A MESSAGE
FROM OUR CEO
Dear Change-Makers,
As we close the fiscal year at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, I extend a heartfelt thank you to every member of the LIVE UNITED movement who invested in our community, advocated for policy change or volunteered their talents over the last year.
Thanks to supporters like you, we improved access to education, income and health for nearly 1.6 million people—more than 20% of the population in the fourth-largest metro area in the United States. That is an incredible impact we can all be proud of. Your generous support fueled highly effective programs and partnerships that address the systemic challenges that affect too many of our neighbors.
For nearly 100 years, United Way has brought together corporate partners, individuals, community-based organizations, foundations, school districts and others to address both the persistent and changing needs across our growing region.
Recent data shows that third-grade reading proficiency has jumped more than 15% in our service area, while the percentage of young adults in Dallas earning a living wage rose around 2%. Meanwhile, health insurance coverage dipped slightly, likely due to economic and population growth. With each passing year, we’re driving meaningful change and gaining momentum as we advance our Aspire United 2030 goals and move closer to our Centennial anniversary. Look for a more detailed update of our progress and impact in our 2023-2024 Impact Report, to be released in November.
We Improve Access to Education, Income and Health
655,000 students benefited from programs that set them up for continued educational success.
420,000 North Texans received assistance to improve their financial stability.
498,000 neighbors gained access to the resources necessary to live longer, healthier lives.
Education Initiatives
Early Literacy
We launched the Aspire United Volunteer Series, presented by Texas Instruments, with our highly anticipated Reading Day, presented by Atmos Energy. It was truly a historic day, where nearly 1,200 volunteers, including honorary chair Mrs. Laura Bush, read to more than 20,000 local students to promote early literacy. Meanwhile, our Once Upon a Month partnership promoted the power of reading to even more families by providing free monthly children’s books to more than 11,000 students.
Early Childhood Development
United Way leads and collaborates on several parent education initiatives, including Healthy Outcomes through Prevention and Early Support (HOPES) and Texas Home Visiting Program, providing thousands of families with hands-on instruction, resources and skills that empower caregivers, encourage healthy child development and prevent child abuse.
Digital Bridges
Income Initiatives
Pathways to Work
Housing Stability
Dollars for College
Health Initiatives
Food Access
Healthcare Navigators
Doorways to Health
Funded by the Kimberly-Clark Foundation, this partnership improves maternal health outcomes for Black women through holistic healthcare services.
Our Community-Wide Movement Drives Lasting Change
In the past year, we united individual change-seekers, corporate partners, community-based organizations, school districts and more, to improve access to education, income and health for every North Texan. Highlights include:
Social Innovation Lab
Nineteen passionate entrepreneurs graduated and joined the ranks of our distinguished alumni, who have leveraged their experience to serve more than 345,000 North Texans.
Southern Dallas Thrives Fund
Supported by PepsiCo Foods North America employees and alumni, this fund addresses challenges in the southern sector. We’ve set an ambitious goal of raising $20 million to fuel this work.
Community Impact Partners
We continued our three-year investment in 144 diverse partners working toward our Aspire United 2030 goals, with a recent $5 million gift from Tom and Karen Falk.
Targeted Impact Initiatives
Generous $1 million gifts from several corporate partners, including Arcosa, Bank of America, Boston Consulting Group, Celanese, Comerica and Vistra Energy, are driving measurable impact in education, income and health.
Accelerating Strategic Impact into Our Centennial Year and Beyond
The CEO Advisory Council provides a forum for North Texas CEOs to bring new insights to our community impact work. This unique assembly of senior corporate leaders stimulates robust conversations with actionable results, guiding the entire Live United movement toward measurable, lasting change.
Meanwhile, we’re expanding our use of local data to develop collective solutions for our community. Through our partnership with the Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation (PCCI) we’ve developed the Aspire United Community Vulnerability Compass (CVC), which provides hyper-local, micro-level data on education, income and health that enables us to pinpoint areas of greatest need. Utilizing the CVC, the United Way Data Capacity Building Initiative—a new partnership with PCCI—will have a multiplier effect on United Way and partner programs, driving meaningful progress toward the Aspire United 2030 goals. Join us October 2 for an exclusive preview of the Data Capacity Building Initiative.
