Dallas Fort Worth Nonprofit Business Journal

Category: General

  • Plano-based Rent-A-Center grants wishes this holiday season

    Knowing the holidays can be stressful for shoppers on tight budgets, Plano-based Rent-A-Center (NASDAQ/NGS:RCII), a rent-to-own industry leader, is granting wishes to 60 people beginning today as part of its Make Magic Happen campaign.

    “Our customers care most about making the holidays special for the people they love, and we want to help them make holiday wishes come true for their friends and family,” stated Jason Wall, vice president of marketing and sales at RAC, in a press release. “We created this campaign to give back to our customers and to help them make magic happen this holiday.”

    The campaign, which lasts until Dec. 14, works like this:

    • Visit www.rentacenter.com/magic to nominate a loved one.
    • Type in why that person deserves some magic this holiday season.
    • Select the products that may be on his or her wish list.

    Products include Sony PlayStations, Dell 17-inch laptops, Ashley sofa and loveseats, Samsung 55-inch TVs and more.

    Winners will be chosen at different times throughout the campaign.

    Coworkers also will make magic happen by nominating deserving customers and personally delivering the each winner’s wish list items.

    “This allows us to build closer relationships with our customers and the communities in which they live,” stated Gina Hethcock, senior manager public and community relations, in the release. “We’re helping to spread the magic of the holiday season, and we’re letting our customers know we care.”

  • Liberty Mutual Insurance announces donations to commemorate new Plano office

    Liberty Mutual Insurance Chairman and CEO David H. Long officially opened the company’s one million-square-foot office complex yesterday in Plano with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Gov. Greg Abbott and Mayor Harry LaRosiliere. A donation for a playground was announced during the ceremony and the company gave money to North Texas Food Bank.

    The 19-story campus will offer employee amenities such as an on-site medical center with physical therapy services, full-service cafeteria, gourmet coffee bar, two large conference centers, two rooftop gardens, and over 4,500 covered parking spaces, a press release stated. The campus will be home to nearly 5,000 employees who are scheduled to start moving in January.

    Long stated the donation of funding for a universally-accessible playground to be built on a 2-acre plot of land in Windhaven Meadows Park in Plano. The playground named Liberty Park is the second universally-accessible facility funded by Liberty Mutual, and it will bring to Plano the same inclusive design elements that are in the recently built Boston playground. The space will have more than 20,000 square feet of dedicated accessible play areas with dozens of pieces of play equipment, including 1,800 square feet of water play features, more than 50 new shade trees, synthetic turf and café tables.

    “We are excited to open the doors of our newest office today here in Legacy West,” Long stated. “This ceremony marks the culmination of two years of hard work and collaboration on the part of many people. I want to personally thank Gov. Abbott, Mayor LaRosiliere and their teams for helping make this project a success. We look forward to our Plano campus helping us grow our business globally and strengthen both our philanthropic ties and the depth and quality of our talent.”

    In lieu of the typical ceremony commemoration gift for each of the 200 guests, Liberty Mutual donated the cost of each gift multiplied by the number of guests to Dallas-based NTFB. The donation will help NTFB deliver 12,000 nutritious meals this holiday season and is in addition to the $2 million in grants Liberty has donated in the local Dallas and Plano area in the past two years.

    NTFB plans a distribution center in Plano. North Texas Food Bank’s distribution center in Plano

    “Liberty Mutual’s ribbon-cutting ceremony has long been anticipated. The entire city is thrilled to have a Fortune 100 company join our community and add 5,000 new jobs,” LaRosiliere stated. “We welcome our new community-minded partner to Plano.  Through expression of their corporate values, they have already made a significant difference in the lives of our citizens.”

  • Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas’ CEO speaks at Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce meeting

    Community Council of Dallas was a presenting sponsor at the Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce Annual Membership Meeting yesterday in the Orion Ballroom. The luncheon featured a conversation with Robert S. Kaplan, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, and it was moderated by Community Council’s CEO Ken Goodgames.

    Kaplan discussed economic development and growth in North Texas.

    Event sponsors were Atmos Energy, Grand Bank of Texas, Dallas Zoo, Laurel Land Funeral Home, Levine’s Department Stores, Haynes and Boone, Williams Chicken, Gardere, UNT Dallas, Jim Lake Companies and Mountain View College.

    Photo: (Left) Ken Goodgames, (right) Robert S. Kaplan

    Photo credit: Community Council of Dallas

     

  • The Dallas Arboretum reaches one million visitors for 2017

    The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden welcomed its millionth visitor this year. It’s the second year in a row the garden has reached more than a million visitors, and the milestone occurred over the Thanksgiving holiday.

    The arboretum’s millionth visitor came in early December in 2016, so it achieved the mark even earlier this year. Total 2016 attendance was 1,095,051. The arboretum has had visitors from all 50 states and more than 90 countries.

