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Author: Meg Costa

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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. 
Dollar bill in a wallet

How Paycheck Advance Products Hurt Low-Income North Texans

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

Across the United States, millions of people work full time but don’t earn enough money to cover their basic needs. When they encounter a crisis or an unexpected expense, they often don’t have the funds they need to recover. Many turn to paycheck advance products, also known as “earned wage” loans, which can have devastating effects on their financial security.  

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we lead and invest in programs that encourage financial security. The ability to earn a living wage and stay out of debt directly supports our mission to improve access to education, income and health. Part of that work involves raising awareness of predatory loan practices and offering low-income workers alternatives to expensive payday and earned wage loans.  

Keep reading to learn more about earned wage loans, why they are such a problem in low-income communities and what we can do about it.   

What are paycheck advance products?  

Paycheck advance products, also known as earned wage access products, are loans that allow working Texans to get an advance on their expected wages before their scheduled payday. Companies that provide the products, usually through cellphone apps, can market their loans directly to consumers or through partnerships with employers.  

These types of paycheck advance products have become increasingly common in the U.S., as low-income workers have come to rely on cash advances in emergency situations and even to pay for necessities like utilities and groceries.  

According to research by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB):  

  • More than 7 million workers used earned wage products to access approximately $22 billion in 2022.   
  • The earned wage market is growing rapidly: The number of transactions processed by these providers grew by more than 90% from 2021 to 2022.   
  • Workers took out an average of 27 paycheck advances per year using these apps—more than twice per month—with an average transaction amount of $106.  

What are the dangers of these products?  

On the surface, earned wage access products are attractive to workers who simply need to bridge the gap between paychecks. However, these products work much like predatory loans, trapping borrowers in a cycle of debt.   

The earned wage access market in Texas is currently unregulated, so these companies can charge exorbitant fees and interest rates.  They claim the products are “free,” but the data shows that “free” comes with a pretty high price tag. 

Here are more insights from the CFPB, which focused its research on the advance products offered in partnership with employers:  

  • The annual percentage rate for a typical employer-partnered earned wage cash advance is 109.5%.   
  • More than 90% of workers paid at least one fee in 2022 when employers do not cover the costs.   
  • Most fees are for expedited transfers, which range from $1 to nearly $6.   
  • Many borrowers pay a monthly subscription fee (as much as $14.99) and often make payments that providers characterize as “tips.”  

Fees and high interest rates make earned wage access products a significant problem for low-income North Texans who are looking for ways to access a quick loan. While getting an advance on their paycheck may help in the moment, fees and interest rates of nearly 110% mean workers are losing significant amounts of money just to access their own earnings.  

For workers like Myrisha, earned access wage products seem like a lifeline but are actually a trap. A resident of Central Texas, she recently lost nearly everything when a tornado struck her neighborhood.  

“I was just getting to a place where I was somewhat comfortable and then tragedy struck,” she said. “I had almost nothing in my account, my food had gone bad, severe damage was caused to my car, the electricity bill was extremely high, and I had no way to pay for any of it. To make matters worse, I had just been denied food stamp assistance because I made $71 too much. With all that I had no other choice but to turn to payday loans.”  

Myrisha accessed funds from her paycheck ahead of payday, using cash advance apps. But mere days after she borrowed the money, she had to repay the full amount once she got her paycheck—leaving her with little to no money on payday.  

“I had to accept the loans again to pay bills and get food, just for it to reoccur every two weeks,” she said.   

She reached out to United Way of Central Texas for another option.  

“Had I not applied for assistance with United Way, I would still be in that debt trap,” Myrisha said. “United Way helped my family and I get a fresh start. My families’ bills were covered and that helped me get ahead.”  

What is behind this problem?  

For many of our North Texas neighbors who rely on paycheck advance products, low wages are the core issue. Workers are putting in the hours but simply not making enough to get by.  

The federal minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25 since 2009. For full-time workers, this equates to only about $15,000 a year.   

Across the U.S., 23% of workers—or nearly one in four—earns low wages, defined as less than $17 an hour. Texas is the state with the highest number of workers earning low wages, with more than 4.5 million individuals bringing in less than $17 an hour.  

How can low-income workers protect themselves?  

Paycheck advance products often seem like the most logical and convenient solution for workers who need an advance on their pay. And the fact that many employers offer them makes them seem trustworthy. But workers should explore other options for getting cash before they commit to the high interest rates and fees associated with earned access wage products.  

