By Steven Williams, PepsiCo North America CEO

Originally published in The Dallas Morning News

To my fellow change-makers, 

As we continue to celebrate United Way of Metropolitan Dallas’ historic centennial year, I want to express my deepest gratitude to every individual, company and community partner who is helping to make our 100th year one to remember — and a powerful launchpad for our future. 

It’s my honor to serve as campaign chair during this once-in-a-lifetime moment. Thanks to your generosity, energy and commitment, we’re not just honoring a century of impact — we’re actively building the next one. And I invite all North Texans to be part of this milestone by donating, advocating and volunteering with us. 

United Way’s legacy is built on the belief that we can accomplish more together than we ever could alone. This year, that spirit of unity is stronger than ever. From bold new initiatives to neighborhood revitalizations and community-wide celebrations, we are driving real, measurable progress across education, income and health — the building blocks of opportunity. 

A centennial year that’s shaping our future 

This year is about more than celebration — it’s about accelerating change. 

We kicked off our centennial festivities last October with a community party that brought together partners and families from across the region. From there, the momentum continues to grow and grow. 

We launched the Data Capacity Building Initiative, equipping our nonprofit partners to more effectively collect and use data to amplify their impact and strengthen their services. Through the Aspire United 2030 Volunteer Series presented by Texas Instruments, we’re channeling the energy of thousands of volunteers into meaningful action: 

At the Food & Health Resources Fair, we connected thousands of neighbors with nutritious food and vital wellness services. 

On Reading Day presented by Atmos Energy, with honorary chair Charlotte Jones, chief brand officer and co-owner of the Dallas Cowboys, more than 1,000 volunteers inspired over 15,000 students across North Texas with the joy of books and learning. 

Our Thriving Neighborhoods initiative transformed 20-plus communities with over 500 volunteers planting trees, restoring parks and cleaning up shared spaces. This spring, we launched our work in Hamilton Park — a historic and resilient community — where volunteers from Texas Instruments, alongside neighborhood leaders and partners like the Dallas Wings and Texas Trees Foundation, came together to celebrate the neighborhood’s legacy and invest in its future. 

At Dallas College’s RedBird location, we established a new resource and workforce training hub, in partnership with Arcosa and the PepsiCo Foundation. Antonio Carrillo, president and CEO of Arcosa and United Way board chair, helped lead the ribbon cutting at this innovative new Workforce Center. The collaboration is part of United Way’s Southern Dallas Thrives initiative and directly supports the organization’s mission to advance education, increase income and improve access to health resources — the three pillars essential to creating the opportunity to thrive. 

Our centennial year has also seen advocacy in action, as we engaged hundreds of passionate advocates during the 89th Texas Legislature and led our largest-ever Texas United Way Capitol Day delegation. 

In partnership with Goldman Sachs, we hosted our most exciting year yet of The Pitch delivered by Amazon and the Social Innovation Summit, spotlighting bold, innovative solutions from local trailblazing entrepreneurs who are reshaping how we tackle community challenges. In conjunction with The Pitch, we released our Social Innovation 10-Year Impact Report, highlighting a decade of transformative progress driven by creative, community-based solutions. The energy, ideas and partnerships sparked in that room — and reflected in the report — remind us that real change starts with big vision. 

United, we create impact that lasts 

United Way of Metropolitan Dallas continues to change lives — not by working alone, but by bringing together people and partners from every corner of our region. Each year, our programs and investments improve the lives of nearly 1.7 million North Texans. This year is no different, with tremendous impact across our focus areas: 

In education: 

Building a strong foundation in early literacy and child development is critical to preparing children for success in third grade and beyond — a key milestone for our Aspire United 2030 goals. Through these initiatives, we’re ensuring that every child has the tools and support needed to thrive academically and in life: 

• Once Upon a Month helps foster early literacy for tens of thousands of students. 
• Programs like Texas Home Visiting and HOPES empower parents with tools to support early childhood development and build strong families. 

In income: 

Preparing young adults to earn a living wage — which is one of our Aspire United 2030 goals — starts with access to education, training and financial resources. Through these initiatives, we are building clear pathways to stable careers and long-term financial security, helping more North Texans achieve economic mobility: 

• Pathways to Work gives thousands of job-seekers the training needed to launch careers in health care, IT and beyond — creating a ripple effect of financial stability across families. 
• Through Dollars for College, we ensure more families can plan for brighter futures with new college savings accounts and growing deposits. 

In health: 

Building a healthier North Texas starts by ensuring every neighbor has access to nutritious food, affordable healthcare and the support they need to thrive. These initiatives drive measurable progress toward our Aspire United 2030 goal of promoting near-universal health coverage in our region: 

• Our Food Access Summit, supported by Bank of America and the McKesson Foundation, brought attention and solutions to food insecurity in southern Dallas. 
• Our Healthcare Navigators guided over 50,000 neighbors toward affordable health coverage. 
• With support from the Kimberly-Clark Foundation, the Doorways to Health initiative improves maternal health outcomes by connecting vulnerable families to holistic, community-based care. 

We also opened an expanded Community Resource Hub at the Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy at A. Maceo Smith High School in southern Dallas — a vibrant, one-stop destination designed to connect families with vital education, income and health resources. As part of a network of hubs planned across North Texas, this initiative is a key part of our work to achieve our Aspire United 2030 goals: ensuring more students are reading on grade level, more young adults are earning a living wage and more North Texans are living longer, healthier lives. By bringing essential services directly into the community, we’re making it easier for families to access the support they need to build a strong, stable future. 

Honoring our partners in progress 

This year, we also celebrated those who make this work possible. We honored the enduring generosity of the Eugene McDermott Foundation and the inspiring philanthropic leadership of Carol and Kevin March, whose unwavering support strengthens our entire region. 

At our spring Tocqueville Society luncheon, we had the distinct honor of welcoming Jean-Guillaume and Stephanie de Tocqueville — descendants of Alexis de Tocqueville, whose name has come to symbolize a deep and lasting commitment to philanthropy and civic engagement. Their visit was a meaningful reminder of the legacy we’re carrying forward, and a fitting moment during our centennial year to reflect on the power of generosity to shape communities. 

Join our centennial celebrations and impact 

Our centennial year is proving what’s possible when North Texans unite — and we’re just getting started. A huge thank you to our Century Circle Sponsors — AT&T, Comerica Bank, Kimberly-Clark, Texas Instruments, Trinity Industries, Vistra and PepsiCo — who have helped to make this yearlong centennial anniversary as impactful as it has been meaningful. 

In the months ahead, everyone can be part of the excitement and impact by volunteering with us through the Aspire United 2030 Volunteer Series presented by Texas Instruments, advocating for meaningful change, and investing in our programs that make North Texas the best place to live, work and raise a family — for all. 

Change-makers from across North Texas can also join us as we make history. On Saturday, November 15, we’ll mark 100 years of life-changing impact with an unforgettable Centennial Celebration and Concert. This once-in-a-lifetime event will feature the vibrant Taste United Food Fest, powered by Vistra, and an electrifying concert experience presented by PepsiCo. It’s more than a celebration — it’s a bold statement about the future we’re building together. I invite community-minded corporations to join this historic celebration as sponsors — a rare opportunity to showcase your brand’s commitment to community and be part of a legacy one century in the making. Click here to explore sponsorship opportunities. 

Now is the time to get involved. United, we can create real, lasting change by building on the momentum of the past 100 years. Because we’re not just imagining a stronger North Texas — we’re building it.

Click here to give, advocate or volunteer. Whatever your passion, there’s a way to make a meaningful difference. 

With gratitude and hope, 

Steven Williams 

CEO, PepsiCo North America