Skip to main content

Author: Meg Costa

Meet the 2024 Social Innovation Accelerator Cohort

Written by Meg Costa on . Posted in News & Updates.

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we’re celebrating 100 years of community impact in North Texas. Of course, making it to your Centennial anniversary isn’t without its challenges. Over the years, we’ve had to continually adapt and innovate in order to meet the challenges and opportunities of the given moment. 

That’s why social innovation is part of every aspect of our impact work. We’re constantly identifying, developing and implementing innovative solutions to problems in our community so that we drive change in the most effective and efficient ways possible. 

Embracing innovation allows us to stay nimble as we lead a movement to improve education, income and health in North Texas. It’s one of our strategies for driving progress toward our Aspire United 2030 goals, which include:  

  • Increasing by 50% the number of local students reading on grade level by third grade 
  • Increasing by 20% the number of North Texas young adults who earn a living wage  
  • Increasing to 96% the number of individuals with access to affordable health insurance 

Growing Our Impact Through Social Innovation 

As we kick off our second century of impact and advance toward our Aspire United 2030 goals, a key element of our social innovation efforts is collaborating with local nonprofit and for-profit social ventures that creatively tackle challenges affecting North Texans in education, income and health. 

Our flagship social innovation initiative, the United Way Social Innovation Accelerator in collaboration with Accenture, fosters innovative solutions to social issues by offering entrepreneurs funding, mentorship and community connections to help scale their ventures and expand their impact. 

Since its creation in 2013, the Social Innovation Accelerator has enabled us to expand our impact significantly across North Texas: 

  • 84 local social entrepreneurs have completed the Accelerator 
  • 507,984 clients have been served by Accelerator alumni 
  • $7,071,449 has been invested in funding, training and professional mentoring  
  • $75,311,541 in additional funding has been raised by Accelerator alumni 
  • 2,620 partnerships have been formed with the support of United Way’s community connections and credibility  

Meet This Year’s Accelerator Fellows 

As we continue to build on this success, we’re proud to announce the fellows selected to participate in the 2024-2025 Social Innovation Accelerator in collaboration with Accenture: 

Tameka Christmas, The Mama Wellness Foundation  

The Mama Wellness Foundation is working to launch a digital maternal mental health app specifically for Black pregnant and postpartum mothers. This innovative app enables partnerships between Mama Wellness and healthcare providers, allowing the nonprofit to leverage technology to track mothers’ symptoms, identify at-risk patients, provide tailored resources and facilitate therapy requests directly through the app.  

Laura Cobb, The Learning Bridge  

Learning Bridge is working to increase students applying for FAFSA and completing college applications by exposing students to college access via an innovative video game.  

Crystal Dobson, CardiacFITT  

CardiacFITT addresses cardiovascular disease in underserved areas through a telehealth platform that delivers integrated care. Their approach combines health monitoring, personalized nutrition, exercise programs and culturally sensitive care to overcome barriers like geographic isolation and limited access, enhancing engagement and outcomes through digital tools.  

Rachel Henry, Creative Flow School  

Creative Flow School addresses the significant education-to-opportunity gap disproportionately affecting marginalized communities.  

Jason Hernandez, ATLAST’s La Tiendita  

La Tiendita is a safe place in East McKinney that provides resources to empower the youth to reach their full potential. The initiative includes a grocery store that provides healthy and affordable groceries, internships at the store that teach social skills and decision making, workforce development programs, and help with medical and mental health to assist students in making positive change and graduating high school.  

Jiles King, Urban Arts Collective  

Urban Arts implements a multi-faceted approach to address the disparity in arts access within our community. They prioritize three key pillars: fostering community engagement, ensuring accessibility and championing arts education.  

Saki Milton, The GEMS Camp  

The GEMS Camp provides access to quality STEM education, mentorship and support for underrepresented and underserved racially minoritized girls in North Texas. Recognizing the critical years of middle and high school in shaping these girls’ STEM interests, their programs (university sleepaway camps, after-school clubs and enrichment experiences) intentionally target achievement and opportunity gaps in culturally responsive and authentic ways.  

Tazora Moore, Hear My Cry Foundation  

Hear My Cry offers free counseling and medication assistance to individuals who are suicidal and uninsured. This service assists those who are seeking support but lack medical insurance. By removing financial barriers and reducing stigma, the organization empowers individuals to seek support and manage their mental health effectively.  

Van Parker, Housing Connector  

Housing Connector increases access to housing for those with barriers. The nonprofit partners with properties that are willing to reduce their screening criterium and, in exchange, provide financial and stability support to mitigate their risk. The organization lists available units on Zillow to put access at the renter’s fingertips. They also detect early signs of instability and deploy financial and other solutions that prevent thousands from experiencing eviction and homelessness.  

Veronica Shanklin, Dementia Care Warriors  

Dementia Care Warriors is addressing the critical problem of inadequate support and resources for family caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s and related dementia, particularly in underserved communities.  

What’s Next for the Fellows 

The Social Innovation Accelerator fellows are already going through an intensive bootcamp, with expert instruction that will help them refine their business plans and set important organizational milestone goals. They are also receiving one-on-one mentoring and coaching from a team of Social Innovation Accelerator mentors. 

Early next year, five of the 10 fellows will be selected to participate in The Pitch, our annual social innovation competition, where they will compete for tens of thousands of dollars in additional seed funding. 

You’ll be seeing a lot more of these incredible organizations as they go through the Accelerator and compete for a spot at The Pitch. Stay tuned! 

United Way Kicks Off Centennial Campaign and Year-Long Celebration

Written by Meg Costa on . Posted in News & Updates.

On Oct. 24, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas hosted a very special Centennial Kickoff Event, presented by AT&T. Held at the incredible AT&T Discovery District, the evening marked the start of a yearlong celebration of 100 years of United Way’s transformative impact across North Texas. Our momentum is simply unstoppable, and together we are driving measurable, meaningful impact as we look to the future.

During the event, PepsiCo Foods North America CEO Steven Williams began his tenure as the chair of this landmark Centennial campaign. The evening included food, fun and entertainment, with a performance by Prophets and Outlaws. Attendees were treated to exciting announcements and an opportunity to network with advocates, investors and change-makers committed to driving impact in our community.

As part of our Centennial Campaign, we launched our Century Project, which will harness data to revolutionize how community organizations work together to make measurable change.

We’re thrilled to introduce you to the Centennial variation of our Live United call to action for North Texas:


Read on for highlights of our unforgettable Centennial Kickoff Event, including the big-name North Texans who are leading this yearlong celebration, a look back at our most recent successful annual campaign and how you can be part of the excitement.

