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It was a profound honor for the Asian Culture and Education Society USA (ACAESUSA) to co-host the 2024 National AANHPI Unity Summit. This gathering provided a unique platform to address the collective experiences, challenges, and aspirations of the AANHPI communities. I was deeply moved by the powerful discussions, particularly the Youth Seminar, which ACAESUSA helped facilitate. Witnessing young leaders from diverse backgrounds passionately engage in conversations about their future left a lasting impression on me. Their energy, courage, and desire to contribute to meaningful change encapsulated the very essence of why we do this work. Pictures

A highlight of this year’s summit was the ACAESUSA art exhibition at Capitol Hill, showcasing artistic talent from around the world. This year’s theme, World of Love, brought together international art submissions. The exhibit not only celebrated cultural expression but also fostered cross-cultural understanding through the universal language of art. It was inspiring to see how art can serve as a bridge to connect and empower communities. The art pieces from the 2024 ACAESUSA International Art Exhibit & Contest will raise funds to support students with autism and mental health challenges. I invite all summit attendees to visit https://acaesusa.org/art-exhibit-%26-contest for more information on how to donate and participate in this impactful event.

The joy and camaraderie shared at the summit banquet were elevated by the ACAESUSA team’s performance of traditional songs. Their heartfelt singing brought a celebratory spirit to the evening, showcasing the beauty of cultural traditions and reinforcing the importance of joy and unity in our work. It was a touching moment that highlighted the deep connections between art, culture, and community.

I also feel incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to speak at the White House during this summit. It was a humbling experience, and I want to express my heartfelt thanks to those who made this possible. During my speech, I shared my wish to end anti-Asian hate, which has deeply affected our communities. It is my hope that through our collective efforts, we can build a society that stands against hate and discrimination in all its forms.

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to President Biden for his thoughtful letter to this conference, which added immense significance to the event. I am also grateful to Erika for sending this letter and to the AAPI White House staff (Emily , Krystal and Kota for giving us the opportunity to have a voice at such a prestigious platform.

The unity displayed at the Summit was not only inspiring but also served as a testament to the strength of our communities when we stand together. The themes of advocacy, civic engagement, and cross-cultural understanding resonated strongly, reminding me that, as leaders, we have the responsibility to continue paving the way for future generations.

While I am pleased with how the Summit unfolded, particularly with the impactful youth engagement and cultural exhibitions, there are always opportunities to grow. For future events, I suggest expanding the Youth Seminar to provide even more interactive workshops where young participants can collaborate on actionable plans they can take back to their communities. Creating additional opportunities for mentorship and cross-generational dialogue would also further enrich the experience.

I would also like to express my gratitude to Professor Chang for capturing the Summit’s essence through film. These recordings will serve as valuable resources for reflection and inspiration in the years to come.

As we look forward to the 2025 Summit, ACAESUSA is eager to continue our partnership and contribute to the ongoing mission of strengthening unity among AANHPI communities. We are fully committed to this shared vision and will work tirelessly to ensure that the next summit builds upon the successes of this year.

Thank you to the organizing committee, fellow co-hosts, and all participants for making this summit an unforgettable experience. Your contributions have left an indelible mark, and I look forward to continuing this journey together.

Warm regards,
Jan Xie
President, Asian Culture and Education Society USA (ACAESUSA)

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Puttshack is thrilled to announce its partnership with One Warm Coat, a national nonprofit dedicated to providing free coats to children and adults in need. This collaboration kicks off on October 8, National Share the Warmth Day, and runs until October 29.

Each Puttshack venue will host a coat drive during this period, inviting guests to donate new or gently worn coats that will be distributed directly to a local nonprofit. As a token of appreciation, every donation—regardless of the number of items—will earn contributors a free game card redeemable at any Puttshack location.

Details about the local nonprofits benefiting from this initiative will be shared soon, so be sure to stay tuned on Puttshack’s website and social media channels for updates.

Beth Amodio, President & CEO of One Warm Coat, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership: "One Warm Coat is thrilled to be teaming up with Puttshack locations nationwide to share warmth with children and adults in need in their local communities."

