At a celebration at Mary Kay’s headquarters earlier this month, The Village Giving Circle at Texas Women’s Foundation awarded $175,000 in grants to 14 nonprofit organizations that support the African American community. Grants included the following:

• Advocates for Community Transformation (Act): Expansion of Act’s Resident Empowerment & Legal Advocacy Program to Eliminate Crime in South Dallas
• At Last Inc.: Urban Boarding Experience
• Big Thought: Creative Solutions Program
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas Inc.: Robotics Program at Oak Cliff Club
• The Chocolate Mint Foundation: General Operating Support
• City Year Dallas: Whole School Whole Child Program
• Compelling Why: Success Session & Leadership Series
• The Family Place Inc.: Emergency Shelter Services
• Zan Wesley Holmes, Jr. Community Outreach Center: Frazier House
• Interfaith Family Services: Home & Hope Transitional Housing and Self-Sufficiency Program
• Mercy Street: Mentoring Program
• New Friends New Life: Youth Resource Center
• Paul Quinn College: Early Talent Identification Program at Paul Quinn
• Under 1 Roof: General Operating Support

Lisa Montgomery, The Village Giving Circle Co-chair and a founding officer, said, “It’s been exciting to see the growth of The Village Giving Circle and see how African American women have been mobilized in philanthropy. Together, our collective gifts are impacting worthy nonprofit organizations serving the African American community.” 

Roslyn Dawson Thompson, president and CEO of Texas Women’s Foundation, said, “Just in its second year of giving grants, The Village Giving Circle is making an impact with its gifts, and we’re grateful for their generosity.”

Shonn Brown, The Village Giving Circle Co-chair and founding officer, added, “The beauty of The Village Giving Circle is truly what this sisterhood symbolizes. We are honoring the legacy of our mothers, grandmothers and all of those women who came before us by using our resources to benefit our communities that they worked so hard to sustain.”

Organized in 2017, the mission of The Village Giving Circle at Texas Women’s Foundation is to honor, sustain and expand the legacy of African American women’s philanthropy by funding organizations and initiatives that positively impact the African American community in North Texas. The Village was borne out of a desire to harness the collective giving power and influence of female African American philanthropists, and in recognition of the need to provide opportunities for like-minded African American women to form connections that enhance their civic leadership activities.

Members focus their collective resources on local community organizations that are led by African Americans and/or serve the needs of African American communities throughout North Texas. In addition to providing financial support to selected organizations, The Village membership seeks to elevate awareness of issues, initiatives, and efforts that affect or support African Americans living and working in North Texas.

Founding officers include Shonn Brown, Lisa Montgomery, Cheryl Alston, Christa Brown-Sanford, Annika Cail, Frances Cudjoe-Waters, Vera Ingram, Shawn Wills and Diane Reeves. Shonn Brown also serves as Texas Women’s Foundation board chair, and Lisa Montgomery, Cheryl Alston and Diane Reeves are also Texas Women’s Foundation board members. For more information about The Village Giving Circle and grants, visit https://www.txwf.org/village-giving-circle/ or contact Shonda Barnett at sbarnett@txwf.org.

About Texas Women’s Foundation:

Texas Women’s Foundation (formerly Dallas Women’s Foundation) is Transforming Texas for Women and Girls, empowering them to build stronger, more equitable communities. Since 1985, the Foundation has been a trusted leader in advancing social and economic change for women and girls in Texas.  One of the world’s largest women’s foundations with more than $36 million in assets, the Foundation raises funding from a broad base of donors, including individuals, foundations and corporations. These resources support more than $6.3 million in investments that advance economic security and leadership for Texas women and girls through groundbreaking research, advocacy, grants and programs. The Foundation’s statewide research on issues affecting women and girls provides decision-makers and lawmakers with critical data to inform policies, practices and programs in the state. Its grantmaking and innovative programs support solutions that help Texas women and girls thrive. In addition, Texas Women’s Foundation is an acknowledged leader and advocate in the gender lens investing movement and has deployed 100% of its assets – endowments, operating investments and donor-advised funds – in a gendered impact portfolio that yields strong financial returns and measurable social benefits to women and girls. For more information, visit www.txwf.org, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram or donate now.

