Sunshine, snow cones and smiles were in full supply at the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas Summer Meals Kickoff, held June 12 at the West Dallas Multipurpose Center. This fun-filled event brought together more than 1,200 children, families, volunteers and community partners to celebrate the start of our Summer Meals program—and to take a stand against childhood hunger in North Texas. 

The Summer Meals program is an important component of our mission to improve access to education, income and health—the building blocks of opportunity. Hunger limits a child’s ability to succeed in school, a worker’s ability to advance in their career and a family’s ability to truly thrive. Food security initiatives are foundational to our work, and programs like Summer Meals directly support our Aspire United 2030 goals.  

From the moment guests arrived, the atmosphere at the Summer Meals Kickoff buzzed with excitement. Families enjoyed free meals provided by our partner Dallas ISD, refreshing snow cones, crafts and inflatables for the kids, and live music that kept the energy high. Raffle prizes added an extra layer of fun, while volunteers led engaging activities that promoted healthy living and food access. 

A Community United Against Hunger 

The Summer Meals Kickoff wasn’t just about fun—it was a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when we come together. As Jennifer Sampson, McDermott-Templeton President & CEO of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, shared: 

“Summer should be a time for fun, not hunger. The Summer Meals Kickoff brings the community together to make sure no child in North Texas goes hungry. We’re proud to address food insecurity head-on, while also celebrating the power of volunteers and the impact of local partnerships.” 

The event also connected families with nutrition education, local resources and enrichment opportunities, helping to build a stronger safety net for those facing food insecurity during the summer months. 

Ashley Douglas, vice president of Southern Dallas Thrives at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, wants more North Texans to know that for many of their neighbors, summer is the hungriest season of the year.  

“When the school year ends, many of our scholars and families lose access to daily meals provided on school campuses, affecting both the nutrition of local children and the financial stability of families,” she said. “The goal is to increase awareness of available resources, bridging the gap in lack of access and addressing food security across our communities.”  

The impact of programs like Summer Meals is significant. In the most recent year on record, summer meals programming across North Texas supported more than 1.5 million meals served to nearly 50,000 children in Dallas and Collin counties alone.  

Celebrating 100 Years of Impact 

This year’s event held special significance as part of United Way’s 100th anniversary in North Texas. For a century, we’ve united our community to create lasting change—and the Summer Meals Kickoff was a shining example of that legacy in action. 

Now through November 15, we’re celebrating our first century of community impact while rallying change-seekers like you to be part of our next 100 years of meaningful change.  

For volunteers like Alicia Cooper, community outreach coordinator at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, the Summer Meals Kickoff was an opportunity to make a direct and immediate impact on our neighbors. 

“Blue Cross recognizes that food security is very important, especially in the summer for kids,” she said. “This is near and dear to our hearts, so we wanted to come out and support United Way and the kids in this neighborhood. Giving back is really true to who I am and what our company is all about. It’s always good to give to people who are under-championed and underserved in the community to help them out.” 

Our Partners Are Creating Meaningful Impact 

Events like this demonstrate the power of our collaborative approach to community impact. We’re deeply grateful to the sponsors who made this event possible: 

• Volunteer Series Sponsor: Texas Instruments 

• Gold Presenting Sponsors: Kellogg, Mr. Cooper Group, Toyota 

• Silver Supporting Sponsors: Blue Cross Blue Shield, DN Tanks, Tenet Health, Vistra  

Let’s Keep the Momentum Going 

Together, we can build a North Texas where every child has the opportunity to grow, learn, and succeed—no matter the season. Invest in United Way of Metropolitan Dallas to support food security programs that help children and families thrive—not just in summer, but all year long. 

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