NBC 4 reports HUD Secretary Ben Carson addresses affordable housing and homelessness on a recent visit to Fort Worth.
Carson met with local leaders and social service agencies who are working to place homeless veterans into permanent homes. The visit included a round table with organizations who work with the homeless and their recent successful 100 Day Challenge where 181 homeless veterans were placed into permanent homes.
United Way of Metropolitan Dallas has shared their third annual social innovation competition will take place from April 8 – 16 and five local nonprofits will compete for $225,000.
The competition will have two parts where the organizations will be tackling issues related to education, income and health in North Texas. Competitors include My Possibilities, Rosa Es Rojo, Student Success Agency, Readers 2 Leaders, and Poetic.
NetRes, a local IT solutions provider, recently announced EXPANCO was the winner of its inaugural DFW Nonprofit Champion Award. EXPANCO will receive recognition and in-kind IT services from Net Res founder Jeff Howard.
“The DFW Nonprofit Champion Award was designed to honor nonprofits who exemplify the characteristics of a champion by practicing the healthy habits it takes to be the best in their field – not giving up when times get tough and consistently executing a high level,” says Net Res CEO Jeff Howard
Dallas News reports retiring nonprofit leader Michelle Kinder is expressing concerns about how nonprofits and community leaders address helping vulnerable children.
Ms. Kinder will leave the Momentous Institute after 20 years of working to improve outcomes for children. Her concern is that until community environments are improved, not all children will have the means to be successful. Without healthy family support, the odds are still against most children.
CBS News reports U.S. charitable giving tops $400 billion for first time. The Giving USA report showed donations reached $410 billion in 2017. This represents over a five percent increase from 2016.
Several nonprofit news outlets are starting in Fort Worth. The News Tribune is launching in the spring and the Fort Worth Business Press reports the Fort Worth Press is preparing to start an online prototype soon.
CBS 11 reports Governor Abbot has announced $18 million in grants to combat human trafficking in Texas. The funds will go to state, local, public and private organizations to address the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) and adults in Texas.
Dallas County will receive $232,261 and Tarrant County will receive $164,057. The awards will help fund local and statewide anti-trafficking efforts to protect children, investigate and prosecute traffickers, recover victims, and help survivors to heal.
The Star-Telegram reports that a former United Way of Tarrant County executive has received a $431,000 judgement against the agency. Coneisha Sherrod was fired in March of 2017 and her lawsuit claimed her firing was in response to her cooperation in providing testimony on business mistakes and discriminatory practices within United Way management.
The agency plans to appeal the verdict.
United Way of Tarrant County has announced their 12 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Community Tax Centers are now open through April 17, 2019. The centers are located throughout Tarrant County.
VITA offers free tax preparation services to individuals and households with annual incomes under $56,000. Last year, VITA IRS-certified volunteers prepared more than 8,000 returns and helped families receive more than $13 million in tax refunds.
“We are committed to assisting families on a path toward financial stability,” said TD Smyers, President and CEO of United Way of Tarrant County. “Participants not only receive free tax preparation, but they can also get help with financial education and coaching as well.”
Tax center locations can be found at www.unitedwaytarrant.org/vita/.
Plano Magazine reports the Communities Foundation of Texas and the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas have partnered to create a new leadership development program to address the evolving needs of rapidly growing Collin County.
The Collin County Nonprofit Leadership Institute will target agencies that primarily serve low-to-moderate income families and individuals and help the agencies develop strategic approaches to addressing community needs.
Twelve Collin County nonprofits that address homelessness, hunger and affordable housing will attend monthly sessions held throughout Collin County. The training will focus on agency and program leadership, with additional learning opportunities for program staff and board members.
The Collin County Nonprofit Leadership Institute will host the first cohort’s session from January to June 2019.