Orchid Giving Circle at Texas Women’s Foundation had much to celebrate at its Grantee Celebration on October 2 at Toyota’s headquarters in Plano. The Giving Circle celebrated its fifth year by distributing $219,500 in grants to 14 nonprofit organizations to benefit the North Texas Asian community.

Orchid Giving Circle at Texas Women’s Foundation is a group of Asian women who work together, pool their resources and leverage their networks to award community grants that support social change and services benefitting the North Texas Asian community. Orchid members, representing a wide range of Asian cultures, ages, ethnicities and professions, have a goal to increase awareness of the local Asian population, their community needs and philanthropic opportunities.

Cynthia Yung, Orchid Giving Circle Co-chair, welcomed members and supporters. She gave an update of the organization and its growth: “From when we started in 2015 with a handful of members, to almost 60 members today, we’ve grown in numbers and collective impact. Our grants help support the underserved community of North Texas Asians, and for that, I’m thankful to all of you who support us with your treasure, talent and time. Also a special thanks to Texas Women’s Foundation for its tremendous support and to Toyota Motor North America for hosting us.” She also extended thanks to Alpha Graphics and Weber Shandwick for their support of Orchid Giving Circle.

Orchid Giving Circle members wore white, purple and yellow to commemorate the suffrage centennial;   women in Texas received the right to vote in state primaries in 1919 and the 19^th Amendment was passed in the U.S. in 1920. To demonstrate the right-to-vote timeline, a group of men and women spoke about the history of voting in America, highlighting dates when various populations of whites and non-whites received the right to vote.

Orchid member Neena Newberry held conversations with several of the nonprofits to give snapshots of how the Orchid Giving Circle grants will help Asians in North Texas, from supporting transportation with Senior Source to funding social/emotional learning programs for refugee children in Vickery Meadow through Heart House. Two members, Mona Gupta and Seema Deshpande, shared how Orchid Giving Circle connected them to each other and to the community.

The program included grant distributions to 14 deserving nonprofits:

• Asian and Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIA): Scholarships
• Catholic Charities Diocese of Fort Worth: Refugee Match Grant Program
• Chetna - Program Expansion: Domestic violence survivor support
• Crow Museum of Asian Art of The University of Texas at Dallas: The Next 20
• Dallas Chinese Community Center: "Inspire Asians to Move Up" economic programs
• Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum: Exhibition – Asian American Rights strand in the Pivot to America Wing
• DFW Hub Center for Health: Physical and mental health programs for Asian women
• Healing Hands Ministries, Inc.: Medical, dental and behavioral healthcare for Asian women
• Heart House: Head, Heart, and Hands (H3) Program to empower refugee children
• Ignite: Building Political Power in Asian American Young Women
• Mosaic Family Services Inc.: Refugee Health Access Program
• Senior Citizens of Greater Dallas Inc. dba Senior Source: Foster Grandparent Program
• Texas Muslim Women's Foundation Inc.: Peace in the Home – Culturally Specialized Family Violence Program (PIH-DV)
• Vickery Meadow Learning Center dba Literacy Achieves: Family Literacy Program at Vickery Meadow

Roslyn Dawson Thompson, president of Texas Women’s Foundation, remarked, “Texas Women’s Foundation is very proud to host and support Orchid Giving Circle, which was the first in our family of four Giving Circles. We celebrate Orchid’s wonderful growth and success in bringing Asian American women together as a vibrant philanthropic network that provides such significant support for important organizations serving the Asian American community. Brava to Orchid Giving Circle’s for your fifth great year!”

Orchid Giving Circle at Texas Women’s Foundation was launched in 2015. The group has provided grants in education, housing, healthcare, arts and culture, social services and more to the North Texas Asian community. In addition, Orchid Giving Circle has an interest in organizations and programs that are led by Asian women. Orchid Giving Circle at Texas Women’s Foundation is a member of the Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP), a national, member-supported philanthropic advocacy organization dedicated to advancing philanthropy in Asian American/Pacific Islander communities. Orchid Giving Circle founders include Arang Cistulli, Kim Cummings, Sejal Desai, Loh-Sze Leung, Caren K. Lock, Mylinh Luong, Lynette Payne, Gowri Sharma, Thear Suzuki, Charmaine Tang, Anne Woods, Cynthia Yung, Trea Yip and Radhika Zaveri.