About Our Once-in-a-Century Celebration of Impact

As we celebrate our milestone 100th Annual Campaign, we invite all of North Texas to join us in a historic year of service and celebration. Together, we will continue supporting our vital education, income and health initiatives as we pave the way for the next century of impact. Sign up now to stay informed, take part in our Centennial events, or volunteer to create lasting change in our community.

Our Volunteer Series will serve as a drumbeat in the march to the Centennial Celebration. Interested in signing up as a volunteer? Visit our Centennial website to get started.

Save the date! Make plans now to join an all-star roster from North Texas’ favorite teams and A-listers as we culminate this yearlong celebration.

Centennial Celebration and Concert

November 15, 2025
Cotton Bowl in Fair Park

VIP Dinner, Food and Wine Festival, and exclusive concert
Presented by PepsiCo

“Every face, every story reminds us that Dallas isn’t just a collection of neighborhoods – ours is a community of real people, real dreams, and endless possibilities,” said Jennifer Sampson, McDermott-Templeton president and CEO of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. “And this pride in our community moves us to real action. It drives us to achieve bold goals that ensure every child, every family, and every neighbor can thrive. We have big dreams for ALL of Big D—from Dallas to Collin County to Rockwall to Southern Denton counties. But we don’t just dream. We do. We connect. We act. We Live United so ALL North Texans can thrive.”

A Shared Commitment to North Texas

To open the Oct. 24 event, Pascal Desroches, senior executive vice president and chief financial officer at AT&T, and Charlene Lake, chief sustainability officer at AT&T—both of whom are members of the United Way Board of Directors—emphasized the power of connections and the meaningful partnership between AT&T and United Way. Desroches highlighted how, for a century, United Way has strengthened education, income and health in the community, and AT&T has been proud to support this vital mission.

“AT&T and United Way have a shared commitment to community service,” he said. “It’s a privilege to collaborate with United Way of Metropolitan Dallas as they enter their Centennial year. The work they’ve done over the past century has been transformative, and we’re excited to be a part of the journey as they look to the future.”

The event featured United Way’s incoming Board Chair, Antonio Carrillo, president and CEO of Arcosa. Carrillo expressed excitement about United Way’s future, thanking the Board for their leadership during this monumental time.

Sampson took the stage and emphasized that our shared pride of Dallas is what drives us to come together in support of our community. She gave a special thanks to the following for their dedication to United Way’s mission and our community:

  • Centennial Celebration presented by PepsiCo
  • Centennial Kickoff Event presented by AT&T
  • Centennial Aspire United Volunteer Series presented by Texas Instruments
  • Century Circle Sponsors: Comerica Bank, Trinity Industries, Vistra
  • Centennial Premiere Sponsors: Atmos, EY, HEB
  • Centennial Supporting Sponsors: Arcosa, Bank of America, Ryan

Sampson recognized the powerful lineup of inspirational campaign chairs as we celebrate our 99th year and begin to look ahead at our 100th year:

  • President and CEO of Comerica Incorporated and Comerica Bank, Curt Farmer: United Way 99th Annual Campaign Chair
  • CEO of PepsiCo Foods North America, Steven Williams: United Way 100th Annual Campaign Chair
  • President and CEO, Vistra Corp., Jim Burke: United Way 101st Annual Campaign Chair

Looking Back on a Successful Year

Next, Farmer took the stage to reflect on his incredibly successful campaign year and to thank everyone who came together to ensure we reached our collective goals for the community.

“What a year to look back on,” he said. “I’m proud to share that our Annual Campaign not only met but exceeded its goal. This accomplishment was even more special to me as it coincided with Comerica’s own 175th anniversary. Leading this campaign during such a significant moment for Comerica is something I’ll always cherish. I had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the transformative impact United Way has across North Texas. Together, we focused on the building blocks of opportunity—education, income and health—and saw tremendous results.”

Check out the video below to see highlights of Farmer’s successful campaign year.

Farmer said launching United Way’s CEO Advisory Council is a particular point of pride. He offered heartfelt thanks to everyone in attendance, including his team at Comerica, and ended with a special announcement.

“Comerica has a long history with United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, but I am proud to say that Comerica now holds the distinction of having the highest number of Tocqueville members of any financial institution,” he said. He also gave special thanks to the co-chairs of the Ruth Sharp Altshuler Tocqueville Society, Trey Cox and Erin Nealy Cox. “As Tocqueville Chairs, they have played an instrumental role in the success of this campaign and their leadership has been nothing short of inspiring.”

Kicking Off Our Centennial Campaign

Farmer then welcomed Burke to the stage to help him pass the torch to the campaign chair of our Centennial year, Steven Williams.

Williams unveiled ambitious plans for the upcoming year, including ambitious fundraising goals, large-scale volunteer projects and our culminating celebration next November.

“We have such a rare opportunity to change the game for millions of our fellow North Texans. I’m honored to chair the Centennial Campaign year, and we’re off to a great start,” he said, calling out an incredible $1.6 million raised during Celanese’s annual golf tournament and a generous $1 million Centennial investment from the Lyda Hill Foundation.

Williams highlighted his company’s work with United Way, which goes back decades.

“At PepsiCo, we’ve been partnering with United Way for more than 40 years, and one of our proudest achievements together has been the launch of Southern Dallas Thrives, a long-term initiative to create real opportunities in Southern Dallas,” he said. “Southern Dallas Thrives is focused on food security, jobs and education—transforming lives in an area with the greatest challenges and the greatest opportunities.”

Williams encouraged everyone to save the date for our culminating Centennial Celebration and Concert, which will be held Nov. 15, 2025. The unprecedented event will include a food festival tied to our work eliminating food security, a dinner honoring our generous supporters and sponsors, and a concert in the Cotton Bown—the first non-sports event held in this historic venue since its renovation.

Sampson then thanked Williams for his dedication to the Live United movement.

“Your vision and leadership—and that of your team at PepsiCo—is the total package as we launch this historic Centennial anniversary, that has been years in the making,” she said. “And your visionary leadership could not have come at a better time. It’s exactly what we need to guide us into our next century of impact and service. And we can’t wait to get to work.”

We’re Driving Greater Progress Through Hyper-Local Data

Finally, Sampson highlighted one of United Way’s superpowers: using hyper-local data to understand every Dallas neighborhood, block by block and neighbor by neighbor.

“This helps us work smarter with our communities to deliver measurable results,” she said.

