Dallas Fort Worth Nonprofit Business Journal

Tag: North Texas Food Bank

  • On the Move: nonprofit leaders taking on new roles

    On the Move: nonprofit leaders taking on new roles

    This week: Forest Forward, Nexus Family Recovery Center, Camp Fire First Texas, North Texas Food Bank, James L. West Center for Dementia Care

    Forest Forward welcomes Andrea Luttrell as our new Vice President of Development.  Andrea fell in love with Forest Forward after meeting our CEO, Elizabeth Wattley, and learning about the incredible work happening in Sunny South Dallas — from arts and education to economic development and affordable housing. “I learn something new every day,” she says. “It’s truly a dream job.”

    Nexus Family Recovery Center has promoted Emily Parham, MSW to chief programs officer and Mackeshia Brown, MBA to CFO. The Dallas nonprofit said the leadership changes strengthen programs and finances as demand grows. Nexus also appointed six directors to its 2026 board: Anne Haskel, Mike Keller, Keela Ross, Kristy Faus, Susie Stovall, and Donna German.

    Camp Fire First Texas has promoted Yolanda Willis to Associate Vice President of Early Education Workforce Development. Willis previously served as Director of the Camp Fire Early Education Apprenticeship Program since December 2022, where she has been instrumental in expanding apprenticeship opportunities and strengthening workforce pathways for early childhood educators across North Texas.

    Danielle Dow has served the North Texas Food Bank for 7 years. She recently moved from Corporate Giving Manager to Major Gift Officer.

    After serving as Senior Director of Regional Development at Clemson University, David Ferrell has started a new position as Vice President of Development at James L. West Center for Dementia Care

  • On the Move: nonprofit leaders taking on new roles

    On the Move: nonprofit leaders taking on new roles

    This week: North Texas Food Bank, United Way of Tarrant County, Prism Health North Texas

    Danielle Dow transitions from Corporate Giving Manager to Major Gift Officer at North Texas Food Bank.

    United Way of Tarrant County names two new vice presidents. Jennifer Strand joins UWTC as Vice President for Research and Innovation. Anthony Hernandez will serve as Vice President for Education and Youth Opportunity.

    Prism Health North Texas Welcomes New Providers to Health Centers

    • Ismail Boodhwani APRN, FNP-C, AAHIVS, returns to PHNTX to resume his post providing primary care, family medicine, HIV medicine, LGBTQIA+ care, and minor procedures. Boodhwani is currently accepting patients at the Worth Street Health Center located at 4004 Worth Street, Suite 200.
    • Dr. Audrey Mangwiro is serving patients at the Oak Cliff Health Center at 219 Sunset Ave #116-A.
    • Dr. Oregon McDiarmid, originally from England, is providing a full scope of family medicine services to patients of all ages at the South Dallas Health Center at 4922 Spring Avenue, in an area of South Dallas that has had a historic lack of access to primary care.
    • Dr. Saleh Musleh is not new to the Dallas area, having practiced hospital medicine at Baylor Scott & White Health for more than eight years, building a deep clinical expertise in acute care. He is also serving patients at the Worth Street Health Center, and is passionate about relationship-based medicine.

    Current and new patients of Prism Health North Texas can learn more about services available and request appointments here. 

    Source: LinkedIn

  • On the Move: nonprofit leaders taking on new roles

    On the Move: nonprofit leaders taking on new roles

    The North Texas Food Bank is proud to announce that Annam Manthiram has joined them as the new Chief External Affairs Officer and member of their executive leadership team. In this vital role, Annam will lead their external engagement strategy—encompassing philanthropy, marketing and communications, volunteer engagement, public policy, and more. Her experience in strategic planning, fundraising, and wrap-around services will be instrumental in advancing their mission to close the hunger gap in North Texas.

    The North Texas Community Foundation welcomes two new faces to the NTCF team! Sabrina Conner joins as Community Impact Program Officer, where she will oversee the Foundation’s grant cycles and help drive positive outcomes. William Abigail, CPA, takes on the role of Advisor Relations Specialist, strengthening partnerships with professional advisors. Together, their expertise will deepen community partnerships and enhance our philanthropic impact across North Texas.

    Center for Transforming Lives is thrilled to announce two new members to their leadership team: Corrie A. Harris, MA, MBA, Chief Development Officer, and Steven Gonzalez, Chief Operating Officer. Corrie and Steven join the team at a pivotal moment with the opening of the new Riverside Campus, and Center for Transforming Lives is thankful to have their experience, expertise and vision during this new chapter!

