Dallas Fort Worth Nonprofit Business Journal

Category: General

  • Indian American-led initiative to “wipe out hunger”

    HungerMitao, an Indian American community-led initiative that supports local food banks, has committed $150,000 over two years to sponsor a food distribution truck in partnership with the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB). The effort was launched at a special event in Plano on November 6.

    HungerMitao means “wipe out hunger”. Over the four years since its launch, this volunteer-driven movement has enabled close to 12 million meals for NTFB and over 40 million meals nationally for the Feeding America network of Food Banks.

    The food distribution truck initiative represents a galvanization and activation of the Indian American community in North Texas around the cause of food insecurity. The community actively supports the work of NTFB through advocacy, volunteering, and donating food and critical funds. The $150,000 sponsorship will provide an additional 450,000 nutritious meals to families, seniors, and children across the 13 counties serviced by the NTFB.

    “We are excited and looking forward to the unveiling of the HungerMitao truck co-branded with North Texas Food Bank. This traveling billboard will highlight how the Indian American community continues to help NTFB improve people’s access to nutritious food,” said Raj G. Asava, HungerMitao Co-Founder.

    To commemorate the roll-out of the food distribution truck, members of DFW’s Indian American community volunteered at the Perot Family Campus distribution center, sorting and packing food in preparation for transport to NTFB’s feeding network agencies.

    “This will serve as a tactical display and will further inspire the Indian American community to support the North Texas Food Bank. There is tremendous food insecurity in North Texas, but we can all pitch in, unify, and amplify our impact,” added Anna Asava, Co-Founder HungerMitao.

    NTFB is a top-ranked non-profit hunger-relief organization that sources, packages and distributes food through a network of more than 200 Partner Agencies across 13 North Texas counties. The organization also provides food to children, seniors and families through various direct-delivery programs, including mobile pantries.

    “We are so grateful for the support of community initiatives like HungerMitao that recognize the growing issue of hunger and look for ways to contribute to organizations addressing this complex problem,” said Trisha Cunningham, President and CEO for the North Texas Food Bank. “The HungerMitao movement has provided an unprecedented level of support in providing millions of meals across North Texas.”  

  • Fort Worth fundraising execs, emerging leaders receive honors

    The Association of Fundraising Professionals Fort Worth Metro Chapter (AFP) recognized its 2021 National Philanthropy Day (NPD) honorees at an event this week.

    The Outstanding Professional Fundraising Executives award went to Barbara Clark-Galupi, CFRM, and to Susan H. Doyle (presented posthumously). John Bonnell was recognized as Outstanding Philanthropist and Marvin Blum received the honor of Outstanding Advisor. Women United was presented the Outstanding Philanthropic Entity award. Eleven year-old Orion Jean was presented the Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy honor for his Race to Kindness initiative.

    The following individuals were recognized as Emerging Leaders in Philanthropy: Tiffany Anderson, Sarah Barrera, Erika Beltran, Natalie Bowen, Luke Byford, Cam Fenton, Elizabeth Hammond, Trey Harper, Terrell McCoy, Jr., Stephanie Molina, Emily Nance, Victoria Seng Nelson, Jessica Walsh and Kintisha Williams.

    NPD was originally conceived of and organized by Douglas Freeman in the 1980s. It provides an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of giving and all that it has made possible.

  • Clayton Youth Enrichment appoints new board members

    Clayton Youth Enrichment (CYE) announces the addition of five new members to its Board of Directors. New to the CYE board in 2021 are:

    Dionna Deardorff, Attorney, and Clayton Parent
    Lucky Denenga, Texas Health, Director of Inpatient Rehabilitation, and Clayton Parent
    Elizabeth Beck, Attorney, Lee & Braziel LLP, and Fort Worth City Council Member, District 9
    Jan Norton, Jan Norton LLC, Owner/Principal
    Myrna Blanchard, Castleberry ISD, Director of Human Resources

    Established in 1975, Clayton Youth Enrichment provides before and after school care, childcare, and full-day care, annually to more than 7,000 children throughout North Texas. Clayton Youth Enrichment is the only Tarrant County nonprofit dedicated solely to providing after-school enrichment and childcare programs. Its programs are located in public and private schools in Crowley, Fort Worth, Keller, and Birdville ISDs. During the summer months, programs provide full-day service to children. Clayton also offers care at country clubs, community centers, and at One Safe Place, a Fort Worth agency devoted to preventing domestic violence and crime in Tarrant County’s neighborhoods, schools and homes.

    “Our board members are passionate about Clayton’s mission to help children be successful in school and in life,” said Jason Ray, CEO. “It is an added privilege to have individuals serving who are not only committed to our cause, but who have first-hand knowledge of the impact of our programs.”

