PARKER COUNTY EVENT RAISES
FUNDS FOR CAREITY PROGRAMS
The Parker County Health Foundation has pledged more than $128,000 from its annual Pink Luncheon toward Careity Foundation’s breast care programs in Parker County. The Pink Luncheon, now in its 11th year, raises funds designated for women’s health in Parker County. All the funds stay in the county and will be used for early detection, treatment, surgery and support services to uninsured and under-insured Parker County residents with breast cancer.
April’s focus: Preventing child abuse
To mark April as Child Abuse Prevention Month, The Parenting Center is partnering with community leaders to raise awareness of prevention of child abuse.
The nonprofit, along with Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price and several executives from local businesses, presented “Shades of Blue” on March 28 to kick off the month-long campaign by floating 6,213 blue paper pinwheels from the roof of The Parenting Center’s facility. The pinwheels, created by volunteers from area businesses and organizations, represented the number of confirmed child abuse/neglect victims in Tarrant County in 2015. Last year, Tarrant County had the second-highest rate of child abuse in Texas and the third-highest death rate related to child abuse/neglect, at 16 fatalities.
“This is a devastating issue for our community that we need to talk about,” Price said. “I am so proud of Fort Worth and what we do. There are great things going on. We’re one of the fastest growing areas in the nation, a thriving business community, a great philanthropic community. But I’m not proud of the statistics on child abuse in our community. We know that Fort Worth can and will step up and help make the startling statistics in Tarrant County be reduced. We can and we will, working together, end the cycle of abuse.”
On April 30, Rahr Brewing Co., located at 701 Galveston Ave. in Fort Worth, will host a family-friendly “Shades of Blue” public event at 12:30 p.m. Admission is $10. A portion of the day’s proceeds will benefit The Parenting Center.
GROUP TAKING NOMINATIONS
FOR PHILANTHROPY AWARDS
Nominations are open for 2016 National Philanthropy Day Awards. Any individual or organization can nominate benefactors and key volunteers for recognition in the annual awards luncheon presented by the Fort Worth Metro Chapter Association of Fundraising Professionals.
The awards luncheon is part of an international celebration of philanthropy – of giving, volunteering and charitable engagement – that highlights the accomplishments of all involved in philanthropy.
Nominations are open for honorees in the following categories: Distinguished Philanthropist; Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser; Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy; Outstanding Philanthropic Organization, Foundation/Trust or Corporation; and Outstanding Professional Fundraising Executive: The Ben Franklin Award.
Awards will be presented at the National Philanthropy Day Luncheon on Nov. 17 at Cendera Center in Fort Worth.
Nomination forms and information are available at afpfw@yahoo.com. Nominations close April 29 and should be mailed, emailed or delivered to: AFP-Fort Worth Metro Chapter, P.O. Box 211, Fort Worth 76101-0211; afpfw@yahoo.com.
GIRLS COMPETE FOR GRANTS
TO IMPROVE SCHOOL NUTRITION
As part of Dannon Institute’s Girls 4 Tomorrow initiative, in partnership with the AdVenture Capital social enterprise program of GENYOUth Foundation, 49 girls ages 13-17 from 10 high-needs schools throughout Fort Worth participated in a one-day workshop designed to help them think and act like entrepreneurs.
During the March 9 event, the girls worked with mentors from the Dannon Institute and local Dannon leaders to create, develop and pitch nutrition and wellness ideas – Shark Tank-style – to a panel of judges to win funding to implement their projects in their schools.
A total of $15,000 in grants was awarded to 12 winning pitches to turn those ideas into reality. Winning ideas included an organic garden, a project focused on breakfast in the classroom that emphasizes more fruit and less sugar, and a project that focuses on providing healthier food options for students during lunch.
CAMP FIRE COUNCIL HONORS
CHILD CARE PROFESSIONALS
Camp Fire First Texas Council recognized North Texas’ top early childhood professionals at the annual Celebration of Child Care Champions awards dinner on March 10 in Fort Worth.
The event focused on the importance of encouraging youth to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics concepts in and out of the classroom.
The 2016 Excellence in Child Care award winners are: Administrator of the Year, Hugh Bolton, Virginia Gallian Child Development Center; Family Child Care Provider of the Year, Lorraine Perry, Forever Innocent Home Child Care; Teacher of the Year, Heather Salas, Virginia Gallian Child Development Center; Young Professional of the Year, Beth Sieberhagen, Virginia Gallian Child Development Center; and Phyllis Jack Moore Professional Development Award, Sharon Burnett, Frog Street Press Inc.
NEW MEALS ON WHEELS SITE
SENDS OUT FIRST DELIVERIES
Meals On Wheels Inc. of Tarrant County celebrated the delivery on March 14 of the first meals produced at its new meal production and distribution facility in Haltom City.
The 63,500-square-foot center was built to keep up with the demand for services in Tarrant County. Established in 1973, the nonprofit currently prepares and delivers 1 million meals per year in the county. That need is expected to increase by 75 percent within 15 years, requiring an additional 750,000 meals each year.
GOODWILL STARTS PROGRAM
IN LIFE SKILLS FOR DISABLED
A program designed for adults with significant disabilities and barriers to employment was launched March 31 by Goodwill Industries of Fort Worth Inc. S.T.A.R.S. – Skills Training Achieves Results – is a day-habilitation program that re-creates daily living scenarios through an interactive, realistic environment. Participants learn real life skills while rotating between different places such as an apartment or a store.
FW GETS $1M STATE GRANT
FOR PARK IN ALLIANCE AREA
Fort Worth received a $1 million urban outdoor grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission to build Alliance Park, a new community park in far north Fort Worth.
The funds will cover Phase 1 of development, which includes a park drive and parking, trails and three lighted competition athletic fields.
The land acquisition, funded from Park Dedication Fees, will serve as the city’s match for the grant. Initial development is being coordinated in partnership with Hillwood Properties.
The 2016 Urban Outdoor Recreation Grant program is funded from sales taxes on sporting goods and previously allocated Land and Water Conservation Fund revenues.
Send nonprofit news to Betty Dillard at bdillard@bizpress.net