    Arlington Charities welcomes new CEO. Vicky Martinez is happy to announce her new role as Chief Executive Office of Arlington Charities. She previously served at the Tarrant Area Food Bank for over fifteen years.

    Source: Linked In

  • Mission Advancement acquires firm to expand services

    Mission Advancement, an organization that helps nonprofits create strategic, relationship-based, and sustainable sources of funding, has acquired Mission Allies, which provides comprehensive grant writing services and development strategies for nonprofits. 

    Mission Advancement will grow its staff by 25% due to the acquisition, adding team members well-versed in all areas of content creation, grant fulfillment, prospect research, and strategic consulting.

    Mission Advancement specializes in the unique fundraising challenges for independent schools, human service nonprofits, and faith-based organizations. It offers comprehensive consulting services, annual fundraising and capital campaign planning, board training, and a variety of tools and resources to support nonprofit leaders.

    Since its inception in 2018, Mission Allies has secured more than $30 million in grant funding for social service and education nonprofits across the United States.

    “There is no quick, transactional approach to fundraising for nonprofits that creates sustainable growth,” said Jennifer Lehman, President, and CEO of Mission Advancement. “Each mission is unique and requires the development of deeply intentional donor relationships with individuals and entities. Combining our expertise in people-centered fundraising with Mission Allies’ ability to connect nonprofits with the right foundations provides another avenue to help our clients fund their missions for good.” 

    Mission Advancement believes that donors give their most impactful gifts when there is a deeply fostered connection, a philosophy shared by Mission Allies and their team’s approach to fundraising through foundation relationships. Jami Russell Ritter, CEO of Mission Allies, said they often see nonprofits approaching grant writing as a blind submission or a ‘spray and pray’ approach, which in the long run is not effective. 

    “Our relationship-centered, stewardship-focused philosophy to assisting nonprofits with their fundraising goals is perfectly aligned with Mission Advancement’s approach,” Ritter said. “Together, we can help nonprofits fund their missions through both individual and foundation partners so they can make lasting, meaningful impact in the communities they serve.”

    Mission Advancement’s expanded team will allow for more comprehensive service models that help clients achieve even bigger goals, such as the results seen by North Texas Food Bank (NTFB). In partnership with Mission Advancement, NTFB launched Nourish North Texas in 2021, a $500 million campaign that significantly expands the Food Bank’s ability to provide hungry neighbors with more Food for Today, while providing Hope for Tomorrow by addressing the root causes of food insecurity.  

    “Achieving our goal of $500 million in food and funds over three years requires us to strategically focus on building relationships with the key stakeholders and supporters who can make this happen,” said Erica Yaeger, Chief External Affairs Officer.  “The Mission Advancement team is bringing a renewed spirit, energy, and strategy to help us grow our people-centered fundraising efforts and continue the fight against hunger in North Texas.  Expanding their services to the grant-writing and foundation relationship space will bring more growth opportunities for Mission Advancement clients in our region and beyond.”

  • HungerMitao reports successful spring food drive

    More than a quarter of a million meals were raised for food-challenged children, seniors, veterans and families in North Texas – including a donation of more than $43,000 to the North Texas Food Bank – thanks to HungerMitao‘s national 2022 Spring Food Drive.

    The initiative, which started locally, engaged members of the Indian American community in conducting food drives and fundraisers across the U.S. Nationally, more than half a million meals were generated through volunteering, food drives and funds raised.

    “We can’t be more proud of our 4 million strong Indian diaspora in U.S. for joining the HungerMitao movement,” said Raj Asava, co-founder of HungerMitao.

    For the Indian American community, Daan – donation/giving – is an integral part of who they are. Growing up in an extended family environment in tightly knit communities, Indian Americans see the importance of Daan firsthand. Of all the Daans, Anna-Daan – the donation of food – is considered the highest giving of all.

    Feeding American participating in HungerMitao’s 2022 Spring Food drive, as well as food banks in Seattle, New York City, Houston, Atlanta, New Jersey and other cities. In addition to North Texas Food bank, other local participants included Metrocrest Services in Dallas and Tarrant Area Food Bank.

    The food drive included in-kind donations collected through food drives, as well as cash donations collected both online and offline. Contributions generated in North Texas benefit the North Texas Food Bank, which received more than $43,000 from the effort.

    HungerMitao conducts two national food drives annually. One is held in March, as a celebration of the various Spring festivals of India. The second food drive is in August, commemorating India’s Independence Month. Members of the Indian American community consider these drives as an opportunity to combine resources and make an impact as a unified community in their adopted land.

