Written by: Jan Langbein, CEO of Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support

North Texas Giving Day is back this year on September 19^th. We are spotlighting one of the more than 3,000 nonprofits participating this year, Genesis Women’s Shelter. Read more about the impact of North Texas Giving Day below.

For more than a decade, Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support has participated in North Texas Giving Day, using this powerful community initiative to raise funds for programs like our award-winning K-12 school and cutting-edge counseling services that help women and children heal from the trauma of domestic violence. In 2018 alone, the North Texas Giving Day campaign raised a whopping $225,000! For the 3,700 women and children served by Genesis each year, this money provides help, hope and healing. These critical funds provide women with safety, shelter and the resources necessary to take care of themselves and their little ones.  

Each year, North Texas Giving Day provides an avenue through which donors are encouraged to give and inspire real, worthwhile changes in their own community. Last year, more than 100 of the people who donated to Genesis during Giving Day were first-time donors, showing us that North Texas Giving Day is successfully raising awareness about vital community issues into new and untapped audiences! The philanthropic spirit of Giving Day is truly visible year after year: as the largest giving campaign in the nation, Giving Day brings together a community of support and strength for the women and children that Genesis serve. 

At Genesis, we understand the isolating effects that domestic violence has. When a woman first comes to Genesis, we show her that we are there for her and that we believe her. We use our resources to help and support her – but first, those resources must come from somewhere. Campaigns like North Texas Giving Day motivate and inspire donors to display an incredible amount of compassionate empathy for many wonderful causes. When we receive a donation, it’s about more than just funding – it’s about a community of people showing up for someone in need and telling them, “We believe you, we support you and together, we can do this.” 

On September 19, 2019, get up and give to support women at Genesis Women’s Shelter at: https://www.northtexasgivingday.org/genesis

Written by Natalie Boyle, President and CEO of Mommies In Need

North Texas Giving Day is back this year on September 19^th. We are spotlighting one of the more than 3,000 nonprofits participating this year, Mommies in Need. Read more about the impact of the Giving Day below. 

I started Mommies In Need five years ago after dealing with cancer treatment while a stay-at-home mom to twin toddlers. That experience led me to develop a program that provides nannies to moms going through a health crisis. To date, we have served Dallas families with over 20,000 hours of free childcare. Not only is our in-home program flourishing, but we are about to open a free drop-in childcare center at Parkland Hospital that we expect to serve more than 3,000 children each year!

Since 2015, Mommies In Need has raised over $160,000 through North Texas Giving Day. The funds and awareness that have come from NTXGD have been a huge factor in our success and quick growth.  Last year, NTXGD brought in almost $60,000, which gave us the capital to expand into Colin County and provide an additional 4,000 hours of free childcare!

Giving Day is one of my favorite times of the year (check our Facebook page to see previous fundraising stunts like singing Karaoke in Target and getting a tattoo of our logo!) It is also a chance for me to get to know and work with other members of the robust and innovative community of non-profits here in North Texas.

North Texas Giving Day is not just about getting people to donate to their favorite non-profit. The spirit of NTXGD is one of abundance- yes, I want people to give to MIN, but I also want them to discover and support as many other organizations as they can!

This year, we are introducing two new elements to our Giving Day celebrations:

First, we have partnered with three other organizations (HopeKids, Pamper Lake Highlands, and Team Mercy) to put together a fundraising challenge: if we can get 50 individual donors to give to all four organizations then our sponsor, Mission Increase Foundation, will award us each a $2,500 bonus prize!!

We are also hosting an “After School Funfest” sponsored by Comerica Bank with snow cones, cotton candy, face-painting, pet adoptions, and more to celebrate Giving Day. We are inviting other non-profits to participate to celebrate that our community is so vibrant because of ALL of the amazing organizations that strengthen North Texas!

Everyone is welcome to join Mommies In Need at our NTXGD After School Fun Fest on Thursday, September 19 from 2-6pm at the Comerica bank at Mockingbird and Abrams!

Written by: Lenita Dunlap, CEO

North Texas Giving Day is back this year on September 19^th. We are spotlighting one of the more than 3,000 nonprofits participating this year, Heart House.  

Picture this: You’re only 8 years old and you live in a war-torn country, with the threat of violence all around you. Your parents wake you up in the middle of the night and tell you that you have to leave quickly, leaving everything you have behind. You know you are looking for somewhere “safe.” But what does “safe” even mean? You might travel on foot for a week, but your journey could also last months. Finally, you might arrive to a refugee camp. You might stay for months, possibly years.

Then, you arrive in a new country: the U.S. The process is long, arduous. No one speaks your language. You have a new home, perhaps shared with two other nuclear families, relatives of your mom or dad. Attending school is intimidating. Making friends? Forget it.

Above all, though, dark memories and experiences of home and your journey hold over your head. Sleepless nights, perhaps. Perhaps you stop talking altogether. You might run to hide in corners.

You are stuck in a constant state of chaos. 

But what if there was some place where you could go every day to deal with these feelings?

A safe place, after-school, every week day, from three to six, perhaps. Perhaps this program’s classrooms are actually in your apartments. Perhaps, in the clubhouse of your apartments. Perhaps at a nearby community center.

A place with teachers who could help with your homework – in-depth help, at your own pace. Teachers who understand your experiences, who give you a mindful corner, a place where you can go to regulate yourself. When you are feeling angry, melancholy, anxious... you, and only you, decide to go to this place. You could sit on the furry, comfy chair, perhaps grab a book. Perhaps close your eyes. Until you decide you feel better.

These teachers – they understand your culture, and they want you to love it. They tailor projects around learning more about your culture. You feel cherished. You can ask questions about this new addition to your culture – this American addition. Your teachers will happily answer. They will guide you through, whenever you need them.