Alison Schulman, Puttshack's VP of Marketing, added, "Caring Deeply is one of our company values that we live every day, and One Warm Coat is the perfect organization to connect with for this giving season. It’s important to give directly to the communities that we live and work in, and we hope that getting coats to those who need them will make a significant impact. We invite everyone to our venues to donate coats, and as a thank you, we’ll provide a free game card."

In addition to coat donations, guests will also have the option to make financial contributions to One Warm Coat through their "Donate Now" platform. Every dollar donated helps provide warmth to one person in need.

One Warm Coat is a national nonprofit that has been providing free coats to children and adults in need for over 32 years. With a network of 1,500 local nonprofit organizations across all 50 states, One Warm Coat has facilitated the collection of over 8 million coats through community-driven coat drives. The organization also emphasizes fashion circularity and reducing textile waste, helping keep millions of pounds of textiles out of landfills each year.

To learn more about how you can support this initiative and team up with One Warm Coat to share warmth, visit onewarmcoat.org today.

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North Texas’s beloved family-owned and operated meaty mainstay, Soulman’s Bar-B-Que, is celebrating five decades of great food, family, and faithful customers.

Beginning on October 19th, 1974 in Pleasant Grove, Texas, family patriarch and Soulman’s founder, Don Hallett, set out with a few straightforward goals: to serve outstanding Texas-style BBQ and provide friendly, genuine service. Soulman’s is built on original family recipes, featuring highly sought-after Beef, Sausage, Hot links, Ham, Pulled Pork, Turkey, Chicken, and St. Louis-style Ribs, smoked "low and slow" over hickory wood, along with their drool-worthy homemade sides prepared in-house alongside their bar-b-que, keeping up the Soulman’s approach to provide the freshest meals to their customers.

The company’s decades of feeding the masses at its 21 North Texas locations have earned accolades in countless best-of lists, including the Best Roadside Restaurants in America (2024), Top Bar-B-Que Chains in America (2024), the Best Bar-B-Que in Dallas for Takeout  & Delivery (2020) and one of the Best Bar-B-Que Chains in America (2018).

“We recognize that what started as a passion has evolved into a business journey that has supported thousands of team members, and fed hundreds of thousands of people, over the past 50 years,” said Brett Randle, CEO of Soulman’s Bar-B-Que. “It’s crucial to us that, despite our growth, the authenticity and quality of our food remain as genuine and down-home as they were in 1974 when Mr. Hallett first embraced the family recipes we still use at our 21 Soulman’s Bar-B-Que locations across North Texas. It is also a large part of our foundation that we honor the people and communities we serve and have served us for so many years,” says Brett Randle, CEO of Soulman’s Bar-B-Que.

LINK TO VIDEO - https://youtu.be/vtQPozpqpSA?si=ye9c4zUeecx3p0b3

Throughout 2024, Soulman’s has been offering Time Machine Tuesday deals once a month. On October 19th, Soulman’s Bar-B-Que will offer a special legacy Chuck Wagon offering for the first 74 dine-in customers from 5 pm- 9 pm at each of their 21 North Texas locations for only $19.74.  The Chuck Wagon has 1 lb of meat, 2 (16 oz) sides, 3 slices of Texas Toast or 3 buns, and bar-b-que sauce at a savings of more than $16 per order.

“We understand that Texans are hard to please when it comes to bar-b-que. We should know, we are too! That’s why we’re all about giving our neighbors a high quality and delicious meal for the best value, especially on the occasion of our 50th anniversary,” concluded Randle.

 

 

About Soulman’s Bar-B-Que

For 50 years, Soulman’s Bar-B-Que has satisfied the hardest to please bar-b-que lovers….Texans!  Founded in Pleasant Grove, Texas in 1974, Soulman’s had only a few simple goals—serve great Texas-style BBQ and offer friendly, sincere service.  Soulman’s original family recipes are still the foundation for the company’s success from their 8 different types of meat that are smoked “low & slow” over only hickory wood to their famous homemade sides, including Ranch house beans and Texas style cream corn! Throughout the years, this family-owned and operated company has remained true to its original strive for success and customer satisfaction and is honored to be considered one of the Best Roadside Restaurants in America (2024), Top Bar-B-Que Chains in America (2024), the Best Bar-B-Que in Dallas for Takeout  & Delivery (2020) and one of the Best Bar-B-Que Chains in America (2018).