    “We thank everyone for their spirit of ‘Give Where You Live’, and thank you Feeding America and Food Banks for all that you do to ensure nutritious food is made available to the needy across all the zip codes in the U.S.,” said Aradhana (Anna) Asava, co-founder HungerMitao.

  • North Texas Food Bank offers capacity grants

    North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) will open its Capacity Building Grant Cycle for fiscal year 2023 in June.

    NTFB’s Capacity Building Grant is intended to provide opportunities for its partner agencies to build their capacity through expansion funding. It’s goal is to increase the number of nutritious meals provided to communities in need.

    In 2015, as part of NTFB’s 10-year strategic plan to close the meal gap in North Texas, the organization raised funding to invest in expansion for its 200+ Partner Agencies. Since that time, NTFB has assisted agencies within its Feeding Network to build out large scale pantries and purchase capital assets in order to expand their reach, and ultimately serve more food to those in need.

    More than $4M in network expansion funding has been provided to date. Last year alone, NTFB awarded over $1.1M in grants to 19 partner agencies.

    Partner agencies affiliated with NTFB can learn more about the eligibility criteria, grant requirements and next steps to apply for the fiscal year 2023 grant by emailing partnerdevelopment@ntfb.org.

  • DFW Restaurant Week gets a taste of post-pandemic fundraising recovery

    According to trade reports, labor shortages and rising costs continued to create challenges for the restaurant industry in 2021 and traffic remained down compared to pre-pandemic levels. Still, organizers of DFW Restaurant Week announced this month that the campaign was able to generate $428,516 last summer for two area charities – an increase over 2020. It also generated much-needed business for local restaurants during pandemic recovery.

    DFW Restaurant Week is North Texas’ largest culinary event and the second longest running restaurant week in the country. Each summer, diners enjoy prix fixe meals for a deal at fine dining restaurants across the area, with a portion of the price donated to the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) or Lena Pope.

    Nearly 100 restaurants around the Metroplex participated in DFW Restaurant Week 2021, donating 20% of the price of each prix fixe lunch or dinner purchased. Restaurants in the Dallas area raised $302,039 for NTFB. Tarrant area restaurants raised $126,47 for Lena Pope in Fort Worth.

    “We want to extend our sincere gratitude to both the restaurants and diners who took part in DFW Restaurant Week at such a pivotal time,” said NTFB President and CEO Trisha Cunningham. “The campaign meals purchased across the Dallas area helped the Food Bank to in turn provide more than 906,000 meals for neighbors in need.”

    In 2020, more than 90 restaurants participated in DFW Restaurant Week. Despite challenges during COVID-19 recovery, the campaign raised $182,844 for the designated charities. Pandemic-era adjustments that year included take-out options for diners and an adjusted charity donation structure to support local restaurants at a time when many businesses were struggling. Participating restaurants donated a reduced 10% (vs. usual 20%) of the price of each prix fixe lunch or dinner purchased.

    Prior to the pandemic, DFW Restaurant Week raised a record $1 million in 2019. It represented the campaign’s largest charitable donations to date with more than 150 Metroplex restaurants participating. Over the past 25 years, DFW Restaurant Week has raised more than $10.7 million in donations for its charity partners.

    The following restaurants are recognized as the DFW Restaurant Week Star Restaurants 2021 for the Dallas area, shown in order of largest charitable donations to NTFB:

    1. Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse – Dallas
    2. Terra (Eataly)
    3. La Pizza & La Pasta (Eataly)
    4. Al Biernat’s – Oak Lawn
    5. Fachini
    6. Al Biernat’s – North
    7. The Oceanaire Seafood Room
    8. Table 13
    9. The Mansion Restaurant
    10. Morton’s The Steakhouse
    11. Nonna
    12. Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse – Plano
    13. Lawry’s Prime Rib
    14. III Forks
    15. Silver Fox Steakhouse – Frisco
    16. Tommy Bahama
    17. Del Frisco’s Grille – Plano
    18. Il Pastaio (Eataly)
    19. Bulla Gastrobar
    20. Lavendou Bistro

    The following restaurants are recognized as the DFW Restaurant Week Star Restaurants 2021 for the Tarrant area, shown in order of largest charitable donations to Lena Pope:

    1. Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse
    2. B&B Butchers & Restaurant
    3. Rise No. 3
    4. Bonnell’s Fine Texas Cuisine
    5. Mac’s on Main
    6. Del Frisco’s Grille – Southlake
    7. Kirby’s Steakhouse
    8. Silver Fox Steakhouse
    9. The Classic at Roanoke
    10. Grace

    First-time restaurant participants demonstrating extraordinary enthusiasm and support were also chosen by DFW Restaurant Week for its 2021 Newbie of the Year Award. Honorees include:
    • Dallas Area – Eataly: Terra, La Pizza & La Pasta, Il Pastio
    • Tarrant Area – Wicked Butcher

    Beneficiary North Texas Food Bank (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. In its last fiscal year, the NTFB provided access to more than 125 million nutritious meals, a 28% percent increase over the prior year.

