TCC grant builds up construction management program
Tarrant County College is one of only three colleges and universities in the nation to receive a $75,000 National Housing Endowment (NHE) H.E.L.P. grant to enhance, expand and strengthen its Construction Management Technology Program, which is offered at the TCC South Campus.
NHE is the philanthropic arm of the National Association of Home Builders. Its H.E.L.P. (Homebuilding Education Leadership Program) grant is designed to aid colleges and universities in creating, expanding or enhancing residential construction management programs.
TCC’s program began in 1996 at TCC Southeast in Arlington with 20 students and now boasts 200 students.
The grant will be used to expand residential courses, mentorships, internships, seminars and workshops related to residential topics, and to increase enrollment, retention and the number of program graduates, according to Orlando Bagcal, associate professor and coordinator for the program and principal initiator of the grant.
Bagcal said the grant also will be used to support two faculty members and two graduating students to undergo training to receive the NAHB Certified Green Professional designation and to provide scholarships for 12 graduating students in finishing the certificate in the business entrepreneur program.
CALLS FROM SANTA BENEFIT
TWO CHILDREN’S AGENCIES
After 23 years hosting Calls From Santa, The WARM Place has passed the event on to Ronald McDonald House of Fort Worth and Alliance for Children to carry on the tradition of treating children to conversations with Santa Claus and raising donations.
The two agencies will coordinate calls from Santa Dec. 14-15. A donation of $20 for a phone call or $50 for a FaceTime call will get a child a personalized conversation with Santa himself. Calls will be placed by volunteer Santas between 6:30-7:30 p.m. both nights. Reservations can be made through Dec. 7 at www.callsfromsanta.org.
CONTAINER STORE COLLECTS
GIFTS FOR HOSPITALIZED KIDS
Each of The Container Store’s Fort Worth-area stores is collecting new, unwrapped books, small toys and games, toiletries, gift cards and kid-friendly stocking stuffers for its annual nationwide giving program, Holiday Hugs.
The gifts will be collected through Dec. 18 and distributed the week of Dec. 19 by volunteer employees to patients at Cook Children’s Medical Center.
“Every holiday season, The Container Store embraces the spirit of giving by helping those in need in our local communities,” said Melissa Reiff, CEO of The Container Store. “Imagine how difficult it would be if your child, or a child in your life, had to spend the holiday season in the hospital. Our Holiday Hugs program is an easy way to bring joy to these young patients and their families through this gesture of love from everyone associated with The Container Store.”
DENTAL HEALTH ARLINGTON
MOVING TO NEW LOCATION
The nonprofit dental clinic Dental Health Arlington will move into a new home in the first quarter of 2017.
The clinic is moving from its long-time location at 201 N. East St. in Arlington to the Southeast Tarrant County Arlington Human Service Center, located at 501 W. Sanford St., Suite 11, in Arlington. DHA will lease 3,448 square feet of space for a new clinic and administration offices.
The property is managed by United Way of Tarrant County. Other tenants in the building include Lena Pope Home, Arlington Housing Authority and other local nonprofits.
The move will allow DHA to expand its services. It provides 2,500 Tarrant County residents each year with low-cost dental services.
The new space also will open avenues for collaboration with other United Way agencies, according to DHA Executive Director Nancy Manion Blinn.
Solender/Hall, a broker in commercial real estate for nonprofits, helped DHA secure its new space.
GRANT TO HELP TCU
GO TOBACCO-FREE
Texas Christian University was awarded a $20,000 grant as part of the American Cancer Society and the CVS Health Foundation’s Tobacco-Free Generation Campus Initiative, a $3.6 million multiyear program that supports efforts by colleges and universities to adopt and implement 100 percent smoke-free and tobacco-free campus policies.
TCU is one of the first 20 colleges and universities to receive the grant.
Over the next three years, U.S. colleges and universities will be awarded the grants and will receive technical assistance and resources to support their efforts with education, communications, cessation and evaluation.
According to the Americans for Nonsmokers Rights Foundation, only 1,427 of the 4,700 college campuses are 100 percent smoke- and tobacco-free.