 

Soulman’s currently owns and operates 21 North and East Texas locations in Allen, Cedar Hill, Fort Worth, Forney, Garland, Greenville, Hurst, Hurst Grapevine HighwayLancaster, Lewisville, Mabank, Mansfield, Mesquite, Quinlan, Red Oak, Rockwall I-30, Rockwall Goliad, Royse CitySulphur Springs, Terrell, and Van. To learn more about Soulman’s Bar-B-Que, visit them online at http://www.soulmans.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/soulmansbbq.

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The Texas vs. OU Red River Rivalry is here! If you’re skipping the crowds at the Cotton Bowl, you’re invited to Galaxy Theatres Grandscape for a decked out watch party of this year’s matchup.

Cheer on the Sooners or hook ‘em horns this Saturday, October 12, at 2:30 PM. One side of Galaxy Theatres Grandscape’s largest theater will be decked out in burnt orange while the other shines crimson!

 

$10 Tickets are available for purchase to reserve your spot today:

  • One watch party ticket 

  • $10 credit to concessions of your choice

  • Decorated theater perfect for photo ops 

Concessions include movie theater favorites like popcorn, sodas, nachos and candy - and of course, gametime favorites like local beers on draft. Enjoy the game from the comfort of a luxury reclining seat, friendly service, clean bathrooms, and best of all, no State Fair of Texas crowds!

Tickets to Friday’s watch party are available here.

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The Texas vs. OU Red River Rivalry is here! If you’re skipping the crowds at the Cotton Bowl, you’re invited to Galaxy Theatres Grandscape for a decked out watch party of this year’s matchup.

Cheer on the Sooners or hook ‘em horns this Saturday, October 12, at 2:30 PM. One side of Galaxy Theatres Grandscape’s largest theater will be decked out in burnt orange while the other shines crimson!

$10 Tickets are available for purchase to reserve your spot today:

  • One watch party ticket 

  • $10 credit to concessions of your choice

  • Decorated theater perfect for photo ops 

Concessions include movie theater favorites like popcorn, sodas, nachos and candy - and of course, gametime favorites like local beers on draft. Enjoy the game from the comfort of a luxury reclining seat, friendly service, clean bathrooms, and best of all, no State Fair of Texas crowds!

Tickets to Friday’s watch party are available here.

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L to R: Mark Riordan, Scottish Rite for Children; Barry Beal, CAPTRUST; Tom Gile, CAPTRUST; Kelly Pattillo, CAPTRUST; Robert L. “Bob” Walker, President & CEO, Scottish Rite for Children; Travis Whitten, CAPTRUST; John Pickett, CAPTRUST; Stephanie Brigger, Scottish Rite for Children.

The check was presented as part of CAPTRUST Community Foundation’s Fifth Annual Giving Day

 The CAPTRUST Community Foundation (CCF) Dallas locations (Sherry Lane and Dallas Parkway) gifted $10,000 to Scottish Rite for Children as part of CCF’s $10,000 donations to 75 charities across the country, totaling $750,000, as part of the nonprofit’s fifth annual Giving Day.

CAPTRUST Dallas representatives John Pickett, Barry Beal, Tom Gile, Kelly Pattillo and Travis Whitten. joined together for the check presentation along with Robert L. “Bob” Walker, President & CEO, Scottish Rite for Children, Mark Riordan and Stephanie Brigger, also of Scottish Rite.

John Pickett, Senior Vice President, CAPTRUST Dallas said, “CCF’s Giving Day is our way of giving a face to our mission to enrich the lives of children in the communities we serve.  We are proud to partner with Scottish Rite for Children to help its young patients receive the very best care with orthopedic conditions and learning disorders.” In addition to the $10,000, CAPTRUST Dallas donated LEGOs, puzzles and 50 backpacks filled with crayons, coloring books and other art supplies. 
    