    According to the American Public Gardens Association, the arboretum joins only 12 others that have reached more than a million visitors annually.

    “We want to thank our more than 39,000 members and donors for supporting us, along with 2,000 volunteers who have helped our garden grow and reach a million visitors,” stated J. Mark Wolf the arboretum’s board chairman, in a press release. “Our popular garden festivals, Dallas Blooms and Autumn at the Arboretum, are fantastic times to experience the outdoors each spring with half a million spring-blooming bulbs, and each autumn with 90,000 pumpkins, gourds and squash.

    “ZimSculpt, an international sculpture exhibition, attracted more than 267,000 guests in the spring and summer months to watch hand-carved sculptures being made and to meet two of the Zimbabwean sculptors. Finally, The 12 Days of Christmas exhibition, which just opened this month, has brought many people during the day and more in the evenings with half a million lights illuminating the garden.”

  • Southwest Airlines to donate nearly 675,000 pounds of discarded materials this year

    Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) announced Tuesday the expansion of Repurpose with Purpose, an initiative that upcycles, downcycles and recycles hundreds of thousands of pounds of discarded material into useful products with the help of partner organizations. Southwest has collaborated with diverse groups throughout the United States and Mexico to repurpose leather aircraft seat covers and cushions, blankets, life jackets, aircraft engines and billboards.

    Theprogram began in 2013, following the Evolve retrofit program, which replaced Dallas-based Southwest’s leather aircraft seat covers at that time. The newly expanded program, will repurpose nearly 675,000 pounds of seat covers and other discarded materials in 2017, a press release stated. The program will benefit women in indigenous communities in Mexico, as well as veterans, people with disabilities, senior citizens, victims of trafficking and marginalized communities in the United States.
    By providing as many materials as possible to the groups, Southwest reduces the amount of waste it sends to landfills while also generating social and economic opportunities for communities.
    “Through our Repurpose with Purpose program, we are able to continue our commitment to living responsibly while creating a catalyst to make transformative change happen in communities throughout the world,” stated Bill Tiffany, Southwest Airlines vice president of supply chain, in the release. “It’s humbling to hear the incredible stories shared from the organizations we’ve partnered with on this impactful program.”

    LUV Seat: México: As a result of a multi-year collaboration with Mexican fashion designer Carla Fernández, hundreds of pounds of leather will be upcycled into sellable goods in the coming months. Fernández worked with artisans in seven different communities throughout Mexico who specialize in creating textile and embroidery designs and handcrafts that preserve the country’s rich cultural heritage.

    LUV Seat: Rethreaded: Southwest donated leather from seat covers to Jacksonville, Fla.-based nonprofit Rethreaded.  Rethreaded is creating a line of leather fashion jewelry and accessories that will be sold on www.rethreaded.com.

    Rethreaded gives career opportunities to women who have experienced exploitation and trauma coming out of human trafficking. The women begin with a three-month development program that includes on-the-job training as well as mental health counseling, crisis management, and case management. They are then fully integrated into the business through one of five departments and are pivotal in all aspects of the organization. For example, with the upcycled Southwest leather from seat covers, the women work on product development and design, marketing the accessories, and tracking the sales in finance.

    LUV Seat: Arise: Southwest donated leather from seat covers to Jennings, Mo.-based nonprofit Arise Veteran Foundation. Arise provides art instruction and skills-building programs for youth, veterans, seniors, and other disadvantaged groups. Arise is using Southwest leather from seat covers in veterans’ rehabilitation programs to foster the development of entrepreneurial skills and generate income. One 95-year-old Arise member and World War II veteran is using the leather to make dresses for girls in orphanages. Additionally, Arise is shredding and deconstructing e-leather seat material to be used as padding material in the furniture and automotive industries.

    LUV Seat: Dallas: Dallas-based nonprofit Dallas Designing Dreams (DDD) provides skills and training programs for youth, people with disabilities, senior citizens, and other disadvantaged populations in the community. DDD has produced a line of items including golf club covers, jewelry, backpacks, tote bags and luggage tags from the leather seat covers and old Southwest Airlines Employee uniforms. DDD provides workshops for entrepreneurs, volunteer opportunities, sewing classes, and training in a creative space to individuals with “dreams or broken dreams.”

    Selling one-of-a-kind art and handmade products online and in the local marketplace, DDD offers alternatives to the mainstream shopping experience while connecting customers with local producers.

    In addition to repurposing old leather seat covers, Southwest has a history of giving new life to otherwise waste materials, including:

    Aircraft & Aircraft Components: When Southwest retires an aircraft with a remaining useful life and sells it, the aircraft’s useful life is continued in some operational capacity. Those aircraft not sold are sent to Arizona to be recycled and/or parted out, where 85% of the aircraft is repurposed. In addition, Southwest provides aircraft components, such as engines, avionics and fuselages, to assist nonprofit organizations in their education, training, or rehabilitation efforts. All of these efforts help Southwest Airlines reduce the amount of waste the airline sends to landfills.