For more information about Orchid Giving Circle and grants, visit https://www.txwf.org/orchid-giving-circle/ or email orchidgivingcircle@gmail.com.

About Texas Women’s Foundation:

Texas Women’s Foundation (formerly Dallas Women’s Foundation) is Transforming Texas for Women and Girls, empowering them to build stronger, more equitable communities. Since 1985, the Foundation has been a trusted leader in advancing social and economic change for women and girls in Texas.  One of the world’s largest women’s foundations with more than $36 million in assets, the Foundation raises funding from a broad base of donors, including individuals, foundations and corporations. These resources support more than $6.3 million in investments that advance economic security and leadership for Texas women and girls through groundbreaking research, advocacy, grants and programs. The Foundation’s statewide research on issues affecting women and girls provides decision-makers and lawmakers with critical data to inform policies, practices and programs in the state. Its grantmaking and innovative programs support solutions that help Texas women and girls thrive. In addition, Texas Women’s Foundation is an acknowledged leader and advocate in the gender lens investing movement and has deployed 100% of its assets – endowments, operating investments and donor-advised funds – in a gendered impact portfolio that yields strong financial returns and measurable social benefits to women and girls. For more information, visit www.txwf.org, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram or donate now.

The Dallas Mavericks are the presenting sponsor for the 34^th Texas Women’s Foundation (TXWF) Annual Luncheon, set for Nov. 14 at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas. A sponsor reception starts at 10:30 a.m. and the luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m.

Luncheon co-chairs Janiece Evans-Page and Virginia Rose-Harris will welcome Elaine Welteroth as the keynote speaker. Welteroth is an award-winning journalist, The New York Times bestselling author, judge on Project Runway and former editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue. She just released a book, More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say).

The Dallas Mavericks signed on as the luncheon’s presenting sponsor, citing shared values with Texas Women’s Foundation. The team is dedicated to using its unique platform to build a stronger community by empowering youth, women and families through financial support, advocacy and service.

“We are thrilled to have the Dallas Mavericks as our presenting sponsor,” said Roslyn Dawson Thompson, the foundation’s president and chief executive officer. “The leadership line-up for this luncheon is extraordinary – from the significant example the Mavs are setting as a leader with Cynt Marshall at the helm, to the dedication of our awesome co-chairs, Janiece Evans-Page and Virginia Rose-Harris, to the powerful story of Elaine Welteroth. This is definitely a slam dunk partnership!”

Cynt Marshall, CEO of the Dallas Mavericks, said, “The Dallas Mavericks could not be prouder to support Texas Women’s Foundation. The values of our organization strongly align with those of Texas Women’s Foundation, and this partnership is an exciting opportunity to continue to show the Mavs commitment to women, and to make a difference in the Texas community.”

The Annual Luncheon is the Foundation’s principal fundraiser in support of its work to advance women’s economic security and leadership for Texas women and girls through research, advocacy, grants and programs. The speaker appearance is sponsored by Target.

Texas Women’s Foundation Annual Luncheon table sponsorships begin at $3,500, and individual tickets begin at $350. Those interested should contact Ashley Lindsay at 214.525.5311, email her at alindsay@txwf.org or visit www.txwf.org for more information.

About the Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks are a first class global sports and entertainment organization providing memorable experiences for fans worldwide.  The Mavs compete in the National Basketball Association as a member of the Western Conference and play at American Airlines Center under the direction of Coach Rick Carlisle, General Manager Donnie Nelson and Owner Mark Cuban. Since the inaugural season in 1980-81, the Mavs have won three division titles, two conference championships and one NBA championship in 2011. In addition to on-court success, the Mavs are committed to making a difference in North Texas through community programs and the Mavs Foundation.  For more information on Dallas Mavericks players, staff, stats and tickets, visit mavs.com.