Sampson highlighted the recent launch of our groundbreaking Century Project, the Data Capacity Building Initiative, in partnership with the Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation. The initiative leverages the Community Vulnerability Compass, an innovative technology platform that will revolutionize how we accelerate impact and collaborate with our partners across North Texas.

“By precisely pinpointing the most pressing needs down to the neighborhood level, we’ll ensure every dollar invested created maximum impact where it matters most,” she said.

Let’s Unite for All of North Texas

Our Centennial Kickoff Event was a celebration of past achievements and a call to action for continued community involvement. Sampson closed the night with a reminder that the Centennial year offers many ways to engage, from sponsorships to volunteer opportunities. She also told attendees to stay tuned for the launch of our second century fundraising campaign, which will increase our collective capacity to achieve the Aspire United 2030 community goals for North Texas.

“This is a landmark moment, and tonight is just the beginning,” she said. “For 100 years, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas has been the driving force behind creating opportunity for all North Texans to thrive. We are the heartbeat of this community, and we have tremendous momentum. Our pulse is stronger than ever before as we kick off what will be a yearlong tribute to a century of impact and service.”

As the evening ended with a lively performance by the band Prophets and Outlaws, attendees left inspired to support United Way’s mission and be a part of shaping the next 100 years of impact in North Texas.

What’s On the Ballot for North Texans this Election?

Written by Meg Costa on . Posted in News & Updates.

The Nov. 5 general election is coming up fast, and early voting gets underway Oct. 21. At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we’re encouraging all registered voters to make a voting plan now so you can quickly and easily cast your ballot during early voting or on Election Day. 

Voting is one of the most effective ways to advocate for improved access to education, income and health in North Texas. Each election cycle, you can use your vote to support candidates and policies that improve life in our communities. And this year’s election is particularly important—both nationally and locally. 

Unfortunately, Texas has one of the lowest voting participation rates in the country, and North Texas ranked among the lowest regions in voter turnout among the 25 largest U.S. metros in 2016 and 2020. According to data from the Dallas County Elections Department, about half a million registered voters in Dallas County did not vote in the 2020 presidential election. In recent school board elections, turnout was so low that only 2% of voters decided the outcome, according to The Dallas Morning News. 

This can, and should, be the year that North Texas bucks this trend. After all, voting is one of the most patriotic actions you can take and an opportunity to participate directly in our democracy. Casting your ballot gives you a voice in decisions both large and small—from whether rundown sidewalks in your neighborhood get fixed and how much you pay in property taxes to who is on your children’s school board and who sits in the White House. 

Read on to learn more about some of the key races and amendments that will appear on your ballot, plus where to find more information. 

Your Ballot for This Year’s Election 

This year, you’ll have the opportunity to vote for president of the United States and U.S. Senator, as well as Railroad Commission seats, congressional and legislative offices, the State Board of Education, judicial seats and a variety of amendments.  

The quickest and easiest way to determine what will appear on your ballot is to go to your county’s website and view a sample ballot. Click below to discover what will appear on your local ballot, depending on your county: 

Outside of the United Way of Dallas service area? Click here to see what’s on the ballot in your county. 

The City of Dallas’ Amendment Proposals 

This election, City of Dallas residents will find 18 proposed amendments on their ballots. These proposals would amend the city’s charter and city code, and they are lettered Propositions A through U.  

The Dallas Morning News gives a great explainer of each amendment in this article. It includes details on three amendments—S, T and U—that we at United Way are encouraging Dallas residents to vote “no” on. Here’s why: 

  • Proposition S allows for any Dallas resident to sue the city for perceived failures to comply with the city’s charter, city ordinances or state law. This legally questionable measure is designed to allow for costly lawsuits should the city struggle to comply with Propositions T and U, which is highly likely given how they are written. It will force the city to spend millions in taxpayer money to fight off frivolous lawsuits. 
  • Proposition T subjects the city manager’s job status to be determined annually by an unscientific poll of 0.1% of the Dallas population, or just 1,400 people. The charter change would require the survey to include leading questions about issues decided by the outside group that authored it. This will subject the top-appointed city official to an annual political campaign with his/her job status on the line. 
  • Proposition U forces the city to immediately hire 900 new police officers, which current and former police officials say is impossible. We all want more police, but this measure does not account for the fact that it takes nearly two years to properly train new police officers. It also would force spending to be diverted from top resident priorities—including fire, EMS, parks, arts, libraries and streets—every year. 

Learn More  

Save yourself time and stress at the polls by being prepared. Do your research on candidates and propositions and determine how you want to vote before getting to the voting machine. You can bring notes or a sample ballot with you to vote, but you’re not allowed to have partisan flyers with you in the voting booth. Create your own personalized ballot by visiting Vote411.org. 

The Texas Tribune has a great explainer of each of the key federal and state races. Click here to read their rundown of each race and candidate. 

To learn more about voting in North Texas, visit our Voting Guide, which includes information on voter ID requirements, voting locations, vote by mail and your rights as a Texas voter. 

Accelerating Impact: An Update on Aspire United 2030 and Our New Century Project

Written by Meg Costa on . Posted in News & Updates.

On Oct. 2, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas welcomed change-makers from across our region for a very special event: the Aspire United 2030 Annual Investors Meeting and Data Capacity Building Initiative Kickoff.  

The event highlighted our key initiatives and ongoing efforts to address challenges in North Texas, offering corporate and philanthropic leaders a glimpse into the powerful collaborations shaping the future of the region. As we reach the midpoint of our 10-year Aspire United 2030 goals, while also marching toward our Centennial celebration, the gathering explored both our progress and our plans for the future. 

In preparation for the centennial, we debuted our Century Project, the United Way Data Capacity Building Initiative (DCBI), our newest collaborative tool for community impact. This exciting partnership with Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation (PCCI)—which was featured in The Dallas Morning News on Oct. 4—will have a multiplier effect on our programs, partner initiatives and our collective impact. 

“This initiative is about democratizing data—putting powerful analytical tools in the hands of those who are closest to our community’s challenges and combining the data science with structured capacity building, technical assistance and ongoing support,” said Jennifer Sampson, McDermott-Templeton president and CEO of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. 

Read on to learn key takeaways from the event, including progress toward our Aspire United 2030 goals, details of the DCBI and who is included in the first program cohort. 

A Warm Welcome from Our Investors and Supporters 

The event kicked off with the co-chairs of the United Way Centennial Foundation Advisors Council, Katie Robbins, president and CEO of the Hoblitzelle Foundation, and Andy Smith, executive director of the Texas Instruments Foundation and director of giving and volunteering at Texas Instruments.  