United Way of Metropolitan Dallas CEO Advisory Council
Fueled by the passion, expertise and insights of dozens of local business leaders, the CEO Advisory Council enables United Way to tap into diverse thinking and strategic networking to guide the entire Live United movement toward our collective 10-year Aspire United 2030 goals. Thank you to our co-chairs and members.
Co-Chairs
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Curt FarmerUWMD Annual Campaign Chair, 2023-2024
Chairman, President and CEO,
Comerica Incorporated and Comerica Bank -
Jean SavageAnnual Campaign Chair, 2022-2023Chief Executive Officer and President,
Trinity Industries -
Steven WilliamsUWMD Board Chair, 2022-2024Chief Executive Officer,
PepsiCo Foods North America
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Jim BurkePresident and CEO, Vistra Corp.
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Antonio CarrilloPresident and CEO, Arcosa
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Mike HsuChairman and CEO, Kimberly-Clark Corporation
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Ken HershPresident & CEO, George W. Bush Presidential Center
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Haviv IlanPresident and CEO, Texas Instruments
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Aasem KhalilHead of Dallas Office, Goldman Sachs
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Chris KleinertPresident and CEO, Hunt Investment Holdings, LLC
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Michael LevyChief Executive Officer, Crow Holdings
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Lorie LoganPresident and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
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Tom LuceFounder and Chairman Emeritus, Texas 2036
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Fred PerpallChief Executive Officer, The Beck Group
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Bob PragadaChief Executive Officer, Jacobs
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Troy RuddChief Executive Officer, AECOM
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G. Brint RyanChairman and CEO Ryan, LLC
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Lori RyerkerkChairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, Celanese Corporation
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John StankeyChief Executive Officer, AT&T
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Rich TempletonChairman of the Board, Texas Instruments
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Brian TylerChief Executive Officer, McKesson Corporation
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Jim UmplebyChairman and CEO, Caterpillar, Inc.
The Future is Bright For North Texas
Thank you to everyone who made this past year an undeniable success. This Live United movement has demonstrated the lasting impact we can achieve when we work together. I’m continually inspired by the extraordinary change-seekers who serve North Texas by investing their time and talent to United Way.
Special thanks to our Board Chairs, Steven Williams and Terri West, for their vision and dedication. I also extend gratitude to Curt Farmer, our 2023-2024 campaign chair, for his leadership and momentum as we head into our 100th year of service and impact.
We will formally celebrate Curt’s achievements in November, when he passes the reins to our 2024-2025 Campaign Chair, Steven Williams. As we march toward our Centennial, I’m confident that our collective excitement and impact will continue to build.
Finally, thank you to our Ruth Sharp Altshuler Tocqueville leaders for their outstanding engagement and inspiration of new Tocqueville members. Tocqueville co-chairs Erin Nealy Cox, and her husband, Trey Cox, provide extraordinary leadership and passion to all our Tocqueville volunteers.
Together, we’re transforming lives
For the past 99 years, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas has been a pillar of our community, creating access and opportunities for all North Texans to thrive.
As the Live United movement prepares to celebrate United Way’s Centennial in 2025, we will continue to drive meaningful, measurable change that lasts for generations, positively impacting nearly 1.6 million North Texans each year.
With gratitude,
Jennifer Sampson
McDermott-Templeton President and CEO
United Way of Metropolitan Dallas
2023-2024 Leadership
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Curt FarmerAnnual Campaign Chair
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Steven WilliamsChair, Board of Directors
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Charlene LakeImmediate Past Chair
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Antonio CarrilloVice Chair, Board of Directors
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Michelle VopniTreasurer, Board of Directors
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Terri WestChair, United Way Foundation of Metropolitan Dallas
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Jennifer SampsonMcDermott-Templeton President & CEO
Ruth Sharp Altshuler Tocqueville Society
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Tocqueville Campaign Co-Chairs:Erin Nealy Cox
Trey Cox -
Tocqueville Circle Co-Chairs:Laura Downing
Jason Downing -
Women of Tocqueville Chair:Michelle Horton