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we lead the Impact Loan Initiative, which offers safe and affordable alternatives to earned wage access products. Our partner agencies offer loan products such as:  

  • Impact Loans: provide short-term financing of up to $1,500 for a maximum term of 15 months and at a fixed rate of 12%  
  • Credit Builder Loans: 0% loan reported to all three credit bureaus to help workers build credit; borrowers make 12 monthly payments of $5  
  • Predatory Conversion Loans: Designed to pay off payday and auto title lenders by allowing borrowers to convert to a low-interest, loan amount up to $4,000  
  • Emergency Loans: Loans of $500 to $2,500 for major financial needs such as vehicle repairs, urgent home repairs, appliance purchases, apartment deposit, medical bills or funeral expenses  
  • Small-Dollar Loans (up to $2,500): These loans are accessible to Texans with lower credit scores or no credit and have an APR that does not exceed 35%  

Click here to learn more about our Impact Loan Initiative and our partners’ low-cost loan options.  

At United Way, we also offer a variety of financial products and services through our Pathways to Economic Mobility program, including:  

  • Free Tax Prep services: delivers free tax preparation to ensure families can maximize their tax refunds and build a foundation for savings  
  • Affordable Loan Initiative: offers small loans that are fair and flexible and do not require a credit check, creating an alternative to predatory payday and auto loans  
  • Dollars for College: expands access to affordable, long-term savings accounts for low- and moderate-income families  
  • Financial Inclusion Roundtable: connects low- and moderate-income families to insured deposit accounts, fair credit and quality financial capability programs  
  • Financial navigators: deliver individual financial guidance and education to ensure local families can meet their financial goals  

To learn more about these products and services, visit our Resources page and click “Financial Resources.”  

Finally, we are also a member of the Texas Fair Lending Alliance, which ensures that lenders and borrowers can make informed financial choices. The coalition offers resources to assist borrowers who are having trouble with predatory loans. Click here to learn more.   

Together, We Can Support Low-Income Neighbors  

As a community, we can take steps to ensure our low-income neighbors can hold onto more of their hard-earned wages.   

The paycheck advance products issue, also called earned wage access, is a hot topic in our community. A growing number of Texans are calling for reform to the state’s earned wage access market. Here are two ways you can voice your support for this important issue:  

  1. Submit a comment to the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau by August 30: The CFPB has proposed rule changes to the paycheck advance market that would better protect workers and save them money, in part by clarifying that these products are loans and must show costs in a clear and transparent way, consistent with requirements for other lenders. The agency is taking public comments on the proposed rule change now through the end of the month. Click here to voice your support for these important changes.  
  2. Join United Way in our advocacy efforts. The earned wage access issue is one we’re monitoring for the 2025 Texas legislative session, which begins in January. Sign up for our Advocacy Alerts now, and we’ll keep you informed on the latest developments throughout the session and let you know when and how to contact your lawmakers so we can make the greatest collective impact. 
diverse group of children in chefs hats prepping food

We’re Sharing the Power of Good Nutrition with Hundreds of Thousands of North Texas Families

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

North Texas families face a variety of challenges that make it difficult or even impossible to maintain good nutrition. Many experience food insecurity and live in neighborhoods without access to healthy food. And some simply haven’t been exposed to the basics of nutritious eating habits. 

kids teaching kids®, our partnership with Medical City Healthcare, seeks to address these challenges by providing North Texas families with the knowledge and resources they need to thrive. 

By improving access to health for local students and their families, this fun and popular program directly supports our Aspire United 2030 goals, which are our North Star for driving transformational change in education, income and health throughout North Texas. When our neighbors have greater access to nutritious food, we can support a lifetime of health, as well as success in school and in a career.  

Keep reading to learn more about kids teaching kids®, its incredible impact over the last 10 years and how you can help support the health of your fellow North Texans. 

Good Nutrition Is a Challenge in Texas  

Texas is now the most food-insecure state in the country. In North Texas, one in eight people, or 640,000 of our neighbors, face hunger. That figure includes one in six children. In fact, Dallas County has the fourth-highest rate of food-insecure children in the nation.  

Several areas of North Texas—including much of Southern Dallas and East McKinney—are considered “food deserts,” locations without access to fresh food and other groceries. When residents have to drive 15 or even 30 minutes to buy groceries, they’re more likely to rely on fast food and other nutrient-poor options.   

The reasons behind these trends are complex and include factors like a lack of living wage job opportunities, limited public transportation and the fact that major grocery chains tend to avoid neighborhoods that are already suffering from a lack of investment. But another factor at play is a lack of knowledge of and exposure to nutritious food—something that every individual can benefit from. 

We’re Improving Health and Food Security in North Texas 

Since 2014, we’ve partnered with Medical City Healthcare to share healthy eating knowledge and resources with hundreds of thousands of North Texans.  

The kids teaching kids® Healthy Lifestyles program was created to help children and their parents build a lifetime of healthy habits through nutrition education and wellness activities. It engages high school Career and Technical Education (CTE) students to teach elementary school students healthier snacking habits while providing character building and activity education. Each year, it all comes together with a digital recipe book designed exclusively by kids, for kids.  

