health & Wellness 
    Boston Consulting Group 
    CC Young Senior Living 
    Camelot Strategic Marketing & Media
    Capital One 
    Central Market/HEB 
    Comerica 
    Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce 
    Dallas Mavericks 
    Dallas Southwest Osteopathic Physicians
    Dallas Trial Lawyers Association 
    Dave Perry Miller Real Estate 
    Doyle & Associates 
    Ecolab 
    Frost Bank 
    Gaedeke Group 
    Gopuff 
    Gray Reed 
    HKS
    First Horizon 
    International Paper 
    Jackson Walker LLP 
    JHP Architecture/Urban Design 
    Kessler Collins 
    Kimberly-Clark
    Lennox 
    Mary Kay 
    MoveStar 
    Oncor
    Park Place Dealerships 
    Reliant 
    Rexel 
    Rosewood Corporation 
    RREAF Holdings 
    Sammons Enterprises 
    SHM Architects 
    Sidley Austin 
    Texas Instruments 
    Texas Telcom Credit Union 
    The Dallas Morning News Charities 
    UMB Bank 
    Veritex Community Bank 
    Visit Dallas/Dallas Tourism Public Improvement District 
    Wells Fargo Advisors 
    WFAA, Channel 8

  • Plano church holds concert benefiting Ukrainian refugees

    St. Andrew United Methodist Church announces it raised $57,137 benefiting relief efforts for Ukraine with a concert hosted on March 21.

    United with Ukraine: A Benefit Concert was held at the church’s sanctuary in Plano. All funds raised will go to UMCOR, the United Methodist Committee on Relief, which is actively serving internally displaced people and refugees within and from Ukraine with food, water, shelter, and other needs.

    “It has been said ‘when words fail, music speaks,’ and this conflict in Ukraine has us all speechless,” said Taylor Davis, Director of Music and Worship Arts, St. Andrew UMC. “My involuntary response, as director of music, is to gather musician friends and create unity and peace through art. Individually, we can’t change the world, but music can help change the molecules in the room, which can change hearts and minds across lines of division.”

    Davis began making calls to his musician contacts to see if any benefit of this nature had been planned. Upon learning that it had not, he orchestrated the event in two weeks. The concert featured songs of solidarity from some of the finest orchestral musicians across Dallas and Fort Worth, including members of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, as well as St. Andrew’s Chancel Choir. 

    “The musicians, passionate about the cause, were excited to be a part of this program, expressing that they felt this was important and exactly what the church should be doing during this time,” said Davis. “One of our musicians, Ordabek Duissen, concertmaster, violin I, of the Fort Worth Symphony, had a personal connection to the war, expressing that he was concerned for his family living in Kazakhstan because he felt if the invasion progresses, his country would be the type of country that would be pursued. It was powerful to see the event come together so quickly with each talented musician and our choir uniting to share their gifts to make an impact.”

    Fox 4’s “Good Day” Host Lauren Przybyl served as emcee for the evening.

    Opening with an orchestral performance of “The Great Gate of Kiev,” the concert included music selections from Dmitri Shostakovich, Myroslav Skoryk, John Williams, John Rutter, and more. In between pieces were meaningful readings and poetry.

    “We are so happy that we were able to host this event for the community and thank our supporters for their incredible generosity,” said Sr. Pastor Arthur Jones, St. Andrew United Methodist Church. “In the United Methodist Church, one of the things we do best is care for people – whether locally or globally – we care deeply about loving our neighbor. We have churches everywhere including in Ukraine and its border countries, and 100 percent of this money will go to relief efforts through the United Methodist Committee on Relief, which is actively working with churches and pastors in Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova.”

    Concert sponsors included Ovation Health & Life Services, the LaBroad Family, and the Nancy Seaberry Frost Arts Endowment.

    St. Andrew United Methodist Church began in 1986. Worship includes four services each weekend on a 21.2-acre campus at the corner of Plano Parkway and Mira Vista in Plano. More than 2,000 people gather at the church each weekend.