    Traditional Recycling: Southwest recycles traditional waste materials including paper, plastic, aluminum, six-pack rings, and cardboard. The Company also recycles used carpet from its facilities by sending it to a recycling company that breaks it down for reuse in new carpet, yarn, trim, or other carpet byproducts. Southwest recycled and beneficially reused 35 percent of its waste in 2016.

  • Plano’s Heritage Farmstead Museum to host Lantern Light on Saturday

    Heritage Farmstead Museum in Plano will host its 31st annual Lantern Light, a holiday family event for all ages.  This year’s event is themed 1929: The Great Texas Snow.

    The Lantern Light event will take place 3-8 p.m. Saturday.  The museum is located at 1900 W. 15th St.

    “Lantern Light is a unique holiday experience that provides Heritage Farmstead Museum visitors the opportunity to recall holiday traditions from days gone by,” stated M’Lou Hyttinen, in a press release.

    The event will include tours of the holiday exhibit in the Farrell Wilson House, children’s crafts in the one room school house, wagon rides, candle dipping, historic demonstrations, storytelling, songs of the season in the historic pole barn, delicious treats and photos with Santa.

    The event also will feature a snow mountain and sledding area for all to enjoy. Sledding is $2 per run, three runs for $5 or unlimited runs via a bracelet purchased for $10.

    “I can predict chance of snow at Lantern Light is 100 percent this year,” stated Kathy Strobel, director of development.  “Come enjoy sledding in the meadow as we recall 1929: The Great Texas Snow.”

    Admission is $5, with children 2 and under being admitted for free.

    To purchase tickets, visit www.heritagefarmstead.org or call 972.881.0140.

  • Enchant Christmas partners with area nonprofits to raise funds and awareness

    The spirit of Christmas is all about giving and bringing joy to others, and Enchant Christmas, the winter wonderland celebration with illuminated sculptures, strongly believes in that. After success in Canada, the 34-day holiday event is making its United States debut at Globe Life Park in Arlington.

    In collaboration with the Texas Rangers and Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau, Enchant Christmas illuminates the Texas skies now through Dec. 31.  Hours of operation are 5-11 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Enchant Christmas will play in Lot F at Globe Life Park, 1000 Ballpark Way (on the corners of Copeland Road and AT&T Way) in Arlington.

    It will feature more than three acres of lights. Kids will help Santa Claus find his nine missing reindeer in the world’s largest light maze. In addition to experiencing the incredible maze and skating pond, families can take this year’s Christmas card photos around the largest outdoor Christmas tree in North Texas. Enchant Mini Maze and visits with Santa Claus in his golden palace also are among the offerings.

    Enchant Christmas also features a Christmas market, which will includes the wares of local vendors and artisans.

    Tickets are $29.95 for adults, $21.95 for children ages 5 to 14, and free for children 4 and under with accompanying parent. Limited tickets are available per night. Parking is free.

    Family value packs are $79.95 for two adult tickets and two child tickets. Seniors, military and first responders discounts available plus VIP all-inclusive tickets with catering. Tickets increase $5 the day of the event, so buy in advance online to save.  At past Enchant Christmas events, many nights did sell out quickly, so be sure to buy early.

    For information and to purchase tickets, visit EnchantChristmas.com. It will be closed Dec. 24 and on Mondays with the exception of Dec. 18 and 25.

    As part of its ongoing community mission, Enchant Christmas will be partnering with local charities to raise funds to make the season merry and bright for those in need. The local nonprofits include the following:

    Cook Children’s Health Care System

    Cook Children’s Health Care System is a nationally recognized pediatric health care organization comprised of eight entities – a Medical Center, Physician Network, Home Health company, Northeast Hospital, Pediatric Surgery Center, Health Plan, Health Services Inc., and Health Foundation. Based in Fort Worth, the integrated system has more than 60 primary and specialty care offices throughout North Texas. Its service region includes Denton, Hood, Johnson, Parker, Tarrant and Wise counties, with an additional referral area encompassing nearly half the state. To show support for Cook Children’s Health Care System, use the promotional code COOK when purchasing tickets. A portion of each ticket purchase will be donated to Cook Children’s.

    Make-A-Wish North Texas 

    Make-A-Wish North Texas grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. They want to provide children with the hope for better times, the strength for the tough times and the joy to experience the present. To show  support for Make-A-Wish North Texas, use the promotional code WISH when purchasing tickets. A portion of each ticket purchase will be donated to Make-A-Wish North Texas.

