Fort Worth ISD’s Young Women’s Leadership Academy (YWLA ) will benefit from a $100,000 donation from Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban to the Foundation for the Young Women’s Leadership Academy of Fort Worth.
The foundation, which supports the mission of Fort Worth ISD’s first and only single-gender school for young women, was among seven North Texas nonprofits Cuban committed a combined $850,000 to during North Texas Giving Day, Sept. 20.
The donations are part of $10 million in donations to women’s advocacy nonprofits Cuban announced after an NBA investigation relating to the workplace climate with his basketball club.
The Foundation for the Young Women’s Leadership Academy of Fort Worth is the only Fort Worth-based organization and the only education institution benefitting from the contribution, according to Foundation officials.
Tamara Albury, principal at Fort Worth ISD’s Young Women’s Leadership Academy, said she was awakened Friday to text messages about Cuban’s donation.
“I was so excited,” she said in a news release from the Fort Worth ISD. “I was so excited for the potential opportunity that my students would be able to participate in because of this contribution.
Albury said the Young Women’s Leadership Academy of Fort Worth invests in the whole child, ensuring that the school’s girls are socially, emotionally and academically prepared for college.
Courtney Radcliffe, executive director for the YWLA Foundation, said in the news release that when she left her office Thursday, the nonprofit had raised about $3,000 in North Texas Giving Day donations. About three hours later, North Texas Giving Day officials informed her via email that the Foundation was the recipient of a $100,000 gift from Cuban
“I was thrilled. Excited,” Mrs. Radcliffe said. “I couldn’t believe it.”
YWLA educates girls in grades six through 12. The school is a member of the Young Women’s Preparatory Network.
Albury said she’s appreciative of the support from the Mavericks organization and that people believe in the mission of YWLA and the Foundation that supports it.
“They see the value in what we’re doing and in my students. It’s fantastic. It’s heartwarming,” she said.
YWLA operates with three pillars: college readiness, leadership and wellness life skills as well as its STEAM initiatives.
With the Foundation for the Young Women’s Leadership Academy of Fort Worth’s support in just the last year, YWLA students have had opportunities to study abroad, participate in college test preparation courses and visit colleges and universities, school officials said.
fwisd.org/ywla
ywlafortworth.foundation
– FWBP Staff