Next, Pia Orrenius, vice president and senior economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, delivered a high-level overview of North Texas’ economic conditions and how they impact our focus areas of education, income and health.  She explained that Texas lags other states in several key measures, despite our economic progress. For example, the Lone Star State is the worst in the nation when it comes to our share of uninsured people. Meanwhile, the state’s poverty rate exceeds the national average. 

Orrenius highlighted the Dallas Fed’s community development work and partnership with United Way, and discussed the importance of using data to inform and drive community investments and programs.  

“Keeping up with growth also means keeping up with a lot of changing needs,” Orrenius said. “The only way you’re going to keep up with the Texas economy and the needs of our Texas residents and Texas families is to have that data.”  

A Century of Impact, A Bold Future Ahead 

Next, Sampson reflected on United Way’s century-long legacy of impact as we prepare to celebrate our Centennial anniversary. 

She also delivered an update on the Aspire United 2030 goals, which include:  

  • Increasing by 50% the number of third graders reading on grade level 
  • Increasing by 20% the number of young adults earning a living wage 
  • Ensuring that 96% of North Texans have access to affordable healthcare coverage 

“These pillars form the foundation for a thriving North Texas, and they guide every investment, partnership and program we undertake,” she explained. “Our goals are ambitious, but so is this community.” 

Sampson emphasized that our three pillars—education, income and health—are deeply interconnected.  

“A child who receives quality early healthcare is more likely to succeed in school,” she said. “Reading proficiency by third grade is a critical predictor of high school graduation and future earning potential. And financial stability leads to better health outcomes. That’s why our work touches on all these areas—because the future of our community depends on it.” 

Sampson reported that despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, United Way and our partners have made significant strides in our goals:  

  • Education: Since 2020, we’ve already achieved a 15% increase in the number of third graders reading on grade level. To stay on track, we must drive a 3% annual increase each year through 2030.  
  • Income: Since 2020, we’ve increased the percentage of young adults earning a living wage to 71%, and we are laser-focused on achieving a 2% annual increase to meet our goal. 
  • Health: Currently 83% of North Texans have healthcare coverage. To achieve our goal of 96% coverage, we need an annual increase of 2%. 

Sampson then invited more organizations to join the DCBI. “We are looking forward. We want to ensure that our second century is even more impactful than our first,” she said. “We are leveraging data to architect our future. And with your partnership and support, I’m confident that we can drive greater impact in our second century and that we can make North Texas a place where everyone, no matter their background or their circumstances, has the access and opportunity to thrive.” 

The DCBI Will Drive Greater Community Impact 

One of the event’s most exciting announcements was the launch of the Data Capacity Building Initiative (DCBI), a collaboration between United Way and the Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation (PCCI). Katie Robbins and Andy Smith explained how this initiative will empower more than 200 local nonprofits by providing them with essential data and tools to drive measurable outcomes in their communities. 

DCBI will have a multiplier effect on United Way programs, partnerships and impact. The DCBI leverages the Aspire United Community Vulnerability Compass (CVC), which provides hyper-local, micro-level data on education, income and health and enables us to pinpoint areas of greatest need, fine-tune our initiatives and investments, and closely track progress toward our goals. 

“Data transforms abstract challenges into actionable insights. It’s really the difference between hoping for change and strategically driving it,” Sampson said.  

As the Dallas Morning News article pointed out, the initiative will allow our community partners to visualize community vulnerability by block groups across dozens of clinical and socioeconomic indicators, including average income and education attainment. They will then leverage that data to drive more impact across Dallas, Rockwall, Collin and southern Denton counties. 

The event illustrated how CVC will be a game-changer for nonprofits. This tool uniquely allows community leaders to visualize strengths and vulnerabilities, identify service gaps and advocate for targeted interventions. As an example, Texas Instruments, the Hoblitzelle Foundation and United Way are using the CVC to support the revitalization of the Hamilton Park neighborhood—Dallas’ first planned Black neighborhood. Smith described how this data-driven approach is helping guide meaningful community discussions and investments aimed at reducing disparities and building a brighter future. 

Sampson explained that for many community organizations, especially smaller ones, accessing and analyzing data is a significant barrier.  

“Data is crucial—it enables accountability, performance measurement and strategic planning. Without it, many nonprofits struggle to meet the growing demands of the communities they serve,” she said. “Our DCBI initiative aims to fill this gap by equipping nonprofits with the capacity to drive results and amplify impact where it’s needed most. In essence, data is our compass, guiding us from good intentions to measurable impact.” 

The DCBI, and our partnership with PCCI, is one key to accelerating progress toward our Aspire United 2030 goals and fueling our next century of impact. This initiative is just one way we are leaning into our data-driven community impact strategy by expanding our use of local data to develop collective solutions for our community. 

A Look Inside the DCBI 

Steve Miff, the CEO of PCCI, provided an overview of the organization’s work, the Community Vulnerability Compass and their partnership with United Way.  

“I believe through the partnership with United Way and all of you, this truly has the opportunity to be game changing,” he said. “It’s this combination of the right data that’s credible, reliable, actionable, with the ability to use that together with our partners and learn how to apply it, that I believe has the potential to really change not only our community, but also be a beacon for how this can be done in other parts of the country.” 

Then, Lance Rather, senior director of product and strategic partnerships at PCCI, gave a compelling live demonstration of the CVC, providing attendees with a first-hand look at how this innovative tool will shape future investments and nonprofit initiatives. He shared how the insights gathered from data will allow for more strategic interventions, ensuring that vulnerable populations receive necessary resources. He also gave a high-level overview of DCBI sessions and how cohort members will work together over the course of the program. 

Introducing the First DCBI Cohort  

Next, Sampson and Miff announced the first cohort of the DCBI, 10 hardworking mission-driven organizations that will leverage the Community Vulnerability Compass, and the support of United Way and PCCI, to amplify their impact on education, income and health in our community: 

  • Charnella Derry, Beacon Hill Preparatory Institute  
  • Tara Robinson, Black Heart Association  
  • Karen Tan, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas  
  • Adam Powell, Communities In Schools of the Dallas Region  
  • Tammy Johnson, Empowering the Masses, Inc.  
  • Sarah Nejdl, Families to Freedom Inc.  
  • Elizabeth Henneke, Lone Star Justice Alliance  
  • Richard Miles, Miles of Freedom  
  • Bianca Davis, New Friends New Life – Amy’s Friends  
  • Sherri Mixon, T.R. Hoover Community Development Corporation  
  • Florencia Velasco Fortner, The Concilio  
  • Chris Quadri, Youth With Faces – Youth Village Resources of Dallas, Inc.  

