The Dallas Morning News Charities Celebrates 30 Year Anniversary & Selects 23 Charities for Annual Campaign to Aid the Hungry & Homeless in North Texas
Dallas Morning News Charities kicks off 30th year of raising money for Dallas’ hungry, homeless
With a sprinkle of pixie dust, Dallas Morning News Charities kicked off its annual fund drive Tuesday to raise money for the Dallas area’s homeless and hungry. Some extra sparkle came from Tinker Bell, who visited from the local production of “Peter Pan 360.”
The Dallas Morning News Charities selected its twenty-three North Texas nonprofits to receive contributions during the upcoming 2015-16 campaign. These agencies were selected because of their provisions of shelter, emergency assistance, food, clothing, job skills training and counseling for those in greatest need in the North Texas area.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the program focused on ending hunger and homelessness. Since 1986, the Dallas Morning News Charities has distributed over $26.3 million. The Dallas Morning News pays all administrative costs of the campaign in order that 100 percent of all donations received go directly to the agencies. Last year, the campaign raised $1,301,227 from 1,669 donors. This year the campaign will run from November 10, 2015 – January 31, 2016.
Jewel Williams, Director of Revenue Accounting at The Dallas Morning News and Chairman of The Dallas Morning News Charities board said, “Contributions from our readers make a significant difference for helping those in greatest need in North Texas. The agencies we support are on the front lines every day, addressing issues facing the homeless and hungry. We look forward to the campaign and the impact it has on helping our communities.”
The campaign kicks off with an event at the Winspear Opera House on Nov. 10 and has already raised more than $360,000 as a result of the generous support of $150,000 from Jonelle Williams and the J.L. Williams Foundation, $75,000 from United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, $31,925 from the Community Impact Fund of the Dallas Foundation, Community Foundation of Texas–$10,000 from the Granville C. and Gladys H. Morton fund, $4,713 the Hertich Estate Fund and $29,267 from the 2015 North Texas Giving Day. The Morning News hopes to raise more than $1.5 million during this campaign to help those in the communities served by the paper.
Agencies apply in June to receive funding from the Dallas Morning News Charities. The applications are reviewed by The Charities board of directors, with assistance from the Communities Foundation of Texas. Recipients are selected based on the quality of services provided, geographic and demographic coverage of the area, board and volunteer involvement and sound fiscal management. A balance is maintained between shelters, emergency services and rehabilitative programs, with each agency receiving a board-designated percentage of the contributions.
In August of 2007, The Charities board of directors established the Dallas Morning News Charities Fund at Communities Foundation of Texas in order to achieve increased efficiency and accountability for The Charities campaign. As part of this partnership, CFT manages many of the administrative responsibilities related to the campaign, including processing all donations and maintaining donor records.
To see the full list of the 2015-2016 Dallas Morning News Charities, head to our Agency List.