The Greater Dallas Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ 30th Annual National Philanthropy Day Luncheon, was held Friday, Nov. 13 at the Hyatt downtown. Each year, this event brings together area nonprofits, volunteers, funders, foundations, business and community members to honor many of this city’s finest who give selflessly in support of numerous worthy causes. This year’s awards honored Cecilia and Garrett Boone as Outstanding Philanthropists; Nancy Strauss Halbreich as Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser; James N. Falk, CFRE, as Outstanding Fundraising Executive; The Moody Foundation as Outstanding Foundation; JPMorgan Chase & Co. as Outstanding Corporation; Kendall Deitch as Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy; as Scott Murray, the event’s emcee since 2001, with the Special Recognition Award.
Dallas Philanthropist Nancy Dedman, served as the event’s first honorary chair in honor of the 30th anniversary. “As we think back over the last 30 years, Nancy Dedman, a past recipient of the Outstanding Philanthropist Award, possesses all of the qualities we look for in our award recipients each year. She is a true philanthropist who extends her generosity to a host of worthwhile causes, including education, health care, and the arts.”
Elliott announced that the luncheon had raised $85,000 toward AFP’s continuing education programs that support ethical fundraising and responsible gift stewardship.
Key sponsors included Janet and Wyatt Davis of Clarkson Davis; Susan Swan Smith of the Communities Foundation of Texas; Karen Waller of Dini Spheris; and Dr. Joe May of the Dallas County Community College District Foundation. In honor of the anniversary, this year’s event welcomed a diamond level sponsor: Jeanie Wyatt, President & CEO of South Texas Money Management, who was presented with AFP’s special 30th anniversary diamond award on stage. Park Cities News was an in-kind sponsor.
KERA, the event’s presenting sponsor, filmed videos again this year of the award recipients speaking prior to receiving their awards.
Outstanding Philanthropists Cecilia and Garrett Boone, nominated by Dallas Women’s Foundation and sponsored by Clarkson Davis, are inspiring philanthropists, creating transformational change in Texas and beyond with generous gifts in three areas: equity for women and girls; quality of life for children; and environmental stewardship. The Boones influence and lead a broad network of philanthropists, business leaders, elected and appointed officials, and the nonprofit community across Texas and nationally.
Outstanding Corporation JP Morgan Chase & Co. (JPMC), jointly nominated by Dallas County Community College District (DCCCD) and United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and sponsored by Dallas County Community College District Foundation, has a long-standing history of providing significant philanthropic support locally and nationally. Most recently, JPMC launched a five-year, $250 million global workforce readiness training initiative called New Skills at Work. Chase’s investment in local programs, capacity-building efforts, and cutting-edge research continue to transform the workforce development ecosystem in North Texas.
Outstanding Foundation The Moody Foundation, nominated by Texas Health Resources Foundation, has created a 70+ year legacy of transformational change in Texas, including early grants such as disaster relief for the 1947 Texas City chemical explosion. From arts and education, to social services, to environmental causes and health, the Moody Foundation has stayed true to the founder’s intent “to benefit in perpetuity present and future generations of Texans.”
Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser Nancy Strauss Halbreich, nominated by Parkland Foundation and sponsored by Dini Spheris, is known throughout the community for her tenacity, passion and work ethic for fundraising. Her contributions include co-chairing the $150 million capital campaign to build the new Parkland hospital. Known for taking on big projects and tackling them with energy, enthusiasm, and humor, Halbreich makes every organization she serves a better place for the next generation of volunteers.
Outstanding Fundraising Executive James N. Falk, nominated by Rebecca Rhule and sponsored by the Communities Foundation of Texas, has 24 years of fundraising experience. Since 2001, he has served as president and CEO of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth, growing its membership from 350 to over 4,000 and its annual budget from $375,000 to $2.3 million. Falk believes in giving to the organizations he serves and is a respected leader who has impacted the fundraising success of many organizations in North Texas and beyond.
Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy Kendall Deitch, 18, nominated by the North Texas Food Bank, created “Big Sister’s Closet,” a program in which she and other Highland Park High School students donate their gently used clothing to fifth grade girls at LL Hotchkiss Elementary School. Her creative idea is not only meeting an important need for the young students, it is inspiring and mobilizing other teen volunteers, showing them how they can also make a difference.
Since 2001, Special Recognition Award Recipient Scott Murray has been an enthusiastic and invaluable National Philanthropy Day partner, readily volunteering to emcee and promote the luncheon while using his talent and network to celebrate philanthropy in our community. He is known for his long-term involvement in the nonprofit sector in the Dallas area, participating in thousands of events over the last 35 years and helping to raise millions of dollars for charitable causes.
A video tribute showcasing Outstanding Philanthropists and Outstanding Volunteer Fundraisers over the past 30 years was also shown during the luncheon. Some of these award recipients were in the audience.
Attendees included past Outstanding Philanthropists Ruth Altshuler, Nancy Dedman (who was also this year’s honorary chair), Mary Terry, and Outstanding Volunteer Fundraisers Caren Prothro, Janie McGarr, and Carol Seay. Also in the crowd were Louise Eiseman, Don Glendenning, Jan Rees-Jones, Elaine Agather, and Florence Shapiro.
The Greater Dallas Chapter of AFP was among the first to begin celebrating National Philanthropy Day in 1981. Today, over 500 attend the luncheon which includes AFP members and community leaders. National Philanthropy Day celebrates the great contributions philanthropy, and those who work in the philanthropic process, make to our community. AFP Chapters involve more than 28,000 individuals in celebrating philanthropy each year.