LaDainian Tomlinson’s Touching Lives Foundation, the Cullen Thomason family, Aaron’s and Goldman Sachs have teamed up to fund the recent renovation of the teen room at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Fort Worth’s North Fort Worth branch. The room houses a gym, computers, TVs and study space for teens. It received fresh paint, new furniture from Aaron’s and a custom mural that depicts Tomlinson’s progression from a child to a professional football player and family man. Tomlinson quarterbacked the renovation, which includes purple and white paint in homage to his years at Texas Christian University. The room re-opened June 27 with Tomlinson on hand to visit with club kids and introduce them to the remodeled space. Tomlinson is a professional broadcaster with the NFL Network and he commits free time to his philanthropic efforts through his foundation. His commitment to Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Fort Worth stems from his youth, when he attended a club near Waco. “The club was a refuge,” he said. “The staff quickly became my mentors, helping me focus on my goals and creating a path for educational and personal success. I have such admiration for the men and women who commit their lives to ensuring that kids in impoverished neighborhoods are given an opportunity and platform to succeed.” In addition to a grant through his foundation, Tomlinson donated photographs and memorabilia from his years as a running back for TCU and the San Diego Chargers to decorate the space. A mural depicting his journey was designed and painted by Brian Hall, a club staff member who works with gang-involved youth. The North Fort Worth branch is located at 2000 Ellis Ave. near the Fort Worth Stockyards. On average, 51 teens use the space every day as a safe place to study, learn about college and scholarships, and socialize. For information about Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Fort Worth or Tomlinson’s Touching Lives Foundation, visit www.FortWorthKids.org and www.LaDainianTomlinson.com.
Dinner Party for Life set Cuisine for Healing, a nonprofit dedicated to making nutritious, delicious food readily available to cancer patients and others combating disease, will host the Third Annual Dinner Party for Life on July 14, from 6:30-9 p.m. at the Acme Brick Corporate Campus, 3024 Acme Brick Plaza in Fort Worth. Sponsored by USMD Hospital at Arlington and Whole Foods, the event will be a seated, six-course dinner prepared and served by local celebrity chefs. Each chef will create a course that follows Cuisine for Healing certification guidelines, and each course will be paired with a specially selected wine. This year’s participating chefs are: Felipe Armenta, The Tavern & Pacific Table; Curren Dodds, Let’s Eat; Jerrett Joslin, The Wild Mushroom; Kevin Martinez, Toyko Cafe; Brian Olenjack and Ryan Gallagher, Olenjack’s Grille; and Sally Schwartz, pastry chef for Tim Love. Fort Worth’s former first lady, Rosie Moncrief, will serve as the honorary chairperson, and Bud Kennedy and his wife, Shelly Seymour, will emcee the event. Tickets are $125. For tickets or information, visit www.cuisineforhealing.org or contact Sue Austin, 817-231-2377 or email sue@cuisineforhealing.org. Fuzzy’s celebrates with hunger campaign Founded near the Texas Christian University campus in Fort Worth, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop is celebrating its 10th anniversary in July. The restaurant is rolling out special offers, souvenir cups and T-shirts to mark the occasion and is also celebrating by feeding hungry kids. Fuzzy’s launched a month-long initiative in support of Share Our Strength’s Dine Out For No Kid Hungry campaign to end childhood hunger in America. Customers at more than 65 participating Fuzzy’s nationwide can make a $1 donation to feed hungry kids. In return, Fuzzy’s will provide a voucher for one free taco on the customer’s next visit. Fuzzy’s also is encouraging its social media followers to create short, fun, Fuzzy’s-themed Vine videos. For every video uploaded to the Vine app or to Twitter with the hashtag #fuzzys4nokidhungry, Fuzzy’s will donate 10 meals to the No Kid Hungry campaign. The restaurant’s goal for its 10-year anniversary is to raise $75,000 for the charity. This is the first year Fuzzy’s has supported the campaign. For information, visit www.fuzzystacoshop.com.
Pier 1 perks up local school Almost 100 associates from Pier 1 Imports Inc. spent June 20 painting, renovating and sprucing up the Fort Worth Independent School District’s E.M. Daggett Elementary School. Pier 1 associates participate in a United Way Day of Action each year as part of their long-term partnership with the United Way of Tarrant County. The Fort Worth-based company has been a community partner of Daggett Elementary since 1986. This year’s projects included painting a mural in the cafeteria, painting murals and touching up existing murals in hallways, renovating and furnishing teachers’ lounges, repainting three exterior entrances and landscaping areas around school entrances. Pier 1 provides not only the labor but also the materials, furnishings and tools needed to complete the work.
Cassata partners with TCC Thanks to a recent donation from The Morris Foundation, Cassata High School has forged a new partnership with Tarrant County College. The foundation established a scholarship program that allows qualifying Cassata graduates to enroll at TCC with a full-tuition scholarship. The Morris Scholarship also pays for dual enrollment classes for current Cassata students. Thirteen students already are taking advantage of this opportunity, with more planning to enroll in the fall. Cassata High School is a private, nonprofit outreach school of the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth.
Send nonprofit news to Betty Dillard at bdillard@bizpress.net