About Texas Women’s Foundation

Texas Women’s Foundation (formerly Dallas Women’s Foundation) is Transforming Texas for Women and Girls, empowering them to build stronger, more equitable communities. Since 1985, the Foundation has been a trusted leader in advancing social and economic change for women and girls in Texas.  One of the world’s largest women’s foundations with more than $36 million in assets, the Foundation raises funding from a broad base of donors, including individuals, foundations and corporations. These resources support more than $6.3 million in investments that advance economic security and leadership for Texas women and girls through groundbreaking research, advocacy, grants and programs. The Foundation’s statewide research on issues affecting women and girls provides decision-makers and lawmakers with critical data to inform policies, practices and programs in the state. Its grantmaking and innovative programs support solutions that help Texas women and girls thrive. In addition, Texas Women’s Foundation is an acknowledged leader and advocate in the gender lens investing movement and has deployed 100% of its assets – endowments, operating investments and donor-advised funds – in a gendered impact portfolio that yields strong financial returns and measurable social benefits to women and girls. For more information, visit www.txwf.org, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram or donate now.

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Each year, thousands of Dallas families struggle with access to affordable childcare, a growing problem that often leads to wage loss, career stagnation and deferred education, particularly in households headed by single women. Recognizing this problem, NexBank invested in making a sizable gift of $150,000 to the Child Care Access Fund at Texas Women’s Foundation (TXWF) to establish the first afterschool care program at Pleasant Grove Elementary School. NexBank’s investment will help run the program for three years from 2018 to 2021.

Roslyn Dawson Thompson, Texas Women’s Foundation president and CEO, said, “Our research showed the need for affordable child care, particularly for low-income families. As a result, we established the Child Care Access Fund to invest in cost-effective, efficient programs that produce meaningful change for families in need, which are often headed by single women. We are thankful for NexBank and other donors who have contributed and hope others will join them.”

TXWF found strong demand and has been able to serve 30 students with high quality afterschool care from the initial investment. With 80 students on a waitlist, TXWF and NexBank are reaching out to other companies to help fund the increasing need in this childcare desert.  

Thanks to NexBank’s donation, TXWF partnered with established providers—Dallas Afterschool—to provide high quality afterschool care, which focused on improving the reading skills, writing and homework assistance along with fitness and gym activities. Additionally, students received leadership development training and learned about self-esteem, healthy relationships and the environment.

A highlight was a Parent Appreciation Night in which parents learned about their students’ successes and were introduced to other community resources. Close to 95 percent of families attended, and parents were appreciative of this high caliber affordable childcare. Monica Bocanegra, a parent and Parent Teacher Organization vice president, remarked, “This is a first for us to have an after school program offered at our school…we need more programs like this for our children and the parents.”

There are opportunities for banks to receive Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) credit for investing in childcare programs. NexBank was recognized by the FDIC for its support of the program and its innovative approach to CRA investment activities.  For more information about childcare statistics, please refer to the addendum.*  For more information about the program, please contact Ashley Lindsay at alindsay@txwf.org or call 214.525.5311. 

Texas Women’s Foundation, formerly Dallas Women’s Foundation, is investing to Transform Texas for Women and Girls, empowering them to build stronger, more equitable communities throughout Texas. One of the world’s largest women’s funds, it is a trusted leader in advocating for and advancing economic security for Texas women, girls and families, and ensuring women and girls are enabled and supported in taking leadership roles in every sector in the state. With more than $35 million in assets, Texas Women’s Foundation raises approximately $9 million a year to underwrite groundbreaking statewide research on issues affecting women and girls – providing decision-makers and lawmakers with critical data to inform policies, practices and programs in the state. Funds also sustain the Foundation’s $6 million in annual grants, mission-focused gendered asset investments, and support for innovative programs and solutions to help Texas women and girls thrive. For more information, visit www.txwf.org, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram or donate now.

