Christmas arrived early for 24 local non-profits that were awarded a total of $100,000 today from the SEASON OF GIVING campaign by Park Place Dealerships, which is celebrating its 35th year in North Texas. The luxury automobile group selected the organizations for its SEASON OF GIVING campaign because of their commitment to serving the Dallas/Fort Worth community.
A committee comprised of Park Place members from different dealerships across North Texas selected the non-profits out of more than 350 applications received. Under Park Place Cares, the company’s philanthropic arm, the company donated $100,000 to 24 charities that met the following criteria:
- A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
- Supports one of Park Place Cares’ Pillars of Giving, which include: Education; Medical; Advocacy; or the Arts
- Serves at least one of the following counties: Dallas, Tarrant, Collin, Denton, Ellis, Rockwall, Kaufman, Hunt or Johnson
- The charity cannot have received donations or in-kind support from Park Place in 2021
“Selecting these non-profits was very challenging,” said Tony Carimi, managing director of Park Place Dealerships. “There are so many worthy non-profits doing admirable work in the areas we would like to impact. Our team had the difficult task of narrowing down the charities from 350 to 24 across North Texas to make the greatest impact during our Season of Giving.”
The charities receiving a grant for the 2021 Season of Giving representing Park Place Cares’ four pillars include:
Advocacy
Denton Co. Friends of the Family – Denton County – Provides comprehensive services to those impacted by sexual abuse and domestic violence while partnering with our community to promote safety, hope, healing, justice and prevention.
Journey to Dream Foundation – Collin & Denton County – Kyle’s Place is the only homeless shelter in Denton Co. to house and care for teens 14-19 years old.
Canine Companions – Dallas County – Provides service dogs to children, adults and veterans with disabilities and facility dogs to professionals working in healthcare, criminal justice and educational settings.
For Oak Cliff – Dallas County – Serving South Oak Cliff with education, advocacy, community building and the Arts.
Rainbow Room of Rockwall – Rockwall County – Supplying caseworkers with emergency supplies such as diapers, formula, hygiene products and school supplies 24/7.
A Wish with Wings – Tarrant County – Granting magical wishes for young Texans with life-threatening medical conditions.
Don’t Forget to Feed Me Pet Food Bank – Tarrant County – Provides pet food to those in need during challenging financial times as an alternative to surrendering or abandoning a family pet.
Ally’s Wish – Denton County – Devoted to granting the last wish for young, terminally ill mothers with children, including gifts, transportation, lodging or other experiences.
Tara Sawyer Foundation – Tarrant County – Empowers young athletes, children and families in need through funding and programming.
LGBTQ Saves – Tarrant County – Acts as a safe space by hosting meetings and community dinners for LGBQT youth and their families.
Defenders of Freedom – Dallas County – Provides care and transitional support for veterans, including assistance with basic living necessities, addressing imminent physical and mental health issues, improve morale and keep Veterans engaged in a supportive community.
Arts
Dwell with Dignity – Dallas County – Designs and installs complete home interiors for families who desperately need and environment that will support health and wellness.
Laughter League – Dallas County – Healthcare-focused clowning whose mission is to improve the lives of families through the transformational power of laughter.
Cara Mîa Theatre – Dallas County – Inspires and engages people to uplift their communities through transformative Latinx theatre, multicultural youth arts experiences and community action.
Texas Winds Musical Outreach – Dallas County – Professional musicians reaching more than 135,000 individuals with live music in North Texas nursing homes, hospitals and Head Start Centers.
Sixty & Better – Tarrant County – Empowers older adults to live with purpose, independence and dignity. Sixty & Better envisions communities without isolated elders, with older adults staying connected, healthy, active and contributing to their community.
Education
AAVANCE – Dallas County – Creates pathways to economic mobility for predominately Latino families through high quality, culturally-responsive, two-generation programming that ensures school readiness for young children and opportunities for parents to build social and economic capital.
Camp Summit – Dallas County – Provides barrier-free outdoor experiences that promote personal growth and foster independence for children and adults with disabilities.
The Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation – Tarrant County – Seeks to eradicate suicide by funding depression research and creating awareness through education, erasing the stigma, and providing hope for those who are struggling in silence.
Bettie Gonzalez Foundation of Hope – Grayson County – Empowers, mentors and serves motherless daughters.
Computers for the Blind – Collin County – Seeks to open the world of information technology to persons who are blind or visually impaired by providing computer equipment, software and training.
Medical
Heavenly Hooves Therapeutic & Recreational Riding Center – Collin County – Enhances the quality of life of individuals with cognitive, emotional or behavioral challenges by providing interactive experiences with horses in a safe environment, which builds confidence, improves social skills and coping skills, promotes emotional healing, and help clients make positive changes in their lives.
Heroes for Children – Collin County – Advocates for and provides financial assistance to families with children (0-to-22 years old) battling cancer.
Project4031 – Tarrant County – Provides terminally ill children, adults and their families with peace and comfort by easing financial burdens and fulfilling last dreams.