Thank You to Our Dedicated Partners 

Thank you to everyone who attended the Aspire United 2030 Annual Investors Meeting and the kickoff for our Century Project, the Data Capacity Building Initiative.  

A special thanks to the co-chairs and members of the United Way Centennial Foundation Advisors Council:  

  • Katie Robbins, president and CEO of the Hoblitzelle Foundation – Co-chair 
  • Andy Smith, executive director of the Texas Instruments Foundation and director of giving and volunteering at Texas Instruments – Co-chair  
  • Mary McDermott Cook and Grace Cook, The Eugene McDermott Foundation  
  • Charles Glover, The Meadows Foundation  
  • Ben Leal, The Addy Foundation  
  • Deedie Rose, The Rose Family Foundation  

And thank you to our speakers and partners who helped to make the event a success, including:  

  • Pia Orrenuis, vice president and senior economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas 
  • Steve Miff, CEO, PCCI 
  • Lance Rather, senior director of product and strategic partnerships at PCCI 

Invest in Our Data-Driven Community Impact Work 

As United Way enters its second century, the path forward is clear: We must continue building strong partnerships and leveraging innovative tools to create lasting, transformational change in North Texas.  

We’re grateful to the sponsors of the Data Capacity Building Initiative: 

  • The Addy Foundation 
  • Hoblitzelle Foundation 
  • The Rose Family Foundation 
  • The Meadows Foundation 
  • The Eugene McDermott Foundation 
  • Texas Instruments 

We invite you to join these forward-thinking organizations and invest in our Century Project, the Data Capacity Building Initiative. Together, we can expand our proven, data-driven community impact strategy and our use of local data to develop collective solutions for our community.  

Click here to invest today. For more information, contact Susan Hoff at shoff@unitedwaydallas.org. 

two boys playing with a robot

United Way’s STEM Fest Inspires Young Minds

Written by Meg Costa on . Posted in News & Updates.

During last month’s annual STEM Fest presented by Texas Instruments, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas brought together students, educators and industry leaders for two days filled with hands-on activities, demonstrations and learning opportunities focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). 

The fun-filled event isn’t only a fun escape for local scholars. It also directly supports our Aspire United 2030 goals, which are our North Star for driving transformational change in the areas of education, income and health. That’s because STEM programs are one of the ways we as a community can prepare our students for success in college and the workforce. 

Our region needs a strong pipeline of young people going into STEM careers to support growth in related industries. By sparking an interest in STEM from an early age, we can increase the chances that students will attend and complete college and go on to a good-paying, stable career. 

Read on to learn more about STEM Fest and its impact on local students, as well as how you can support STEM education in North Texas. 

Two Days of STEM Excitement 

This year we expanded STEM Fest to two days to meet growing demand for this dynamic and interactive annual event. Two of Dallas’ top museums—the Perot Museum of Nature and Science and the Frontiers of Flight Museum—were the perfect settings to host more than 900 fifth- and sixth-grade students from Lancaster Independent School District, plus more than 100 dedicated volunteers. 

STEM Fest aims to ignite a passion for STEM subjects among students by providing a platform where they can explore various fields, engage with cutting-edge technology and meet professionals who work in these exciting industries. This year’s events featured unique interactive activity stations, including: 

  • Pi Buttons, which taught about geometry and how to calculate the circumference of a circle by designing and making a wearable button 
  • Chemistry Detectives, where students investigated physical and chemical changes of matter to identify an unknown substance, using their findings to help solve a mystery at the museum 
  • Musical Coding, where students explored the science of sound and hearing by creating music by programming the TI-Innovator Hub to play a series of playful tunes 
  • T. rex: The Ultimate Predator, which taught students about the iconic dinosaur’s keen senses 
  • TI Robotics, where students explored the relationship between distance, time and speed by driving the TI-Innovator Rover as close as possible to the toy dog, Rover, without bumping him 
  • AI Facial Recognition, where students discovered the fascinating world of artificial intelligence, exploring how computers can recognize and identify faces with advanced technology 

STEM Programming Is a Powerful Learning Tool 

Research shows that STEM lessons and activities support the development of creativity and “divergent thinking,” or the process of creating multiple, unique ideas or solutions to a problem. Put simply, it lets kids learn by exploring and experiencing the world around them.  

When students cultivate curiosity, problem-solving abilities and a flexible mindset, these qualities enhance their academic performance and extend into their everyday lives. Students with a foundation in STEM are better prepared to tackle real-world issues, setting them up for future success in higher education or their careers. 

At the same time, STEM education introduces students to science, technology, engineering and math, creating a pipeline of future professionals in these critical fields. This strengthens our region’s workforce, where careers in computing, mathematics, architecture, engineering, and the life and physical sciences are becoming more prevalent. 

Given its significant impact on young learners, STEM education plays a vital role in advancing our mission to improve access to education, income and health. As part of our Aspire United 2030 community goals, we aim to ensure that more local students graduate high school ready for college or the workforce. By advancing this educational goal, we also ensure more young adults can secure living-wage jobs and access the healthcare they and their family need to live healthier, longer lives. 

STEM programs also help improve opportunities in the North Texas workforce and in STEM itself, ensuring more students are exposed to experiential learning and problem solving.  

Today, just 15% of Black students and 17% of Latinx students are college ready upon graduation, which hinders their chances of landing a good-paying job. This trend persists through adulthood, with only 12% of Latinx workers and 19% of Black workers earning a living wage. These disparities show that it’s more important than ever to support educational programming throughout North Texas. 

Impact of STEM Programs 

United Way initiatives like STEM Fest are hands-on and experiential, which is a powerful complement to traditional classroom learning. Not only does STEM learning feel novel for children, but it also offers practical applications and take-aways for their future. It gives them an opportunity to dream about how they might use STEM in college or a career. 

As Amelia Keeton, a sixth grader who participated in STEM Fest, explained, “My experience at the museum was pretty great, because I got to see lots of new planes, including the first one ever built,” she said. “When I grow up, I want to be multiple different things. I mean, astronauts seem pretty cool. I saw lots of spaceships, and I got to get close up and see inside of one.”  

STEM programming also gives United Way volunteers and donors an opportunity to directly invest in the next generation of STEM professionals. For example, Shreya Mandal, a product marketing engineer at Texas Instruments and a frequent United Way volunteer, says she appreciates that the organization delivers a variety of ways for her to encourage young girls to try their hand at STEM. 

