The Cowtown,one of the largest multi-event races in Texas, will welcome Olympian runner Jeff Galloway to its 38th annual event, Feb. 26-28 at Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth.
Galloway, a motivational speaker and member of the 1972 U.S. Olympic team, also will offer a three-hour running school on Feb. 27. Walkers and runners interested in registering for his class can go to jeffgalloway.com. Space is limited.
This year’s race will offer nearly $30,000 in guaranteed cash prizes for the fastest runners in the marathon, half marathon and ultra marathon. A new regional challenge will pit runners from the Dallas-Fort Worth area against competitors from the rest of Texas and bordering states.
The Cowtown benefits the C.A.L.F. Program (Children’s Activities for Life and Fitness). In preparation for the 2016 race, Cowtown will provide more than 5,000 pairs of running shoes and 5,000 financial grants so that children in need can train for and enter the competition.
CONTEST OFFERS MENTORING,
AWARDS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
Small businesses in the Dallas-Fort Worth area can now apply for a chance to be a Small Business Champion and win a $25,000 grand prize.
SCORE, a national nonprofit that mentors small-business owners, is partnering with Sam’s Club to celebrate entrepreneurs with the 2016 American Small Business Championship. Two businesses in Texas will be among 102 nationwide to be awarded a $1,000 Sam’s Club gift card, an all-expense-paid trip to a training event, SCORE mentoring for one year and promotion throughout the year to showcase their story. One grand champion will be selected based on how effectively the gift card is used and on the SCORE regional training events.
Businesses have until Feb. 12 to apply and winners will be announced in March. To apply or learn more, visit www.score.org/championship.
Additionally, Fort Worth SCORE will host a StratPad Business Planning Workshop on Feb. 20 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Fort Worth SCORE Conference Room, 1150 South Freeway in Fort Worth.
The workshop will help small businesses write or refresh their business plans. To register or for information, visit fortworthscore.org or call 817-871-6002.
FWOPERA TO PERFORM
AT BENEFIT FOR GLASS ART
SiNaCa Studios will present its eighth annual Vitro Moda art and fashion show fundraising gala on Feb. 20 from 7 to 10 p.m. at 809 Vickery Blvd. in Fort Worth.
This year’s event will feature performances from Fort Worth Opera’s 2016 Festival, including the world premiere of JFK, as well as The Barber of Seville and Buried Alive/Embedded.
During the show, couture models will walk the runway showcasing one-of-a-kind glass art pieces created by glass artisans from across the country. The featured pieces will be available for sale after the show. A silent auction for other glass artwork designed specifically for Vitro Moda will precede the show.
All the proceeds from the silent auction and half of the proceeds from the featured runway pieces will benefit SiNaCa Studios in its mission to give North Texans an opportunity to experience glass art. SiNaCa provides after-school programs for at-risk children, assists art students with portfolio development and creates beads during the Beads of Courage annual Bead Challenge for children coping with serious illness. Other programming includes workshops, classes and summer day camps.
To purchase tickets, visit bit.ly/vitromoda8 or sinaca.org.
DAVEY O’BRIEN FOUNDATION
HONORS MORTON, LUNDQUIST
The Davey O’Brien Foundation will honor Craig Morton with the 15th annual Davey O’Brien Legends Award and Verne Lundquist with the Charles Ringler Founder’s Award at the 39th annual Davey O’Brien Awards Dinner at the Fort Worth Club on Feb. 15.
Morton played 18 seasons in the National Football League (1965-1982) with the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants and Denver Broncos. In 1970, Morton led the Cowboys to their first Super Bowl appearance, and seven years later he directed the Broncos to Super Bowl XII. He won a Super Bowl ring in 1971 as a member of the Dallas Cowboys. He was the first quarterback in NFL history to start Super Bowls for two different teams, and he remains one of only three, alongside Kurt Warner and Peyton Manning, to accomplish the feat. In addition, Morton is one of just 20 quarterbacks ever to start multiple Super Bowls. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992 and also is a member of the Cal Athletic Hall of Fame.
Lundquist is the lead play-by-play announcer for CBS Sports’ coverage of college football. He was inducted into the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Hall of Fame in 2007. He has worked for ABC Sports (1974-1981), CBS (1982-1995, 1998-present) and TNT (1995-1997). He also called play-by-play on national broadcasts for NFL football, NCAA March Madness, the Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship and the Winter Olympic Games. He is a former radio voice of the Dallas Cowboys who joined the Cowboys Radio Network in 1967and remained with the team until 1984. He was named the Texas Sportscaster of the Year for seven straight years during his time in Dallas. Lundquist is a member of the Davey O’Brien Advisory Board and is chairman of the Davey O’Brien National Selection Committee.
EVENTS GO TO THE DOGS
Austin-based Tex-Mex restaurant Chuy’s plans to open its ninth location in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in April at Alliance Town Center, 9700 North Freeway in Fort Worth. Along with its Elvis Shrine and hubcap-covered ceiling, Chuy’s is known for displaying framed photos of local dogs throughout the bar area, aptly named “La Chihuahua Bar.” The restaurant will host its Dog Event on Feb. 13 from noon to 3 p.m. at Three Dog Bakery, where pet owners are encouraged to bring their dogs. With every $5 donation to the Humane Society of North Texas, pet owners will receive a souvenir photo, a voucher for a free appetizer and a koozie, and their pet’s photo will be hung at Chuy’s new Alliance location. Three Dog Bakery is located at 9530 Feather Grass Lane in Fort Worth.
Animals will also star at the 53rd Fort Worth Show of Antiques & Art. This year’s show, slated for March 3-5 at Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, will include the Saving Hope Foundation as one of two benefit booths. Instead of finding antiques in the booth, visitors will see pets available for adoption with the help of the Humane Society of North Texas. All animals in the Pet Adoption Booth will be healthy, vaccinated, spayed or neutered, micro-chipped and ready to go. The booth also will offer T-shirts, vintage items and a new Hope & Friends Book for sale.
The Saving Hope Foundation started three years ago with the rescue of one dog, later named Hope, who had been tortured and left for dead in Parker County. Since then, Saving Hope has funded free spay/neuter and vaccination services to more than 12,000 animals. The nonprofit expects to help 4,000-5,000 animals this year while advocating that North Texans get their next pet from a rescue organization.
The Fort Worth Show of Antiques & Art’s other 2016 benefit booth supports The Parenting Center. The Will Rogers Memorial Center is located at 3400 Burnett-Tandy Drive in Fort Worth.
Send nonprofit news to Betty Dillard at bdillard@bizpress.net