“We’re honored to be one of the first universities to receive this pioneering grant and look forward to using these critical new resources to enable our tobacco prevention taskforce to successfully promote the adoption and implementation of a strong 100 percent tobacco-free policy on campus,” said Suzy Lockwood, associate dean for nursing at TCU. “Protecting the health and wellness of our faculty, staff, students and visitors and creating a healthier and cleaner campus environment is a very high priority.”
COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS
ENDOWMENT HITS $1M
The inaugural endowment fund at Communities in Schools of Greater Tarrant County has topped the $1 million mark in just over three years.
The Marcia Fischer Webb Memorial Fund was started in May 2013 with a $350,000 gift by James H. Webb of Plano in honor of his wife, Marcia, who died in 2012 from cancer. Marcia Fischer Webb was an active community volunteer who was passionate about causes addressing children’s issues, poverty, hunger and education.
Communities in Schools is in 57 schools across nine Tarrant County school districts, serving students who are identified as most at risk for dropping out.
For the 2015-2016 school year, the nonprofit served 37,232 students in 52 schools, including 4,572 who received intensive case management. Of those students, 98 percent stayed in school, 94 percent of high school seniors graduated, 94 percent improved their behavior and 87 percent improved their grades.
For information about the Marcia Fischer Webb Memorial Fund or to contribute as a Legacy Builder, contact Lindsey Garner at lindsey.garner@cistarrant.org.
FW SISTER CITIES OFFERS
TRAINING TO GREET VISITORS
As part of its strategic plan, Fort Worth Sister Cities International has established training courses for businesses and individuals.
The staff of the Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau Visitors Center recently took part in training focused on how to welcome international visitors to Fort Worth. International visitors make up 5 percent of all visitors to the city and spend more than domestic tourists, accounting for 16 percent of total spending, according to Bob Jameson, president/CEO of the Fort Worth CVB. In Texas alone tourism generates $1.9 billion annually.
“To provide the best experience that we can and to help boost international visitation, we want to be well prepared,” Jameson said.
Similar training classes are scheduled for Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Bell Helicopter.
For information on future training classes, contact Katie Wharry at katie@fwsistercities.org.
DENTISTS JOIN WORLDWIDE
TOOTHBRUSH DISTRIBUTION
Drs. Alexander Orthodontics, an Arlington-based dental practice, has partnered with Humble Brush and the Humble Smile Foundation to provide toothbrushes to those in need around the world.
The foundation is a group of dental professionals worldwide whose mission is to help prevent suffering caused by oral disease. The group promotes effective oral health initiatives anywhere in the world where needs are great. The efforts include the distribution of free toothbrushes to those who would otherwise not have one.
For every Humble Brush sold, one is given away to someone in need. The toothbrush, created by a dentist in Sweden, is made with a 100 percent biodegradable bamboo handle.
Dr. Moody Alexander said he was hooked when his daughter introduced him to the Humble Brush.
“Combining two of the great passions of my life, what could be better?” Alexander said.
Drs. Alexander Orthodontics is the only dental practice in the United States that has partnered and co-branded with Humble Brushes. For information about Humble Brush and Humble Smile Foundation visit the Drs. Alexander Orthodontics Facebook page.
SOUTHWEST CHRISTIAN STUDENTS
RAISE BREAST CENTER FUNDS
Southwest Christian School and the Virginia Clay Dorman Breast Care Center, a part of the Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest in Fort Worth, recently celebrated a giving record.
As of October, the school’s total contribution to the center over the past five years reached $50,000.
Each October, Southwest Christian’s students purchase Pink Out T-shirts to raise funds for the center and recognize breast cancer awareness month. SCS grandmother and the center’s namesake, Virginia Clay Dorman, matches these donations dollar for dollar. This year’s combined contribution was $14,500, making the five-year total $50,000.
“SCS is very proud of our students’ dedication to this worthy cause and we look forward to partnering with Ms. Dorman for years to come,” said Head of School Brian Johnson.
Send nonprofit news to Betty Dillard at bdillard@bizpress.net