This safe place with understanding teachers - it could also have counselors who can talk to you about your trauma and fears and culture and adjusting to your new life. They help you find that voice – that voice and agency that is given to you all of the time in the classroom, like when you decide to go to the mindful corner.

You are dealing with your problems, with the help of these teachers.

You make friends. You are able to catch up in school. You learn the language. You find your voice. You are able to regulate yourself. You understand what is happening within your body. You make friends.

You are moving from chaos to calm.

This place exists, and you’ve probably been a mile away without knowing it. We reside on the other side of US-75, across Northpark Center.

Heart House is an education non-profit that serves refugee children with a holistic after-school and summer program utilizing culturally relevant, social emotional learning to help refugee children thrive in their new community – Vickery Meadow in Dallas. We work in three sites – all within the community, within a 3-mile radius. Two are apartment-based, where a lot of our students live, and the third is at Northwest Community Center.

Donating just $300 this North Texas Giving Day will cover the cost of a YEAR of this program for a child. That’s only $25 a month for a program that can help a child deal with their trauma.

Give kids the tools they need to succeed and thrive right here in Dallas by donating to Heart House this North Texas Giving Day. Dollar for dollar gifts on North Texas Giving Day will be matched up to $19K. Get up and give here: https://www.northtexasgivingday.org/heart-house.

Written by: Mark Rummel 

North Texas Giving Day is back this year on September 19^th. We are spotlighting one of the more than 3,000 nonprofits participating this year, Trinity Habitat for Humanity. Read more about the impact of the event below.

Trinity Habitat for Humanity is continuing their One Day, One Home tradition for North Texas Giving Day this year. They’ve set a BOLD goal for September 19 - fund Esther and Valeria Becerra’s entire Habitat home in a single day!

In 2017, the community came together on North Texas Giving Day and funded Rachel Williams and her grandchildren’s Habitat home in one day! Then last year, everyone did it again in support of Khadijah and her boys! Now, with your help, Trinity Habitat is going to do it yet again! With your gift, which will be DOUBLED on Sept. 19, Trinity Habitat will be able to build Esther and Valeria’s quality, affordable Habitat home this year! 

Esther, a single mom, has found with rising housing costs, working hard has not been enough to afford a stable, quality home. She and her 8-year-old daughter, Valeria, share a bedroom in a small apartment. Living there for eight years, Esther has never felt safe. But with your support, Esther will finally be able to provide Valeria with a safe, stable home.

Esther understands the value of homeownership and is committed to building a better life for her daughter! When she was approved to purchase a Habitat home, Esther got right to work investing her 250 sweat equity hours - what Habitat requires in place of a down payment. One of her favorite ways to earn her hours has been helping build other Habitat families’ homes. She feels good helping others and has been able to meet and work alongside some of her future neighbors.

Valeria is a bubbly 8-year-old full of life. She could not be more excited about having her own room and a backyard! She plans to paint her room her favorite color, light pink, and decorate it with her favorite princess, Moana. 

Having an affordable mortgage is what Esther is excited about. She will have a quality, stable home in a safe neighborhood at a price she can afford. In addition to being able to afford the basic necessities for herself and Valeria, Esther will also be able to start saving for something very important to her, Valeria’s education. And, because Esther’s mortgage payment has no-interest, she will begin building up equity in her home very quickly. This will help provide long-term financial stability for her family.

Learn more and be a part of getting Esther and Valeria into their new Habitat home at TrinityHabitat.org/OneDay. Follow Trinity Habitat’s progress towards their BOLD goal on Sept. 19 at Facebook.com/TrinityHabitat.

Written by: Valerie Murdoch

North Texas Giving Day is back this year on September 19^th. We are spotlighting one of this year’s participating nonprofits, Mission East Dallas.

We often take healthcare for granted, but we’re seeing more and more people find themselves with less coverage for healthcare, or none at all. When this happens people simply avoid the doctor, and simple conditions turn into serious concerns.

At Mission East Dallas, we believe healthcare should be accessible for all, and we provide care for people of all ages and all backgrounds. We even have a dental clinic and behavioral health clinic available in the same facility, making it easy to have a team of doctors helping you out!

Brenda, one of our past board presidents, shared how she got introduced to our clinic:

In 2010 I discovered I had Type II Diabetes. I knew I needed a primary doctor for this condition. I had no insurance at that time and quotes for private insurance were not an affordable option for my budget.

I started with Parkland but was turned down by every clinic for financial support in order to see a doctor. My salary was just barely above their cap and because of that I didn’t qualify. I eventually found help where I was able to make payments instead of a flat-out denial of care. While there I started seeing Dr. Berry who talked to me about my diabetes, discussed medication, and created a plan for me to take care of my health.

When Dr. Berry moved his practice to Mission East Dallas, I discovered this wonderful clinic and I instantly felt at home. It’s important that the staff you see even before you see the doctor make you feel comfortable.

Over five years, Dr. Berry and I had formed a trusted partnership in my healthcare. By October of 2013, my Diabetes was then and is still today, diet controlled. I couldn’t have done this without faith, Dr. Berry, and support from friends, family, and staff at Mission East Dallas. It was a long journey to change my lifestyle, but was worth every moment!

At Mission East Dallas, we are proud to support patients just like Brenda who have real situations and need reliable care. We believe in the power of prevention and we help patients prevent more serious conditions every single day.

Thanks to donors, grants, and funding from programs like North Texas Giving Day, we are able to support patients, regardless of their ability to pay. We can help prevent more serious health issues and promote healthy lifestyles for our community.

Get up and Give on September 19 to Mission East Dallas at https://www.northtexasgivingday.org/mission-east-dallas. Thank you for supporting the work at Mission East Dallas!