Dallas Fort Worth Nonprofit Business Journal

Tag: DFW nonprofit news

  • Leslie Oliver joins the Center for Transforming Lives as Chief Philanthropy Officer

    Leslie Oliver has joined the Center for Transforming Lives team as Chief Philanthropy Officer. Leslie will be leading the development office to solicit and steward donors and extend the organization’s marketing and communication messaging into the community. 

    Leslie most recently served as the President and CEO of the Fort Worth Library Foundation since January 2014.  Prior to her role at the foundation, Leslie was senior director of donor services at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.  During her 10 years at Mass General, Leslie oversaw a large donor services team working in all aspects of development. 

    Center for Transforming Lives is located in Fort Worth and serves women and children in Tarrant County.

  • James L West Center for Dementia Care collaborates with arts groups for first-of-its-kind concert series…

    The James L. West Center for Dementia Care has piloted a first-of-its-kind “dementia friendly” concert series with featured performances by leading Fort Worth arts organizations.

    The series, which kicked off in August, will run through June 2019 and is funded by charitable gifts made to the Nina Maria Cole Music and Arts Fund. Participating performing arts organizations include DVA Productions, the Fort Worth Opera/TCU Lesley Artists, Cliburn, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Texas Boys Choir and Texas Ballet Theatre.

    “Studies have shown the remarkable benefits of music on the cognitive functions of people with dementia, as well as stress-relieving benefits to their caregivers,” said Cheryl Harding, CEO of the James L. West Center. “For many affected by dementia, especially those living at home, getting out can be a huge undertaking. Thanks to the generosity of Gary Cole and the arts community, we’re able to make the arts accessible to the dementia community here in Fort Worth.”

    The concerts are open to residents of the James L. West Center and their caregivers. A December “Sounds of the Season” concert featuring the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra at the First Presbyterian Church in Fort Worth will be accessible to James L. West Center residents and their caregivers, as well as others in the community affected by dementia. The event is funded through the Fort Worth Arts Council and the Gary Patterson Foundation.

    A spring performance with the Texas Ballet Theatre at First Presbyterian will also be open to West Center residents and the wider dementia community. Concert invitations for both the December and spring concerts will be distributed through healthcare providers and other senior living facilities that work directly with dementia patients.

    This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the James L. West Center. Founded in 1993 by Eunice West in honor of her husband, James L. West, who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, the Center has since served more than 2,500 families and 14,000 caregivers and has been an innovator in the field of dementia care. In addition to a 100-person residential program, the center offers a Senior Adult Day Program for people with dementia and training for healthcare providers and caregivers in how to best manage dementia in their loved ones.

    “We believe those with dementia deserve to be treated with dignity and in a way that maximizes their remaining abilities,” Harding said.

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    About the James L. West Center

    The James L. West Center is a not-for-profit organization which serves people with dementia and their families in a compassionate and spiritual environment.  This Center is dedicated to providing individualized care and support to enhance the quality and dignity of each person’s life throughout the course of the disease.  By participating in meaningful research and sharing its experience and knowledge, the Center is committed to enriching lives now and in the future. For more information visit www.jameslwest.org.

    About Alzheimer’s disease & Dementia

    • Dementia is an umbrella diagnosis for memory loss and other mental abilities that interfere with daily life caused by physical changes in the brain. Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia, but there are many kinds. (Source: Alzheimer’s Association)
    • Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias affects more than 5 million people in the U.S., and is expected to grow to 13.9 million in 2060. (Source: Center for Disease Control)
    • 380,000 people age 65 and older are affected in Texas with Alzheimer’s disease. (Source: Texas Department of Health)
    • In Tarrant County, Alzheimer’s affects nearly 14 percent of people 65 and over who receive Medicare benefits. (Source: Texas Department of Health)
    • More than 16 million Americans provide unpaid care for people with dementia (Source: Alzheimer’s Association)

  • FHL Bank Dallas announces more than $2 million available in its’ Special Needs Assistance Rehabilitation Program (SNAP)

    The FHL Bank Dallas has set aside $2.25 million of its 2019 AHP funds for SNAP. Through member institutions, SNAP provides grant funds for the repair and rehabilitation of owner-occupied housing of eligible special needs individuals.

    Deadline is 10:00 am on January 9, 2019.

    More information on this funding opportunity can be found here.

  • Lyda Hill Philanthropies surprises 20 North Texas charities with operating donations

    The Dallas Morning News reported that Lyda Hill Philanthropies invited 20 North Texas Charities to what-they-thought was a pitch event for funding. But apparently the pitch wasn’t actually required as checks for each organization were already made and taped to the bottom of their chairs.