“Introducing STEM to young girls is truly a passion of mine,” she said. “I believe that as younger professionals in the workplace, it is our responsibility to go back to where all of the curriculum starts from. If you introduce these exciting ideas—for example, creating a solution, programming some code into a calculator—I think those hands-on activities really resonate with young girls. They see that, hey, it’s not that difficult and it’s not as complex as everyone makes it seem. And that this space is also for us.” 

Join Us in Supporting STEM in North Texas 

With the support of volunteers and nonprofit and corporate partners, our STEM programs improve access to education and to future job opportunities for students across North Texas. We invite you to Live United and be part of this meaningful change in our community. 

Here are three ways you can get involved right now: 

  • Give: Make a one-time or recurring donation of any size to invest in our initiatives that improve access to education right here in our community.  
  • Advocate: The Texas Legislature convenes for its 89th session on Jan. 14, 2025. Join United Way in advocating for key bills that will impact education and workforce policy in North Texas. To get started, sign up for our Advocacy Alerts. 
  • Volunteer: We frequently host STEM-related volunteer programs that support local students. Keep an eye on current and upcoming opportunities on our volunteer page. 

Dollars for College Puts Low-Income Students on a Path to College

Written by Meg Costa on . Posted in News & Updates.

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we’re proud of the impact our community has driven through Dollars for College, our partnership with Communities Foundations of Texas that expands access to college savings accounts to low- and moderate-income North Texans. Since we launched the program eight years ago, 1,044 students have opened savings accounts and deposits have reached $403,000, which means more young scholars are on the path for college attendance and completion. 

On Sept. 24, we hosted the Dollars for College Community Summit to raise awareness of Dollars for College and invite more community organizations and school districts to join this important initiative. During this inspiring event, the United Way team discussed the impact of Dollars for College, both on individuals and on our community as a whole, and we heard a special keynote from Dr. William Elliott, a leading researcher in the fields of children’s savings, student debt and wealth inequality. 

Read on to learn more about Dollars for College, for highlights of the recent summit and to explore key takeaways from Dr. Elliott’s presentation. 

A College Degree Creates a Foundation for Financial Stability 

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we recognize the importance of a strong education. Going to college opens doors that will benefit a student throughout their entire life, such as more job options and higher wages. Education leads to financial security for an individual and their family, and it improves the odds that they’ll be able to live a long and healthy life.  

Unfortunately, fewer than one-third of high school graduates in North Texas go on to finish college.  

Today, a growing number of jobs require higher education or certification, and our region needs a strong pipeline of workers equipped with a bachelor’s degree or higher. Building that pipeline is one of the ways we drive progress toward our Aspire United 2030 goals, which include increasing by 20% the number of North Texas young adults who earn a living wage by 2030.  

Of course, a living wage isn’t the only benefit of a higher education. Workers with a college degree or certificate are also better equipped to support their children’s development and their success in school. They can also afford higher quality health insurance, which enables them to live longer, healthier lives. In this way, Dollars for College supports all three of our focus areas: education, income and health. 

Expanding the Impact of Dollars for College 

To kick off our Sept. 25 event, Susan Hoff, chief strategy and impact officer United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, explained the need for a program like Dollars for College, and how the popular program came to be. 

Hoff shared that in 2012, United Way of Dallas began exploring new strategies to improve outcomes in community financial stability by encouraging living wage incomes, short-and long-term savings, and good credit. Hoff and the United Way team referenced local and national data and looked at what other communities were doing to address similar challenges. 

“One of our board members at the time—Debbie Taylor from Citi—encouraged us to explore a children’s savings account program that Citi had launched in San Francisco,” Hoff said. “Debbie said, ‘We need to bring that to Dallas.’ So, with Debbie’s vision, guidance and support, we started to develop our own model that was unique to the Dallas region, yet pulled from best practices gleaned from similar programs across the country and from research compiled by the Federal Reserve Banks across the country.” 

In 2016, the program officially launched as Dollars for College, with an initial partnership with the Lancaster and Richardson school districts.  

Dollars for College provides an easy way for families to open a college savings account in their child’s name, which leads to higher rates of college attendance and college completion.  

Here’s how it works: Individuals can seed a child’s college savings account by donating just $50. Then, families can earn incentive deposits and can make their own deposits over time. During the two-year program, one of these savings accounts can grow to $500, and it continues to grow during the child’s primary and secondary education, which helps set a high school graduate up for success in college. 

Dollars for Colleges uses an innovative 529 plan—My529.com—in partnership with local K-12 districts and schools, community partners and funders. Program partners include Communities Foundation of Texas, I Look Like Love, Lancaster Independent School District, RAISE Texas and United Way of Henderson County.  

The program has grown over time and currently serves 1,000 families with more than $400,000 in deposits.   

Dollars for College Benefits Individuals and Communities 

As Greg Mangum, vice president of economic mobility at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, explained during the summit, most jobs that pay a self-sustaining wage and offer benefits and career advancement require some type of post-secondary education. 

Mangum pointed out that as our population and economy grows in North Texas, the labor market continues to place a premium on education and training beyond high school. Unfortunately, many high school graduates in our region lack a post-secondary credential needed to qualify for good jobs in growing industries such as healthcare, technology, business and finance, manufacturing, logistics, construction and skilled trades. 

Mangum said another challenge is communicating to parents the importance and value of college, while also addressing a market need to provide families with an easy and affordable means to save for their child’s future college education.  

Dollars for College meets those goals by providing a long-term college savings account that was more accessible to low- and moderate-income families, eliminating barriers such as minimum deposit requirements, and by changing the mindset of parents about the need for a postsecondary credential and encouraging them to save for the sake of their child’s future success. 

“Programs like Dollars for College enable children to have a vision and plan for their future,” Mangum said. “They can also be a policy vehicle for reducing wealth gaps and leveling the playing field—ensuring more equitable outcomes in education and income.”  

The Far-Reaching Benefits of College Savings Accounts 

Our Dollars for College also included a keynote address by Dr. William Elliott III, a professor at the University of Michigan’s School of Social Work. He is the founding director of the Center on Assets, Education and Inclusion and a leading researcher in the fields of children’s savings, student debt and wealth inequality. 

Dr. Elliott’s research has served as the impetus for children’s savings account programs and policies across the U.S. During his keynote, he shared some of the additional benefits of college savings accounts: 

  • They have been shown to reduce maternal depression and reduce the effects of maternal hardship on children’s development, which improves children’s social and emotional well-being. 
  • They have the potential to change the way people think about their futures, which for students can lead to better grades. 
  • They are especially beneficial for closing college enrollment gaps for historically underrepresented students.   
  • Saving as a child may form lifelong habits. Studies have found that saving as a child or adolescent can predict saving as an adult. 

