While others took a day off on the third Monday of January, 70 students from several high schools devoted the day to packing hundreds of backpacks full of food so needy school children would not go hungry on weekends.Area high school students worked together to fill backpacks with non-perishable, kid-friendly food for the Food 4 Kids program.

As part of the Youth Against Hunger program, students from Parish, St. Mark's, Hockaday, the Episcopal School of Dallas, Highland Park, Greenhill and J.J. Pearce high schools spent the day sorting canned goods, potatoes and meats, providing in total 20,683 meals.

“I was so proud of them. They planned the whole thing,” said Natalie Butters, the volunteer coordinator for the Food Bank. The Food Bank's backpack program, called Food 4 Kids, addresses the challenge that many elementary school children, who are on the free and reduced-price school meal program, face when they leave school for the weekends.

The Food 4 Kids program provides backpacks full of non-perishable, kid-friendly food for them to take home on Friday afternoons. Last year, the program grew to 330 schools, feeding about 11,000 hungry children in Dallas and surrounding counties.

The program was created last August when several high school students, including Kendall Wolkenstein, a student at J.J. Pearce High School, turned their passion for combating hunger into action. Wolkenstein, the daughter of Food Bank board member Jon Wolkenstein, was working on her Girls Scouts Gold Award by volunteering at the Food Bank. She brainstormed with other students about ways they might motivate high school students to be more involved in fighting hunger. From those discussions, the students formed a teen board that now meets monthly to plan activities to fight hunger.

The event on King's birthday turned “a day off” into “a day of service,” in the spirit of the civil rights leader, said Christi Morrow, the Community Service Director for the Episcopal School of Dallas.

“What was really so exciting about this event was that our students compete in everything – academics, sports, even the robotics program,” Morrow said. “This was a time when they actually did not compete. They worked together on a common cause. That was cool.”

For More Information:

• Visit NTFB.org
• See briggsfreeman.com
• Also see updatedallas.com for the latest in real estate news

CEO Robbie Briggs independently owns and operates Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty.

The Metroplex is bursting with beautiful homes ready to greet new owners. This week step out and see new-on-the-market properties with exceptional amenities, great outdoor entertaining spaces and convenient locations, all situated in the area’s most sought-after neighborhoods. To see more extraordinary homes go to briggsfreeman.com.

6035 Mimosa Lane
Located in beautiful Preston Hollow, this Country English home, originally a custom build, is extensively remodeled with new hardwood floors, marble counter tops in the kitchen and a restyled master suite. Five bedrooms, play areas, office, pool and extensive landscaping create a wonderful live, work, play environment. $1,925,000. Pete Ryan-214-957-3547 and Susie Ryan-214-957-6886.

5538 Preston Haven Drive
A Country French home in the Preston Hollow area features an open flow floor plan for entertaining and wonderful space for family living. The large backyard is lush with beautiful landscaping. $1,024,999. Jenny Wood-214-729-0560.

4335 Travis Street
This exceptional Uptown home near the Katy Trail was developed by Diane Cheatham and designed by Lionel Morrison. The open floor plan includes a luxurious first floor master and gourmet kitchen. Special features include built-in speakers, computerized art lighting and window shades. $849,000. Claire Dewar-214-808-6045.

3521 Dartmouth Avenue
From the front courtyard to the French doors opening to the back lawn with pool, this Park Cities home offers an enjoyable family environment. The den is the heart of the home with vaulted ceilings, fireplace and wet bar and a spacious gourmet kitchen with island, breakfast area and two dishwashers — all perfect for family and friends. $1,549,000. Michelle Wood-214-564-0234.

3604 Centenary Avenue
A premiere 75’ x 150’ heavily treed lot in the heart of University Park includes a traditional home for reconstruction or, alternately, is a wonderful building site for new construction. $1,495,000. Carol Storey-214-707-1142 and Clair Storey-214-507-1388.