The CCF is CAPTRUST’s 501(c)(3) foundation, with the mission of enriching the lives of children in the local communities that CAPTRUST serves. For this campaign, CAPTRUST offices identified local organizations representing causes that both benefit children and are important to the respective community.
    

Founded in 2007, the foundation has awarded over $6.25 million in grants to charitable organizations across the country that help children. The CCF’s main source of fundraising is through voluntary employee payroll deductions that are matched by CAPTRUST.

 

About the CAPTRUST Community Foundation
The CAPTRUST Community Foundation was organized in 2007 to provide CAPTRUST employees with opportunities to participate as a group in community outreach efforts. The foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) charity and is eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions. If you would like to donate or learn more about the CAPTRUST Community Foundation, please call 855.649.0943.

 

About CAPTRUST
CAPTRUST was founded in 1997 as an independent registered investment advisor. The firm provides investment management, financial planning, estate planning, and tax advisory and compliance services for individuals and families. The firm also offers a comprehensive suite of services for ultra-high-net-worth individuals to simplify their financial lives, mitigate risk, and perpetuate their legacies. For retirement plan sponsors, endowments, foundations, and religious entities, CAPTRUST offers investment advisory services, fiduciary support, plan design, provider analysis and fee benchmarking, and employee advice programs.

 

About Scottish Rite for Children
Scottish Rite for Children is a world-renowned leader in the treatment of orthopedic conditions, such as scoliosis, clubfoot, hand differences, hip disorders, sports injuries and fractures, as well as certain related arthritic and neurological disorders and learning disorders, such as dyslexia. Visit www.scottishriteforchildren.org  to learn more.

 

Photo credit: Scottish Rite for Children

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Park Place Dealerships Official Automotive Sponsor of 19th Annual Autumn at the Arboretum

The 19th annual Autumn at the Arboretum, a beloved fall tradition that transforms the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden into a pumpkin-filled wonderland, is in full swing. Park Place Dealerships is the official automotive sponsor helping bring this seasonal event to the community. 

Running through November 3, guests will see more than 100,000 pumpkins, gourds, and squash from Floydada, Texas—known as the pumpkin capital of Texas—and features 150,000 vibrant fall-blooming plants, creating a breathtaking seasonal display.

This year’s Autumn at the Arboretum highlights a special exhibit, "Texas Town," which takes visitors on an immersive journey through the lives of Texas pioneers. Guests can explore six distinct pumpkin houses, each representing a unique aspect of pioneer life.  

From the cozy atmosphere of a log cabin to the lively spirit of a local saloon, Texas Town offers a captivating glimpse into the history and resilience of early Texans. The exhibit also includes a pioneer farmstead, a general store, a humble sod house, and a one-room schoolhouse, each adorned with detailed historical markers to provide insights into the era’s daily life and architecture.

Autumn at the Arboretum is one of our favorite events of the season in North Texas,” said Kara Connor, Experiential Marketing Manager at Park Place Dealerships. “This year’s ‘Texas Town’ theme adds such a rich historical dimension, allowing families to not only enjoy the beauty of the fall season but also to step back in time and experience the pioneering spirit of Texas. We’re honored to be part of this incredible celebration.”

In addition to Texas Town, visitors can admire the striking colors of autumnal flowers, including marigolds, chrysanthemums, pentas, and other seasonal blooms, which complement the warm tones of the pumpkins, creating a truly magical experience for guests of all ages.

For more information on Autumn at the Arboretum and to plan your visit, please go to www.dallasarboretum.org.