    The lucky organizations receiving $110,000 each for infrastructure and discretionary needs were Attitudes & Attire, Bonton Farms, The Bridge Breast Network, Commit Partnership, Dallas CASA, Dallas Historical Society, Educational First Steps, Equest, Family Gateway, The Family Place, Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support, Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas, John Bunker Sands Wetland Center, Nexus Recovery Center, Paul Quinn College, Solar Preparatory School for Girls at James B. Bonham, Trinity River Mission, VNA Texas, Vogel Alcove.

  • New Dallas Holocaust Museum to open September 2019

    The Dallas Holocaust Museum/Center for Education and Tolerance announced that its’ new Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum will open in September 2019 with a grand opening celebration on September 17th.

    The new museum will be one of two museums in the world that will have a permanent Dimensions of Testimony Theater. The new facility will also be able to accommodate more than 200,000 visitors each year – more than doubling its current capacity.

  • Presbyterian Night Shelter’s Charlotte Wiig wins Award

    In a Facebook post on Dec. 18, Presbyterian Night Shelter announced that Charlotte Wiig won the Tarrant County Homeless Coalition 2018 Leading the Way Award. Each year community agencies come together to honor those who have gone above and beyond to serve homeless persons in Tarrant County.

    Since January 1, Charlotte assisted over 50 guests move from homeless to home. She also helped over 250 individuals in open assistance, guiding them in their journey home.

  • Tarrant County Homeless Coalition exceeds goal for housing homeless Veterans in Fort Worth

    NBC News DFW reported on Dec. 20th that the city of Fort Worth teamed up the Tarrant County Homeless Coalition and other service organizations in an effort to collaborate and prioritize efforts to house homeless Veterans. According to the report, the collaborative effort far exceeded its goal for 2018 of housing 100 homeless veterans, finding homes for 181.

    The majority of funding comes from federal grants but the city also helped. Barry Daniels, age 54, was one of the vets to receive housing. Daniels joined the U.S. Army at age 19 and later in life became addicted to drugs and entered into the prison system, consequently ending up homeless. He said he is grateful, “You can’t always rely on handouts all the time,” he said. “It’s great we get them. It’s great we get fed every day and we don’t have to worry about that. But please if you have an addiction seek help and try to go to work and get your life back together.” He started working at the Presbyterian Night Shelter helping pick up trash around the city. “If I can do it, anybody can do it,” he said.

  • United Way of Metropolitan Dallas joins groups demanding child care solutions at state-level

    The Austin American-Statesman News reported on Dec. 17th that more than a dozen child advocacy groups are demanding improvements to the Texas child care system in the wake of an American-Statesman investigation and repot by Andrea Ball and Tony Plohetski published December 6, 2018 which found dangerous conditions in many day cares across the state.

    The child advocacy groups have co-authored a letter for Gov. Greg Abbott, state legislators and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission advocating for change at the legislative level.  Twenty-three child welfare advocacy groups have signed the letter so far, including United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, Texans Care for Children, and Children’s Defense Fund.

  • Salvation Army announces Red Kettle matching gift from Sarah & Ross Perot Jr.

    For every dollar donated to a Red Kettle or online, Sarah & Ross Perot Jr. and family have graciously pledged to match up to $500,000.

    From its beginnings in 1891 as a Salvation Army captain’s start-up program in San Francisco, the Red Kettle Campaign has grown into one of the most recognizable and important charitable campaigns in the United States. It provides toys for kids, coats for the homeless, food for the hungry and countless social service programs year-round. As part of the campaign, more than 25,000 Salvation Army volunteers ring bells and solicit donations to the red kettles throughout the country.

  • Crossroads Community Services Dallas announces relocation

    Crossroads Community Services Dallas announced they will be moving from their current location at 1822 Young St. Dallas 75201 to their new offices located at 4500 S. Cockrell Hill Road, Dallas 75236. As of January 4, 2019 they will begin operations in the new location.

    Here’s what they had to say…”Today we say goodbye to a place we’ve called home for the last 17 years. Though we’re ecstatic about our new home, we can’t help but reminisce about the people and place that have made Crossroads a success. Throughout our time here, we’ve seen thousands of clients, pushed millions of pounds of food and seen endless smiles. We would like to thank First United Methodist Church, Dallas, for being our very first home and continuing to support us as we’ve grown. We’d also like to thank First Presbyterian Church of Dallas for being our gracious landlord and for going above and beyond in serving our needs. To our friends at The Stewpot: we’re going to miss sharing a building with such a wonderful organization. Between the shared meals, the hallway conversations and the shared elevator struggles, we’ve developed a great friendship that we deeply cherish. We’ve seen both of our organizations flourish over the years, and though we’ll miss being on Young Street with you, we know you have a bright future and we’re so excited for your growth and expansion! These incredible organizations have been some of our strongest advocates and we are going to miss being right around the corner from each of them. We know this isn’t the end of our friendship, but merely a new beginning! Goodbye and thank you, Young Street!”