Dr. Elliott explained that when children from a low- or moderate-income family have a children’s savings account, they can visualize their future selves going to college, and they see the path to get there. As a result, kids with a children’s savings account are three times more likely to enroll in college and two times more likely to graduate college than children who aspire to go to college but don’t see a tangible way to get there. 

Dr. Elliott closed his presentation with a call to action for our entire community. He pointed out that it is increasingly important to create a foundation of wealth for individuals and families to gain upward mobility and secure a financial future. Children’s savings accounts are unique in the financial aid landscape in their ability to transmit financial, as well as human, capital, he said. Programs like Dollars for College provide an institutional structure that allows for third-party contributions from family members, employers, philanthropists, communities and other entities.  

“I have referred to this as their ability to facilitate the flow of multiple streams of assets into a child’s account,” he said. “In this way, college savings accounts may expand the notion of wealth building for the poor from being exclusively a government responsibility to a community responsibility.” 

Together, We Can Put More Scholars on a Path to Success  

Through programs like Dollars for College, we can work together to ensure more students and families can achieve higher levels of education and financial resilience.  

We invite individual change-seekers, corporate partners and community organizations to join us in expanding Dollars for College. Here are four ways to get involved right now: 

  1. Invest: Individuals and corporate partners can invest in the administration of the program and to provide ongoing incentive deposits for new and existing accounts. (With a gift of just $50, you can seed one Dollars for College account today.) 
  2. Advocate: Become a United Way Advocate and join us as we speak up for federal policy change that will enable universal child savings accounts that could leverage federal and state funding. Sign up for our Advocacy Alerts and we’ll let you know when and how to share your support.  
  3. Partner: Your school or organization can be instrumental in helping promote Dollars for College to parents as a valuable community resource.  We can provide customized electronic and printed materials for distribution through your communication channels, and your organization could host a Dollars for College enrollment event where interested parents can find out more information about the program and open an account for their child. Contact Angel Leland at aleland@unitedwaydallas.org to learn more about these opportunities. 
  4. Engage: Now that you know about Dollars for College, help us spread the word about this valuable community resource. Share this blog on social media or talk to fellow change-seekers about supporting Dollars for College.  

‘Compassion Drives Advocacy’: How One United Way Volunteer Advocacy Leader Got His Start

Written by Meg Costa on . Posted in News & Updates.

The next few months are a critical time for advocacy in North Texas, as we approach the November election and prepare for next year’s legislative session. At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we’re encouraging every individual and community organization to speak up in support of policies and candidates that will benefit our region. 

Earlier this year, members of our team, along with local advocates, attended what could be called the Super Bowl of advocacy: United Way Worldwide 2024 Advocacy Forum and Capitol Hill Day, held in Washington, D.C. This unique event is an opportunity to advocate for our organization’s legislative priorities in our focus areas of education, income and health. 

In this post, we look back at a successful Advocacy Forum and Capitol Hill Day and hear from one of our local advocates who headed to D.C. with us to speak up for our community. 

We Traveled to D.C. to Fight for North Texas 

United Way continues its work in bringing people together to build strong, equitable communities where everyone can thrive. In July, our annual Advocacy Forum and Hill Day included more than 150 United Way network members who came together to engage with hundreds of U.S. House and Senate offices and advocate for health, education and financial stability.  

Our priorities during this whirlwind trip included:  

  • Enhancing the Child Tax Credit  
  • Co-sponsoring the HELP Act to support the 211 social services referral line  

We’re especially grateful to the following congressional member offices from the Texas delegation for welcoming us as we work together to build thriving communities: 

  • Office of U.S. Senator John Cornyn 
  • Office of U.S. Senator Ted Cruz 
  • U.S. Congressman Colin Allred 
  • U.S. Congressman Pat Fallon 
  • U.S. Congressman Keith Self 

Hear From a First-Time Capitol Hill Day Advocate 

For the advocates who joined United Way at Capitol Hill Day, the event represented a unique opportunity to engage directly with lawmakers who are creating policy right here at home.  

To see what the experience is all about, check out our Q&A with James Brownson, a senior director at McKesson and a United Way advocate and volunteer leader, who has helpful advice for anyone who is new to advocacy but passionate about making their voice heard. 

James Brownson, United Way Volunteer Advocacy Leader

United Way: Tell us a little bit about yourself.  

James Brownson: Howdy, I’m James A. Brownson, and I’m committed to living a life of service: doing the best for the most. I work for McKesson, a diversified healthcare services company, where I’m a senior leader whose team is responsible for the generic drug category for two-fifths of our nation’s hospitals. We care deeply about making a difference with our customers, improving their ability to serve their patients and advancing health outcomes for all.   

United Way: How did you get involved with our advocacy efforts?  

Brownson: I was humbled to be asked to join the United Way as a volunteer leader with its Advocacy Advisory Board. Here’s how it happened: I completed the Dallas Regional Chamber’s executive Leadership Dallas program for servant leaders this May. The intense nine-month curriculum positions class members to address the challenges and opportunities facing the region: improving the quality of life for all.  

One module was dedicated to public policy and hosted by United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. I have the Leadership Dallas program to thank for the connection, and for the opportunity it gave me to leave a lasting impression with United Way leadership. Although my story is unique and perhaps complicated, one can simply connect to their local United Way chapter and volunteer! 

United Way: What motivated you to attend this year’s Advocacy Forum and Capitol Hill Day?  

Brownson: I knew my volunteer leadership position would start in July, and the Advocacy Forum and Capitol Hill Day was three weeks after. I’m a maximizer and do my best to make the most of every opportunity, and this was no different. Here’s my secret: I was preparing before I started, and I communicated my readiness to the United Way team. (Thank you, Hillary Evans!)  

I’ve cultivated my civic mindedness since entering the workforce. I’ve observed that changing policy is one of the most difficult—and one of the most effective—means of changing society for the better. Democracy is a conversation. I was honored to contribute to the conversation by visiting lawmakers in Washington, D.C. We connected them and their staff with relevant legislation aimed at improving education, economic opportunities and health resources for their constituents, all in a nonpartisan manner. 

United Way: Do you have any advice for anyone wanting to get involved in advocacy and who may not have any background in meeting with lawmakers?  

Brownson: Absolutely! Think of it like a two-part equation. If you want to get involved with advocacy, it’s highly likely you deeply care about issues. If so, the good news is you have mastered the “unteachable” part of the equation; I believe compassion drives advocacy and compassion is “the willingness to see.”  