    Along with its directors who are community leaders, educators, and business professionals, Clayton’s board also includes Jay Jackson, Administrator for Tarrant County Precinct 2, who attended the afterschool program as a child, as well as board members whose children have participated in its programs.

    The new members join returning Executive Committee and board members: Laura James, Chair; Cindy Brewington, Immediate Past Chair; Lyn Willis, Vice Chair; Curtis Linscott, Treasurer; Cara Walker, Secretary; David F. Jackson, Officer-at-Large; Austin M. Burns, Kimberly Coleman, Whitney Bolfing, Jarrett “Jay” Jackson, Nancy Kirkland, and Laura Vasquez.

  • Operation Homefront provides veterans rent-free housing

    Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit that provides rent-free housing to military families as they transition back to civilian life, recently welcomed a Dallas-native into the first of three homes pledged in North Texas through a donation from Pillsbury. Max Best and his family are settling into the transitional home just ahead of Veteran’s Day.

    Each home will enable Operation Homefront to provide rent-free housing to multiple military families over the next 15-20 years as they transition back to civilian life. According to data from Realtor.com, the median rent across the country reached a record high of $1,575 this year, an increase of 8% from a year ago, which is often well outside the affordability range for many lower income military and veteran families.

    Best, a Petty Officer Second Class in the U.S. Navy, served in the military for six years, including a 2019 deployment to South Asia. The veteran and his family decided it was time to end his service with the military when his wife became pregnant with their son and the 14-to-16-hour days required from his master-at-arms duties were no longer feasible for the family. While living in the transitional home, the Best family’s goal is to improve their credit, save money and work to become homeowners themselves.

    Operation Homefront’s Transitional Housing Programs have provided more than 600 military families with rent-free homes, which offer pivotal support to military families as they return to civilian life, become financially stable and prepare for their future, so they can save for homes of their own. Operation Homefront also offers financial counseling, equipping military families, like the Best Family, with the tools they need for success.

    “We are thrilled to have the Best family become the newest members in our highly-regarded Transitional Homes for Veterans program,” said Brig. Gen. (ret.) John I. Pray Jr., President and CEO of Operation Homefront. “Our amazing partners at Pillsbury share our unwavering commitment to building strong, stable and secure military families and this beautiful new home they sponsored in the Dallas-Ft Worth area will not only help the Best family have the opportunity to thrive in this wonderful community but will also help many other deserving military families over the coming years as well.”

    Founded in 2002, Operation Homefront is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to build strong, stable, and secure military families so that they can thrive – not simply struggle to get by – in the communities they have worked so hard to protect. Financial counseling and rent-free living made possible by Pillsbury and Operation Homefront will give them the tools to create a brighter future.

  • Greater Dallas AFP announces 2021 Philanthropy Day honorees

    The Greater Dallas Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) has announced its 2021 National Philanthropy Day (NPD) Award Honorees. NPD celebrates the charitable work that impacts communities and the extraordinary change that fundraising and philanthropy create. It is observed annually on Nov. 15th.

    Each year in recognition of NPD, the Greater Dallas Chapter of AFP highlights people active in the philanthropic community whose contributions have enriched the world. The 2021 honorees include:

    • 2021 Outstanding Philanthropist — Kaleta Doolin
    • 2021 Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser — Gail Madden
    • 2021 Outstanding Fundraising Executive — Jan Murfield, CFRE
    • 2021 Outstanding Foundation — Marilyn Augur Family Foundation
    • 2021 Outstanding Corporation — Austin Industries
    • 2021 Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy — Paisley Elliott

    The first NPD for Greater Dallas AFT was held in 1983. The day provides an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of giving and all that it has made possible. Last year, more than 130 AFP chapters held NPD events and activities across North America.

  • Where food insecurity and mental health meet: 2 local organizations partner

    The Tarrant Area Food Bank (TAFB) and The Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation (TJEHF) recently announced the formation of a new, national education module that tackles the relationship between food insecurity and mental health.

    Food insecurity is an issue that many families in the Tarrant area are facing. During the Delta Variant pandemic, TAFB saw an increase in the number of families who relied on food bank services for the first time. Research shows children who live with food insecurity experience prolonged trauma and are more prone to anxiety, depression, and suicide.

    “We all know that food affects our physical health, but it can also affect our mental health,” said Julie Butner, President and CEO of Tarrant Area Food Bank.   “Food is fuel not just for your body, but for your brain too.  We are excited to initiate this new partnership with TJEHF, and through this program, we hope to bring attention to the negative effects food insecurity can have on mental well-being”

    TAFB empowers communities to alleviate hunger by providing food, education and resources. Through its network of 350 partners, TAFB is able to provide access to over 1M nutritious meals weekly to children and adults facing hunger. This work resulted in access to 50 million nutritious meals in fiscal year 2020.