    In response to the ongoing elevated hunger crisis, the organization has launched a $500 million campaign, Nourish North Texas, to provide more food for today and hope for tomorrow by addressing the barriers to food security. NTFB is a member of Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization.

    Lena Pope, beneficiary of Tarrant County restaurants, works to improve child well-being. The agency provides evidence-based, research-tested programs focusing on prevention and early intervention services that support child development and improve the behavioral and mental health of children and families.

    “The community support for both local restaurants and our mission has been especially impactful over the past few years as we all continue to grapple with the ongoing impacts of the pandemic,” said Lena Pope CEO Ashley Elgin, Ph.D. “Tarrant area diners and restaurants can take heart in knowing that every delicious DFW Restaurant Week meal has helped Lena Pope meet the increasing demand for mental health services and support for children and families in our community.”

    DFW Restaurant Week 2021 was presented by Metroplex Cadillac Dealers and is an Audacy event. The campaign was sponsored by Atmos Energy, Beef Loving Texans (Texas Beef Council), FedEx Office, Garrison Brothers Distillery, OpenTable, Society Insurance, 214 Interactive and The Lovell Group.

    In 2022, DFW Restaurant Week is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The campaign will officially run the week of Aug. 8 – 14, with many restaurants taking part in preview weekend and/or extending participation through Sept. 4.

    Further details on the special anniversary campaign will be announced this summer.

  • Bank of America awards $700K in food insecurity grants

    Two Dallas-based non-profits and two Fort Worth-based agencies are receiving donations from Bank of America to address food insecurity in the Dallas Fort Worth area.

    As part of a unique program to encourage bank employees to get boosted while supporting the overall health and well-being of the community, Crossroads Community Services (CCS) received $400,000, North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) received $200,000, Community Food Bank (CFB) received $75,000 and Tarrant Area Food Bank (TAFB) received $25,000.

    To help fight hunger in Dallas-Ft. Worth, Bank of America donated $100 for each bank employee who recorded a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot in addition to a company contribution. The donations will provide an estimated 2.5 million meals to address food insecurity in the region.

    Since the onset of the pandemic, Bank of America has provided over $1 million in funding to metroplex partners in support of local hunger relief efforts. According to NTFB, 1 out of every six people in North Texas will go to bed hungry.

    “We are so appreciative for the support of companies like Bank of America,” said Trisha Cunningham, NTFB President and CEO. “Our mission for the last forty years has been to bridge the hunger gap in North Texas and provide children, adults and seniors a hunger-free future. Corporate partners are a critical component of our efforts and we could not meet the growing demand for our services without their trust, collaboration and generosity.”

    Nationally, the bank has committed $10.6 million dollars to food banks and hunger relief organizations through this effort. Since 2015, Bank of America has donated nearly $150 million toward hunger relief efforts.

    “As the pandemic continues to impact Dallas-Ft. Worth, food banks and hunger relief organizations are experiencing increased demand and higher costs to meet the needs of individuals and families,” said Jennifer Chandler, President, Bank of America Dallas. “Our commitment to help strengthen the communities we live in and serve is unwavering, which is why we are investing in the health, safety and wellbeing of our teammates while also providing funds to help local organizations support our neighbors and fight food insecurity.”

    Bank of America committed to donating a minimum of $25,000 to a local nonprofit partner in each of the company’s 93 markets as part its vaccine booster effort. Because vaccination boosters and reporting are voluntary and additional company contributions are reflected in the final amount, actual donation amounts differ from the number of boosters reported by bank employees.

    The company has encouraged staff to get COVID-19 vaccinations since summer 2021 and has offered incentives such as paid time-off and $500 credits towards health benefit premiums. In partnership with local nonprofits, Bank of America has also distributed more than 38 million masks, 41,000 cases of hand sanitizer and 11 million gloves in local communities as part of its ongoing efforts to address health-related disparities accelerated by the pandemic.

  • 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.”  

  • Project Transformation Feeds the Body and Mind for Dallas Students

    Project Transformation partnering with Full Filled, and North Texas Food Bank, have delivered 1500 meals and as many literacy resources during the Covid19 pandemic. NBC DFW reports.