Park Place Dealerships was founded in 1987 and has been engaged in the community through its support of the arts, medical research, children’s advocacy, and education. Park Place employs more than 1,400 members and operates eight full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Acura, and Land Rover. Park Place BodyWerks collision centers in Fort Worth, Plano and Dallas, and the Park Place Auto Auction, round out the company’s offerings. For more information, visitparkplace.com

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New Friends New Life Annual Luncheon Matthew and Camila McConaughey, Meredith Land

Nonprofit raises $1.1M at extraordinary luncheon deepening the awareness of human trafficking, recognizing supporters and programs, sharing voices of survivors, and honoring ProtectHER Awardees

Over 1,200 guests joined New Friends New Life (NFNL) on Sept. 20 at the OMNI Dallas Hotel for a memorable luncheon, raising $1.1 million to benefit the nonprofit’s mission to restore and empower trafficked and sexually exploited teen girls, women and their children, and to drive awareness of this issue and its prevalence.  The luncheon featured a conversation with power couple Camila and Matthew McConaughey, whose conversation moderated by NBC 5’s Meredith Land, ranged from their love of Texas to the work of their just keep livin Foundation, support of Uvalde, their New York Times bestselling books, and passion for University of Texas Longhorn football. Prior to leaving the stage, the couple offered a surprise $100,000 fundraising match, which they led auction-style, resulting in a fast and furious audience match of $100,000. 

“Camila and Matthew McConaughey exceeded our highest hopes as keynote speakers through their humility, passion, and kindness,” said Bianca Davis, CEO, NFNL. “We could not be more grateful for their support and for their unscripted call to action! In that one surreal moment, The McConaugheys reminded us that when we show up for survivors, our community shows up for us.”

The luncheon kicked off to the music of Sapphire Strings and greetings from luncheon Co-Chairs JoJo Fleiss and Lisa Rocchio, who recognized luncheon Honorary Co-Chairs Robin and Norm Bagwell for their longtime commitment to the work of NFNL. Rocchio shared that while attending the 2023 NFNL Luncheon, she was shocked to hear the statistics of sex trafficking in Dallas and brought her neighbor Fleiss on a  NFNL bus tour led by the Men’s Advocacy Group, demonstrating the prevalence of sex trafficking in this community. Both immediately knew they wanted to become more involved.

Pastor Bryan Carter, Concord Church, led the opening prayer, followed by recognition of this year’s ProtectHER Award recipients: Southwest Airlines and Young Men’s Service League (YMSL), shining examples of organizations that support the protection and value of women and girls in the community. NFNL Chief Development Officer Priya Murphy introduced a video about this year’s recipients, sponsored by Thomson Reuters. Accepting the awards were YMSL President, CEO and Founder Pam Rosener and Managing Director of Corporate Responsibility for Southwest Airlines Laura Nieto.

video about the Liberty Street Garden, a partnership of NFNL, the Meadows Foundation, and Bonton Farms, highlighted an important next step in the journey of restoring and empowering survivors. The garden not only provides income but also work experience in a healing environment, helping to prepare those served by NFNL for future employment.

Following a series of audio testimonials from survivors, NFNL CEO Bianca Davis highlighted the prevalent sense of hope, healing, growth, and gratitude throughout the nonprofit’s hallways, coupled with the knowledge that members, and the staff that serves them, are dealing with significant trauma. She then shifted to the main takeaways of her address.

“I want you to walk away from today knowing two things,” continued Davis. “First, human trafficking is big business. By using force, fraud and coercion, traffickers are profiting $350 billion globally selling human beings for sex or labor, leaving an estimated 50 million victims in their wake. Texas ranks second in the nation for the highest number of human trafficking victims, and here in North Texas, sex trafficking is a $99 million industry. Women and girls are the prime target, and the average age of a girl sold in the sex trade is 15. Secondly, those who fall victim are not trapped in this illegal industry by choice. No one signs up for the physical abuse, sexual assault, emotional trauma, financial bondage, shame, criminal record or lack of access to education or gainful employment. NFNL is working to strengthen the most vulnerable by removing barriers to education and economic opportunities. In addition to our Liberty Street Garden, we have an onsite legal advocacy clinic and recently opened an onsite learning academy where women are being prepared to pass their GED exams,” which generated a supportive round of applause.

Davis encouraged the audience to join the fight and thanked all for taking a Stand for Her. To the audience’s delight she then led her introduction of the McConaugheys with, “Alright, Alright, Alright!”