    The partnership between TAFB and TJEHF kicked-off with a Special Mobile Market Distribution at Eastern Hills High School, at an event that served all Fort Worth ISD families and those interested in learning about mental health. TAFB hosted its The RED Bus, Resources Education Delivered, at the event. The mobile wellness vehicle provided free healthy recipe demos, as well as an onsite mobile food distribution and wellness education.  While this was a local rollout, the module will be included nationally in TJEHF ‘s Hope Squad curriculum.

    Hope Squad is a school-based peer support program that empowers students to take action to prevent suicide through a partnership with their local mental health agency. The Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation is the agency that brings Hope Squad to Tarrant County.

    THE JORDAN ELIZABETH HARRIS FOUNDATION (TJEHF) is a public charity and was created after the 2012 suicide of Jordan Harris, a remarkable young woman from North Richland Hills, Texas. TJEHF provides suicide prevention training and education in North Texas and funds research projects focusing on depression and mental illness.

  • Trail tragedy inspires new nonprofit

    Jesca Pilar was severely attacked while walking on the Trinity Trails in 2017. Since then she has worked to heal her trauma and is determined to make public trails safe for women everywhere, starting with the Trinity Trails in Fort Worth.

    Jesca founded Safe+Happy Trails, a newly minted 501c3 nonprofit, to ensure women can run for fun, not for fear. The organization’s goal is to provide an emergency post with distress button and camera every quarter of a mile along the trail system.

    According to Safe+Happy Trails, women are most in need of safety, as 84 percent of women have been harassed while running. This harassment  ranges from catcalls and being followed to violent physical and/or sexual assault, and in worst cases, death(Runner’s World 2019).

    Get to know Jesca better with this interview with Brit+Co.

  • Rainwater Foundation brings Dallas Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation to Fort Worth

    Rainwater Foundation brings Dallas Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation to Fort Worth

    Dallas Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (Dallas TRHT) announced that the organization has been invited by the Fort Worth-based Rainwater Charitable Foundation to bring its work to Fort Worth. Dallas TRHT strives to create radically inclusive cities by addressing race and racism through narrative change, relationship building and equitable policies and practices.

    Dallas TRHT will begin its work in Fort Worth this month by hosting in-person and virtual Community Visioning Sessions where the community will have the opportunity to express their needs, concerns and vision for Fort Worth.

    Community Visioning Sessions are free and open to the public. Registration is available online and the scheduled sessions are as follows:

    • Racial Equity NOW Fort Worth: Community Visioning Session (Texas Christian University) July 29 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
    • Racial Equity NOW Fort Worth: Community Visioning Session (Fort Worth Museum of Science & History) August 2 @ 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
    • Transformation Tuesday: Race, Racism & Sports (Featuring Dale Hansen) August 3 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
    • Racial Equity NOW Fort Worth: Community Visioning Session (Virtual) August 5 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
    • Racial Equity NOW Fort Worth: Community Visioning Session (Fort Worth Public Library – Shamblee Library) August 9 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

  • DFW Nonprofit Resource Group publishes mission-friendly resource directory

    The DFW NonProfit Resource Group was created to build the connections of mission-friendly businesses and service professionals. The organization seeks to establish a trusted collection of Mission-Friendly Resources for their nonprofit clients and to make a positive difference to its members, their clients and the community. 

    The organization recently launched its first website and has included a resource directory of its members. Members have experience with formal and informal resourcing, service provision and expertise for nonprofits across the DFW metroplex.

    The new site also includes examples of community impact through service projects, logistical support and equipment and supplies donations.

    Disclosure: DFW501c.com is a member of DFW Non-Profit Resource Group

  • Goodwill North Central Texas wins big with online auction of rare find

    In early June 2021, Alex Juarez, a Goodwill North Central Texas’ e-commerce item processer, was searching through donated video games and came across a copy of the video game Air Raid. In the game published for the Atari 2600 in 1982 by Men-A-Vision, players take control of an air ship defending Earth. The cartridge is distinct for its T-shaped design and blue coloring. Very few copies of the game were released, making it incredibly sought after by retro video game collectors despite its lackluster gameplay. In fact, only 13 known copies exist.

    Auctions for Air Raid began on ShopGoodwill.com/NCT on June 10th and lasted for one week. The game was added to 235 watchlists while live and sold for $10,590.79. Only 12 copies of the game have previously been found and sold, with one complete edition selling for $33,433.30 in 2012. A previous cartridge-only copy of Air Raid was sold on EBay in 2011 for $3,575.

    With the $10,000 earned from the sale of this one item, Goodwill North Central Texas can provide day habilitation services for a year for one adult with disabilities; or provide 20 homeless individuals with job placement services and community resources; or help 10 at-risk youth earn their GED and a paycheck at the same time.

    They shared a video of the story on their youtube channel.