4236 San Carlos Street
Lovingly updated and expanded, this home is ideally located only two blocks from Bradfield Elementary and Highland Park Village. This charming family home is complete with functional and entertaining spaces. $1,050,000. Meredith Ferrell-214-868-1177 and Brenda Ray-214-864-9070.

4549 Voyager Drive
This Light, bright home in Frisco is fresh with new paint and carpet, making it move-in ready. The spacious kitchen, den, upstairs game/media room and backyard pool are ideal for family. $395,000. Michelle Wood-214-564-0234.

Extraordinary homes and extraordinary people create great neighborhoods. Go to briggsfreeman.com to see luxury homes for sale in the DFW area. CEO Robbie Briggs independently owns and operates Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty. LeeLee Gioia, Anne Goyer, Michelle Wood, Amy Detwiler, Jenny Wood, Lucinda Buford, Tessa Mosteller, Robin McMonigle, Ellen Harbison, Betsy Cameron, Janis Wells, Karla Trusler, Alex Trusler, Will Seale, Ginger Nobles, Susan Baldwin, Judy Sessions, Adele Broughton, Fiona Richards, Tim Cox, Baird Hicks Reed, Tom Hughes, Susie Ryan, Pete Ryan, Jonathan Rosen.

Highland Park Presbyterian Day School just hit senior citizen status!

Good thing they have an amazing playground where generations of Park Cities “kids” of all ages can celebrate the school’s 60-year anniversary.  This community landmark, located on University Boulevard next to Williams Park, has been the educational launch pad for many area families. Some have sent three generations of children to through the HPPDS program.

“It’s pretty funny to pull up to the carpool line and see my old pre-school buddies unloading their own pre-school-aged kids,” said Taylor Hunt, a graduate of HPPDS who now sends son George, 5, and daughter Hailey, 4, to the Highland Park icon. Son, Wilson, 2, is already gearing up to attend next year. “I remember that the teachers were always challenging us, and I see the same commitment to great education with my own kids. They come home excited about books and learning.”

Although much of the Christian-based curriculum has remained unchanged since the school doors first opened, today rolling iPad labs bring 16 touch tablets right to classrooms of kids from Beginners (age 3) through fifth grade. And with the introduction of applications such as Glogster, for safe online searching, and Skype, students are able to interact with school kids around the world. 

“We used to have record players and tape decks in the class,” said Carrie Parsons, executive director of the school for the past 19 years. “Today, we see the young kids take to technology like ducks take to water.” Tablets and technology aside, the school’s number one mission has stayed the same since the first students (now grandparents) walked through the front doors. “We are committed to developing disciples of Jesus Christ through academic excellence,” Parsons said.

“Every child has been gifted by God, and it’s our job to recognize
those gifts and take them as far as they can go,” Parsons said.

Perhaps another 60 years or more…

The school will celebrate the diamond anniversary at “Camp Bingo,” a glamorous camping event to be held on February 8 at Brook Hollow Golf Club. Money raised at the event will go toward items for the school’s computer lab, teacher benefits and a Smart Table for the kindergarten class.

For More Information:

• Go to hppds.org
• Email event chair Paige Slates, paigeslates@sbcglobal.net
• See briggsfreeman.com/People
• Visit updatedallas.com for the latest in real estate news

Extraordinary homes and extraordinary people create great neighborhoods. Go to briggsfreeman.com to see luxury homes for sale in the DFW area. CEO Robbie Briggs independently owns and operates Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty. LeeLee Gioia, Anne Goyer, Michelle Wood, Amy Detwiler, Jenny Wood, Lucinda Buford, Tessa Mosteller, Robin McMonigle, Ellen Harbison, Betsy Cameron, Janis Wells, Karla Trusler, Alex Trusler, Will Seale, Ginger Nobles, Susan Baldwin, Judy Sessions, Adele Broughton, Fiona Richards, Tim Cox, Baird Hicks Reed, Tom Hughes, Susie Ryan, Pete Ryan, Jonathan Rosen.