Meredith Land kicked off the conversation summarizing all the places the duo had been spotted lately and welcoming them to Dallas. She asked about their move to Texas, which was a decision they agreed was not hard and decided while sitting at a red light. Growing up in Brazil in a family of farmers and ranchers, Camila said the values in Texas were much the same, including saying, “Yes, ma’am” and “No, sir,” and Matthew still has family in the state.

Regarding their just keep livin Foundation, Matthew highlighted the foundation’s after-school curriculum, which helps students meet physical goals, nutritional goals, and includes community service – something Matthew didn’t think would be popular, but “that’s what gives them ownership – where they are not just receiving.” Moving on to his New York Times bestseller Greenlights,Matthew shared how “it’s inevitable that you are going to get red lights in your life – something that stops us in our tracks. Sometimes you need to be stopped.  It’s like an intervention. The idea of the book is that all red lights do eventually turn green.  Yellow lights give us a choice – do we slow down or go fast? Sometimes we look for drama where it doesn’t exist.”

Meredith then asked Camila about her background and her New York Times bestseller, Just Try One BiteCamila shared how every mother can likely relate. She grew up in Brazil in a family of farmers, where her relationship with food started. She watched her grandmother making butter and the family cooking over a wood fire. “In the journey of my life I was forced to go back to my roots … what we cook and eat and how it’s all connected.” She shared how it’s important for a child to see how something grows and what it takes to get food from farm to table, a process that fosters a sense of gratitude. “The sooner people learn and understand, the sooner they take ownership of their own lives and health.”

Camila then discussed, Women of Today, a community-based website she formed to give women a chance to share with each other and learn from each other. Matthew then asked her to share what she said about women in Texas. “Women in Texas show up, and their word is very important. 

The conversation shifted to the tragedy in Uvalde, Matthew’s hometown. He recounted the moment they decided they would go – they would show up and listen. They spent a few days visiting with families and decided to bring their children down. Their purpose was to help however needed. “Families trusted us, bringing us into intimate moments.” This led them to D.C. where the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act was signed, and then to the creation of the McConaugheys’ Greenlight Grants Initiative to help school districts nationwide access the billions of dollars of available federal funding to create safer school environments and ensure the well-being of children.

Regarding the event’s cause, Meredith highlighted the PSA Matthew participated in with the Texas attorney general about human trafficking, asking both to comment. Camila shared growing up in Brazil, she was made very aware of the potential danger. “When I moved here at 15, I thought I didn’t have to look over my shoulder, but now I’m having this conversation with my kids. Something really has to be done.”  Matthew added, “We have to realize that everyone needs to look out for one another with a keen eye before we can depend on law enforcement. It’s right here in our backyard. It’s an ugly scar.”

Closing with Matthew’s passion for UT football…  “We’re doing really well! I believe this team is still playing against how great they can be, and if they keep doing that, they are going to maintain the edge.”

Before leaving the stage, Matthew turned to Camila to share an idea that she had when they heard NFNL was $140,000 short of their goal. She asked if anyone “would like to match Matt and I up to $100,000.” The ballroom lights came on, and guests responded to the McConaugheys’ challenge with donations large and small to meet the goal and help further the life-changing work of NFNL.

Luncheon attendees included Anita Arnold, Kathy Crow, Linda Custard, Jennifer Gates, Michelle Grimes, Nancy Ann Hunt, Tonya and Charlie McKinney, Peter M. Miller, Ashlee and Chris Kleinert, Christa Sanford, Kit Sawers, Gail and Dr. Gerald Turner, Jessica Turner-Waugh, Stephanie Wilcox, Vickie Yakunin, Council Member Gay Donnell Willis and Commissioner Elba Garcia.

Media sponsors were NBC 5 and Telemundo 39 and PaperCity magazine.