*Things You Should Know About Texas Women and Child Care:

• 62 percent of Texas moms are in the paid labor force.
• The majority of Texas children are part of families where both parents work outside the home, or one parent if in a single-parent family. This describes 59 percent (1.3 million) of children under age 6, and 62 percent (1.7 million) of children ages 6 to 12.3
• The average yearly cost of full-time child care in Texas is between $7,000 to $9,000, depending on the age of the child.
• Access to child care helps women increase their employment, wages, job stability and advancement.
• Fewer than 10 percent of eligible children receive child care subsidies.
• Pre-K provides child care and early education to 220,000 children in Texas.

*Source: Texas Women’s Foundation’s Economic Issues for Women in Texas, 2017 research

2020 marks the 100 year anniversary of the 19^th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which gave women the right to vote. To mark this milestone, Texas Women’s Foundation is launching “Count Her In,” a social media campaign celebrating 100 people, organizations and milestones that have advanced voting rights for Texas women from the earliest days of the suffrage movement through the present day. The campaign runs for 62 weeks, from June 28, 2019, the same day that Texas ratified the 19^th Amendment in 1919, to August 26, 2020, celebrated as Women’s Equality Day. The campaign tells stories of women and men in Texas who were leaders in voters’ rights, with the goal to educate and activate more people, particularly women, to register and exercise their right to vote.

Roslyn Dawson Thompson, Texas Women’s Foundation president and CEO, said, “With our goal to transform Texas for women and girls, Texas Women’s  Foundation believes that can only take place when women are full participants, and a critical way to achieve that is by motivating more women to exercise their right to vote. This project can be a catalyst for women across the state to understand their rights and use them.”

Examples of trailblazers highlighted in the campaign include:

Christia V. Daniels Adair – A Houston activist who was both a suffragist and civil rights leader. Adair worked for the Houston NAACP during the landmark Smith v. Allwright case, which ended whites-only primary elections in the South.

Carlos Martinez, Advocacy Alliance Center of Texas – Martinez currently manages the outreach of civic engagement to improve voter turnout in Southeast Texas. “Women are absolutely crucial to our mission… they know how to organize and they have such influence,” he said when speaking about how women are impacting their mission. He is working hard to lead their team towards a goal of 65% voter participation in South Texas by 2020.

William P. Hobby – A key political ally in the Texas suffrage movement, Hobby was Texas governor when the state ratified the 19^th amendment on June 28, 1919.

Edith Therrel Wilmans – A suffrage leader, lawyer and mother of three, Wilmans was also the first woman elected to the Texas State Legislature. She helped create the Dallas Housewives League and the Dallas Equal Suffrage Association.

Nonie B. Mahoney – When a bill allowing women to vote in the Texas primary election came before the state legislature, Dallas suffrage leader Nonie Mahoney secured a key “yes” vote from a Dallas legislator when she gathered 10,000 petition signatures in a matter of days.

The “Count Her In” campaign aims to influence 300,000 Texas women citizens to register to vote, seeking to increase by 5 percent the number of Texas women who are registered. There will be a link to register to vote on each campaign social media post and on the campaign’s web page.

According to Dawson Thompson, “This campaign will be true reflection of our Texas Women’s Foundation’s history, focus and practices that center on diversity, equity and inclusion.” 

To follow the “Count Her In” campaign, visit https://www.txwf.org/countherin, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram.

About Texas Women’s Foundation

Texas Women’s Foundation, formerly Dallas Women’s Foundation, is investing to Transform Texas for Women and Girls, empowering them to build stronger, more equitable communities throughout Texas. One of the world’s largest women’s funds, it is a trusted leader in advocating for and advancing economic security for Texas women, girls and families, and ensuring women and girls are enabled and supported in taking leadership roles in every sector in the state. With more than $35 million in assets, Texas Women’s Foundation raises approximately $9 million a year to underwrite groundbreaking statewide research on issues affecting women and girls – providing decision-makers and lawmakers with critical data to inform policies, practices and programs in the state. Funds also sustain the Foundation’s $6 million in annual grants, mission-focused gendered asset investments, and support for innovative programs and solutions to help Texas women and girls thrive. For more information, visit www.txwf.org, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram or donate now.