A key part of the program is the 21-Day Snacking Challenge, a three-week nutrition education program designed to help elementary students:  

  • Develop healthier snacking habits  
  • Learn how to create fun and simple snacks  
  • Commit to eating at least one fruit or veggie daily  
  • Increase mindfulness and activity levels at home 

Using the digital recipe book and the Healthy Snack Finder as a foundation, kids are empowered to create fun, healthy snacks on their own or with minimal supervision. 

A Growing Impact 

Data collected at the end of each 21-Day Snacking Challenge shows that kids are changing their eating habits, trying new fruits and vegetables, and introducing the program to their extended families. 

Since we partnered with Medical City Healthcare on kids teaching kids®, nearly 390,000 North Texas students have participated in the program. Today, 25 school districts across our region are part of kids teaching kids®. 

With each passing year, we expand our impact on the eating habits of our community. Take a look at how effective kids teaching kids® is at changing students’ approach to snacking and their perceptions of fruit and vegetables from this past school year 2022-23: 

  • 70% of participants tried new fruits or vegetables 
  • 48% consumed less chips 
  • 50% drank less soda 
  • 14% consumed more fruits and veggies 

Carmen H., a parent whose son participated in the 21-Day Challenge said, “Andre learned a lot. I was so impressed how engaged he was following other kids’ recipes. He dared to try new flavors and realized that healthy foods can really taste good! Plus, we made it a fun family activity. It was a win-win!” 

The program also benefits educators by ensuring kids have the energy and focus to succeed in school. According to one PE teacher, “The 21-Day Challenge encourages our students and their families to recognize the power of their choices to direct their own lives, to help shape and manifest their individual destiny. Our students realize that through disciplined snacking and wise decision-making they have more energy and feel better, prevent illness, improve their performance in extracurricular activities, and excel at a higher level academically.” 

Support Nutrition in Our Community 

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we’re committed to improving children’s nutrition to create a healthy foundation for life. Together with supporters like you, we can ensure even more children and families participate in kids teaching kids in the coming years. 

Here are three ways you can support nutrition across North Texas right now: 

Got 2 Minutes? Advocate for Expanded Food Access! 

United Way is committed to ensuring all North Texas children and families have access to nutritious food—and we believe our leaders should share that commitment! 

Every five years, Congress has the chance to pass a strong Farm Bill that invests in critical federal programs that help individuals and families keep food on the table. That includes SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which helps ease the strain and stress of hunger in North Texas communities. 

Tell your elected officials that you support protecting and strengthening SNAP. Click here to send an email to legislators. It only takes a few minutes! 

United Way Supporters Prep Thousands of Local Students and Teachers for a Successful Year

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

Last week United Way of Metropolitan Dallas brought together hundreds of change-seekers for one of our most impactful volunteer programs of the year: Stock the School, presented by Mr. Cooper Group and AT&T. 

As part of our Aspire United Volunteer Series by Texas Instruments, the event united the community to ensure our North Texas students and teachers walk into the classroom confident, empowered and prepared. 

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We’re Improving Access to Education 

Stock the School is just one way we improve access to education in North Texas. When students and teachers have the tools and support they need to succeed, every child has an opportunity to thrive. And success in the classroom creates a foundation for life, ensuring kids have greater access to education, income and health—the building blocks of opportunity.  

This type of community support has been especially important over the last several years. Thanks to inflation, the average family now spends $660 on school supplies each year. These supply drives also prevent educators from having to use their own funds to teach in an effective, engaging way. 

We Support Local Students and Teachers 

This year’s Stock the School was a huge success. Check out the impact of this special event: 

  • About 3,375 students and educators were positively impacted 
  • Approximately 200 volunteers prepped five local schools for the new semester 
  • Over 1,000 backpacks were distributed to students 
  • More than 200 teachers and staff received teacher kits and classroom kits 

During the volunteer event, hand-raisers collected and stocked essential learning supplies and revitalized areas of the schools to create a refreshed and positive learning environment. Projects included remodeling teacher workspaces, organizing and cleaning shared spaces, assembling and installing updated décor, and more. 

Stock the School is an unforgettable experience for educators like Tenisha Allen, the principal at J.N. Ervin Elementary School. 

“It means everything for us to be able to have this type of wraparound support for our school community,” she said. “The students will be overjoyed when they return to their classrooms.” 

For volunteers, Stock the School is a unique way to give back to the community.  

Eliana Renteria volunteered with her employer Mr. Cooper Group at Gabe P. Allen New Tech Academy in West Dallas. She said, “Sometimes, it can seem overwhelming to find a cause that you’re aligned with. But when you volunteer with United Way of Metropolitan Dallas once, it’s hard to not want to come back again.” 

Thank you to every volunteer who took the time to support local students and teachers last week. You helped make this year’s Stock the School a huge success! 