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About New Friends New Life: Founded in Dallas, Texas, in 1998, New Friends New Life (NFNL) restores and empowers trafficked and sexually exploited teen girlswomen and their children, and drives awareness of the issue and its prevalence. The agency’s vision is to create a community where women and girls can soar above the limits of their past and achieve their dreams. In 2023, NFNL served 328 members (clients). NFNL also educates the community and works to eradicate the epidemic of sex trafficking through advocacy, legislative reform and strategic partnerships that address systemic causes. In 2018, NFNL opened a drop-in Youth Resource Center (YRC) in partnership with the Office of the Governor to serve trafficked and high-risk teen girls. Since its opening, the YRC has served more than 550 girls. In 2015, NFNL organized its  Men's Advocacy Group to engage men in the fight against sex trafficking and exploitation. In 2024, D CEO Nonprofit and Corporate Citizenship Awards honored NFNL as “Organization of the Year” (midsize category). For more information, visit www.newfriendsnewlife.org.

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JFS Groundbreaking JFS President and CEO Cathy Barker, JFS Board Chair Julie Gothard, Larry and Karla Steinberg, JFS CFO Steve Brown, Addison Mayor Bruce Arfsten, JFS Capital Campaign Chair Joel Litman, and JFS COO Deizel Sarte breaking ground to kick off renovations.

Historic groundbreaking during the nonprofit’s 75th anniversary year celebrates the purchase of a new building in Addison; kicks off renovations; and announces public phase of $40M capital campaign

Over 300 community leaders, partners, and supporters gathered on Thursday, Sept. 26 for the groundbreaking ceremony of The Karla and Larry Steinberg BuildingJewish Family Service (JFS) of Greater Dallas new 100,000-square-foot home at 16301 Quorum Dr. in Addison. This historic groundbreaking during the organization’s 75th anniversary year celebrates the purchase of the new building and kicks off renovations (with an anticipated move-in in late 2025) while announcing the public phase of a comprehensive $40 million capital campaign, “Meeting the Moment.” To date, through the leadership of the Steinberg family and the generosity of nearly 100 other supporters, JFS has raised $30 million towards this campaign.

“Today we are celebrating 75 years of impact,” said Cathy Barker, CEO, JFS. “This expansion marks a significant milestone in our mission to better serve the evolving needs of the community by consolidating all services in one location, efficiently providing low-income families greater access to comprehensive support. We want to express our deepest gratitude to Karla and Larry Steinberg, the lead donors and the building’s namesake, and we are excited to announce we have already received ten gifts of $1 million+ from families leading this campaign – a campaign that will fuel innovation, drive expansion, and secure sustainability for our essential services for the next 75 years.”

Almost four times larger than JFS’ Dallas home since 2001, the new Karla and Larry Steinberg Building will include: 18,000 square feet devoted to behavioral health including spaces for counseling, case management, and support groups, play therapy rooms and a sensory gym for children with special needs, services for older adults and holocaust survivor care; an expanded food pantry (doubling its current size); dedicated space for packing kosher home-delivered meals; a second and larger (10,600 square feet) primary medical clinic (in addition to its Northpoint Health Center, established earlier this year) to include a dental clinic; JFS’ accredited PLAN Clubhouse for adults with severe and persistent mental illness; and computer training rooms and offices for career and financial coaching. Additionally, reception and entrances will be highly secure.

Addison Mayor Bruce Arfsten provided remarks during the ceremony, welcoming JFS to Addison. “For nearly 25 years, JFS has been our neighbor just across the tollway, and it is so exciting to see JFS come to Addison, a great place to work and serve the community. JFS is already serving 1,000 Addison residents with their unique wraparound care model, and we are excited to see its impact grow.”

JFS Board Chair Julie Gothard thanked those present for joining the celebration of this important milestone with special recognition of board members who devoted many hours making this project come to fruition. She also recognized the City of Addison and special project partners Sunwest Realty, Susser Bank, GFF, Echelon Structure Tone, and Mission Advancement. Gothard concluded by thanking the campaign leadership team: Eric Goldberg, Jim and Ynette Hogue, Stan Rabin, Steve Waldman, Don Zale, and Campaign Leadership Chair Joel Litman. Prior to leading the campaign, Litman, who first began volunteering at JFS in 1988, has also served as board member, board chair, and foundation board chair.