The second part of the equation, connecting advocacy to lawmakers, is based on relationships. I have the following advice on relationships: Prepare to be memorable by making personal connections to the lawmakers and staff, and draw from your experiences and the crossroads you share. Be concise and direct when telling the stories that link the legislation to compelling data, your experiences, the constituents’ needs, and the lawmakers and staff. Be pragmatic and drive home why it matters for all parties. Leave your contact information and any helpful “leave-behind” reference documents, and follow-up afterwards! Repetition is good politics.   

Advocate with Us 

Together with James and other dedicated advocates, we’re speaking up for policies that directly impact education, income and health in North Texas. By advocating for key priorities like SNAP, the Child Tax Credit and the 211 social services helpline, we can ensure the lawmakers who represent us understand how policy directly impacts people’s lives. 

As we approach the beginning of the 2025 Texas legislative session, we invite change-seekers like you to join our advocacy efforts. The more people we have speaking up with us, united, the greater the impact of our collective efforts. 

Here are three ways to get involved: 

  1. Sign up for advocacy updates: Be sure you’re in the know about our ongoing advocacy efforts by signing up for our Advocacy Alerts and Policy in Brief newsletters. Sign up here. 
  2. Join our public policy webinar series to learn more about our advocacy priorities: Next month, we’re hosting a special three-part public policy event: All Eyes on Austin. Our expert panels will guide participants through a broad-ranging discussion on the most pressing policy issues facing North Texans in education, health and income. Register here. 
  3. Save the date for Advocacy Day at the Capitol: Join the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas delegation in Austin on Feb. 26 for Advocacy Day at the Capitol. We’ll share more information and registration details in our Advocacy Alerts and Policy in Brief newsletters. 
Steven Williams headshot

We’re Kicking Off Our New Fiscal Year with New Board Members, Officers and Committee Chairs

Written by Meg Costa on . Posted in News & Updates.

As we prepare to celebrate 100 years of impact in 2025, it is our great honor to welcome a new group of extraordinary North Texas leaders to the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and United Way Foundation of Metropolitan Dallas Board of Directors. Their unmatched expertise, commitment, and passion will be invaluable as we continue to re-engineer the ways we find and fund solutions that drive measurable impact for our growing community. 

“We are privileged to welcome a new group of extraordinary North Texas leaders to the board of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas at such a pivotal time in our history,” said Jennifer Sampson, McDermott-Templeton president and CEO of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. “Their unmatched expertise, commitment and passion will be invaluable as we continue to re-engineer the ways we find and fund solutions that drive measurable impact for our growing community.” 

Read on for details of our new board leadership and how we’ll tap into their unique skillsets as we approach our Centennial. 

We’re Guided by Incredible Executive Talent 

Steven Williams, CEO of PepsiCo Foods North America and outgoing chair of the Board of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, will assume the chair position for our Annual Campaign during the Centennial year. His leadership comes on the heels of Curt Farmer, chairman, president and CEO of Comerica Incorporated and Comerica Bank, who will wrap up his record-breaking year as chair of the Annual Campaign.  

Jim Burke, president and CEO of Vistra Energy and member of the Board of the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas Foundation, will chair our Annual Campaign in the following fiscal year. 

New Board members will serve a three-year term and join a group of leaders currently serving on the board who provide strategic direction, decision-making and guidance to steer the organization. 

New members of the United Way Board of Directors include: 

  • Hilda Galvan, Partner, Jones Day 
  • Rob Kaplan, Vice Chairman of Goldman Sachs and a member of the Management Committee. In addition to his position on the Board of Directors, Kaplan also will join the organization’s CEO Advisory Council. 

Board volunteer officers and committee chairs for United Way of Metropolitan Dallas in the 2024-2025 year include: 

  • Board Chair, Executive Committee and Chair, Governance Committee: Antonio Carrillo, president and CEO, Arcosa 
  • Immediate Past Chair and Centennial Campaign Chair: Steven Williams, CEO, PepsiCo Foods North America 
  • Treasurer and Chair, Finance Committee: Michelle Vopni, Dallas Office Managing Partner, EY 
  • President: Jennifer Sampson, McDermott-Templeton President and CEO, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas 

Also, we named new directors to the United Way Foundation of Metropolitan Dallas, which provides a permanent source of funding, separate from the organization’s annual campaign initiatives, to support the programs and activities of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas: 

  • Deborah Gibbins, Chief Operating Officer, Mary Kay  
  • Kim Kesler, Dallas Office Managing Partner, KPMG 

Officers and committee chairs for the United Way Foundation of Metropolitan Dallas in the 2024-2025 year include: 

  • Vice Chair: Erin George, Dallas Managing Director and Senior Partner, The Boston Consulting Group 
  • Secretary/Treasurer, Investment Committee Chair: Kevin March, retired Chief Financial Officer, Texas Instruments 
  • President: Jennifer Sampson, McDermott-Templeton President and CEO, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas 

Sampson added, “At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and United Way Foundation of Metropolitan Dallas, we are proud to have boards that not only excel in governance but also bring together the brightest and most committed leaders in the region—leaders with the influence and insight to drive significant change. As we join forces with strategic partners, their leadership will be key to creating the access and opportunity for all North Texans to thrive, ensuring our collective efforts have a lasting impact.” 

Celebrating 100 Years of Impact 

This fall through 2025, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas will proudly celebrate 100 years as the leading force for social change in North Texas. The centennial anniversary represents a milestone year that will include a dynamic line-up of volunteer and community events—including our Centennial Celebration, presented by PepsiCo—that will not only honor our rich legacy but also shine a spotlight on the bold, innovative ways we’re shaping the future of our region.  

With our committed partners, we’re setting the stage for the next century of positive, long-lasting change, ensuring that we create the access and opportunity for North Texans to thrive for generations to come. 

Be Part of the Change 

We invite you to join the Live United movement and see how making an investment, joining a Giving Society, contributing time as a volunteer or advocating for policy change can make a direct impact in the lives of your neighbors, while also connecting you with incredible like-minded change-seekers.  

Here are three ways to get involved right now: 

  1. Give: An investment of any size stays right here in our community to improve access to education, income and health. Pledge a monthly gift to make your donation go even further. 
  1. Advocate: We’re gearing up for the 2025 legislative session, when we’ll join hundreds of advocates to speak up for policies that directly impact our community. Sign up for our Advocacy Alerts and we’ll let you know exactly when and how to advocate with us to make the greatest impact. 
  1. Volunteer: Our fall volunteer opportunities include boxing food deliveries for low-income families, supporting a holiday food drive with our partner Empowering the Masses and more.