    Kidd’s Kids

    Kidd’s Kids mission is to provide hope and happiness by creating beautiful memories for families of children with life-altering and life-threatening conditions. To show support for Kidd’s Kids Health, use the promotional code KIDD when purchasing tickets. A portion of each ticket purchase will be donated to Kidd’s Kids.  

    Special Olympics Texas

    Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community. To show support for Special Olympics Texas, use the promotional code SOTX when purchasing tickets. A portion of each ticket purchase will be donated to Special Olympics Texas.

    Additionally, at Enchant’s magical skating pond, 100 percent of all ice skate rental fees will be divided among all four nonprofits. Reminiscent of the famed, picturesque ice pond at Central Park, you and the family will glide to making new holiday traditions while helping local charities.

  • Party for a Purpose gala nets $125,000 for Boys & Girls Clubs of Arlington

    Park Place Motorcars Arlington hosted the Boys & Girls Clubs of Arlington’s annual Party for a  Purpose gala. The event Oct. 21 raised $125,000, the second highest amount ever netted for the gala.

    Co-chairs included Kara Connor, Carol Camp and Robyn Barrere.

    “The Vintage Carnival Extravaganza theme was magical,” stated Connor, administrative assistant to Park Place Motorcars Arlington’s general manager, in the release. “We had lights strung across the Service Drive, where dinner was served by Awesome Catering. There was a carnival barker, a strolling magician, stilt walker, fire breather, palm reader and a monkey. All the touches came together to really carry out the theme.”

    The title sponsor was Baylor Orthopedic and Spine Hospital at Arlington.

    More than 300 guests were served cocktails in the showroom, including drinks by TX Whiskey, martinis from Piranha, Legal Draft Beer, Deep Eddy Vodka, Langley’s Gin, American Born Whiskey & Moonshine and Dulce Vida Tequila. Guests danced to live music by The Jam Wows.

    YouTube favorite and Boys & Girls Clubs of Arlington member Luke Chacko performed live at the event. He was discovered after he sang “Frozen” onstage with Idina Menzel at Verizon Theater in Grand Prairie last summer. Ellen DeGeneres saw his performance and reunited him with Menzel on “The Ellen Show” earlier this year:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYE_XQHQUwA

    “The Boys & Girls Clubs support so many children in the Arlington, Mansfield and Grand Prairie area,” Connor stated.

    Next year’s Party for a Purpose is Oct. 6.

    Lead photo: Nadia Distefano, senior director of resource development for Boys & Girls Clubs of Arlington; Kara Connor (co-chair), administrative assistant to the general manager at Park Place; Robyn Barrere (co-chair); and Steve Wurm, president of BGCA

  • FHLB Dallas and Texas Capital Bank provide for women and family development center

    Representatives from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas and Texas Capital Bank, an FHLB Dallas member institution, joined Houston dignitaries Nov. 9 for a grand-opening celebration of Star of Hope’s Cornerstone Community.

    Star of Hope in Houston was awarded a $500,000 Affordable Housing Program grant this year from Texas Capital Bank and FHLB Dallas, assisting in the construction of the 48-acre campus. The campus will provide services to up to 180 single women and 150 families. Star of Hope’s former Women and Family Emergency Shelter and the Transitional Living Center have been consolidated on the Cornerstone Community campus to become the new Women and Family Development Center, a press release stated.

    “Here we will serve up to 600 women and children, with a full spectrum of basic services, counseling, programs for substance abuse recovery, GED and educational opportunities, job skills training and independent living readiness,” stated Star of Hope President and CEO Hank Rush in the release.

    In 2017, FHLB Dallas awarded $7 million in AHP grants to 19 affordable housing projects. The grants will help create 1,108 new or rehabilitated housing units. Of the total amount, Texas was awarded $3,419,168 for 722 units.

    Since 1990, more than $254 million in AHP and AHP set-aside grants have been awarded through FHLB Dallas members to assist more than 47,000 individuals and families with their housing needs.

     

    Photo: William C. Wilson, Texas Capital Bank; Jenny Guzman, Texas Capital Bank; David Webster, Capital Bank; Paul Speckhals, FHLB Dallas; Greg Hettrick, FHLB Dallas; Troy Gaddie, VP & CFO Star of Hope

  • Dallas Mavs and Caliber Home Loans pack 10,000 meals for Feeding Children Everywhere

    As part of the NBA’s Hoops for Troops week, the Dallas Mavericks, in partnership with Coppell-based Caliber Home Loans, took time out Nov. 9 to work side by side with Dallas-Fort Worth military members to pack 10,000 healthy meals for hungry families in Dallas. Working to assist Feeding Children Everywhere, the group included point guard Dennis Smith Jr., forward Dorian Finney-Smith and Dallas Mavericks staff, dancers and ManiAACs.

    They packed the meals at American Airlines Center West Concourse.