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Together, We Can Ensure Local Students Thrive 

Interested in being part of the change? This summer we invite you to invest in local students by supporting programs like Stock the School to ensure every child has what they need to thrive. 

Here are three donation options that enable change-seekers like you to make a meaningful impact right here in North Texas: 

  • Make a one-time donation: With a gift of any amount, you can make a holistic investment in our community and create opportunity and access for your fellow North Texans. Simply visit our donation page, click the “one time” tab and select your gift amount. 
  • Set up a recurring donation: Become a monthly donor and create lasting change on an ongoing basis. Your investment will be there for North Texans continually over time, providing reliable financial support for our programs and partnerships that improve education, income and health for our neighbors. To get started, visit our donation page, select the “monthly” tab and choose your donation amount. 
  • Join a United Way Giving Society: These inspiring and impactful groups are a great way to invest in North Texas while connecting with fellow change-seekers and engaging directly with the community impact work that is transforming our community for the better. Learn more about our Giving Societies. 

Texas Instruments Has Been Changing Lives with Us for Almost 100 Years

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

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we couldn’t make the impact that we do in our community without our corporate partners. Hundreds of organizations have chosen United Way as their trusted corporate social responsibility partner. And one of our longest-standing, most impactful partnerships is with Texas Instruments (TI). 

From United Way’s earliest days—before we were even called United Way—to this year’s fundraising campaign, TI has been instrumental in supporting our mission to improve education, income and health. Together, we have positively impacted generations of lives across North Texas. 

“United Way could not do what we do without our corporate partners, like Texas Instruments,” said Wendy Krizmanic, corporate account executive at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. “We have more ‘TIers’ donate and volunteer with us than any other organization in North Texas.” 

Read on to learn more about our incredible partnership with TI and the many ways the company’s team members pitch in to make a difference right here at home. 

An Outsized Impact 

TI holds one of North Texas’ largest and most successful Workplace Campaigns each year, with employees enthusiastically coming together to support United Way.  

Each May, TI and its employees and retirees give, volunteer and raise money to close gaps and open opportunities for everyone to thrive during their annual United Way campaign.  

Here’s just a taste of their amazing impact for the 2024 campaign, which benefited United Ways across the country and created opportunity for many of our North Texas neighbors:  

  • $8.5 million raised 
  • 3,500 volunteer hours donated  

Andy Smith, director of giving and volunteering and executive director of the TI Foundation, says the campaign is just one way that TI employees and retirees live the company’s values.  

“This year’s United Way campaign brought to life how TIers apply our company’s values and ambitions to change lives,” he said. “Countless lives will improve as a result of our efforts, and it’s humbling to think of the ripple effect that even one act of kindness has in creating lasting change for someone. Our employees and retirees are a testament to the difference we can make in our communities when we join together to give back—during the United Way campaign and throughout the year.”  

For TI team members, their annual campaign is an opportunity to have fun and get to know each other, while giving back to our neighbors who will benefit most.  

As Oscar, a TI product marketing manager put it, “I love United Way, because it brings all of Texas Instruments together to really focus in on serving the community.”   

A History of Community Support 

TI has a long history of partnering with United Way of Metropolitan Dallas to drive community impact. In fact, the company’s founders and their families are credited with helping to establish the “Community Chest” that would become United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. 

Since then, TI has supported numerous United Way initiatives that make a meaningful impact on education, income and health in our community. 

Most recently, they’ve embraced the spirit of volunteerism wholeheartedly, partnering closely with us to launch the Centennial Volunteer Series presented by TI. This exciting initiative is set to mobilize thousands of volunteers for impactful community work leading up to and during our Centennial Anniversary in 2025. The series started off with a bang in spring 2024 with a monumental Reading Day, where more than 1,200 volunteers read to nearly 20,000 local students to encourage early literacy. 

In another successful initiative, the TI Foundation partnered with Educate Texas and United Way to spark renewed enthusiasm for learning among students in three school districts in southern Dallas County: Cedar Hill, DeSoto and Lancaster. This initiative, known as Heal Play Learn, is now in its fourth year and introduces students to enriching activities like robotics, science experiments, dance, music, and cooking demos and has helped boost attendance rates and STAAR test scores. 

Thank You for 100 Years of Impact! 

As we prepare to celebrate our Centennial year, we’d like to thank everyone at TI for their partnership and passion. Together, we’ve improved access to education, income and health for 100 years, changing millions of lives. And we’re excited to get started on our second century of impact with every TIer—and with all our corporate partners, volunteers, donors and more.  

Learn More About Partnering with Us 

United Way of Metropolitan Dallas is proud to partner with companies of all sizes and industries to drive lasting change in North Texas. We have the relationships, data and expertise to help you build and strengthen your culture of good citizenship and corporate social responsibility. 

Interested in learning more? Visit our Partner With Us page to discover some of the ways we work with corporate partners and to connect with our team.