The JFS Meeting the Moment $40M capital campaign divides the need for funding into three areas: whole person care, including primary care for the construction, equipment and staffing of the medical clinic as well as integrated services; expansion, including purchase of the new building and renovations; and ensuring the future with investments in the JFS endowment.

Cathy Barker introduced the Steinberg family, the building’s namesake, to provide some remarks. Oliver Steinberg began by sharing his heartfelt thanks and love to his parents.

“I just want you to know how proud I am of you both,” said Oliver Steinberg. “You have both instilled the values of giving and kindness in my upbringing and passed them on to me, carrying me for the rest of my life.”

Karla Steinberg shared, “Larry and I had been looking for a giving opportunity when we learned that JFS was bursting at the seams, and we found this to be a perfect fit. We love JFS’ philosophy of opening their doors to anyone struggling. They have a wonderful hands-on approach with many wonderful volunteer opportunities and ways for the community to become involved.”

Groundbreaking ceremony participants included the Steinberg family, Cathy Barker, JFS CEO; Julie Gothard, JFS board chair, Addison Mayor Bruce Arfsten, additional JFS leadership, past JFS presidents, community CEOs, capital campaign leadership team, building leadership, and community CEOs.

Also attending the groundbreaking ceremony were community and faith leaders, including Darren Gardner and Nancy Craig from Addison City Council, Jill Cumnock, Igor Alterman, Tracy Eubanks, and Sam Susser.

Since 1950, JFS has been a cornerstone of the Dallas community, providing critical services to those in need. Last year, JFS’ wraparound services impacted 26,000 unduplicated individuals. By 2028, with the new building established, JFS expects to serve approximately 50,000 individuals across all agency services, increase client visits from 29,000 to 120,000, and increase pounds of food distributed from 450,000 to 1.4 million. For more information visit www.jfsdallas.org.

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Jewish Family Service of Greater Dallas (JFS) is a nonprofit organization providing comprehensive health services that address physical, emotional, nutritional, and financial well-being. Its mission is to provide effective and accessible whole-person care that promotes lifelong self-sufficiency and well-being for the Greater Dallas community. JFS Dallas offers programs to the community such as primary medical care, individual age-appropriate counseling and group support, career and financial coaching, a food pantry, support for older adults, and a Clubhouse for adults with mental illness. Since 1950, JFS has served anyone, regardless of age, race, religion, or ability to pay. The agency, celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2024, impacted over 26,000 lives last year. Jfsdallas.org

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As the holiday season approaches, the dedicated volunteers of Toys for Tots are working to ensure that every child in North Texas can receive a new gift during this season of giving. Toys for Tots in North Texas will kick off its 2024 giving season on Thursday, Oct. 17, with a full day of fun at the Monument Realty PGA District, 3255 PGA Parkway, Frisco, Texas.

The day begins bright and early at 7 a.m. Frisco Mayor Jeff Cheney will be joined onsite by five-time Super Bowl champion Charles Haley to challenge North Texas mayors to match the philanthropic spirit of those in his city. Last year, Toys for Tots in Collin County collected more than 20,000 gifts, and it hopes to exceed those numbers this year. Additional guests at the morning kickoff include Mike Stuckey, the vice president of the Toys for Tots Foundation; WWF and MMA wrestling champion Bobby Lashley; and U.S. Marines in dress blues. The public is invited to join the party from 7-10 a.m.

 

At 7 a.m., supporters and golf aficionados are invited to join the “Golf Par-tee” on The Swing, the Omni PGA Frisco resort’s 10-hole par-3 course. The tournament features a shotgun start. Golfers will play as teams of four, and there will be great swag bags and prizes. Registration is $150 per player and can be done here: ticketleap.events/tickets/collincountytoysfortots/ntx-toys-for-tots-kick-off. All proceeds from this benefit event will fund purchasing toys for less fortunate children this holiday season.

The festivities resume at the PGA District at 5 p.m., when Denton Mayor Gerard Hudspeth will answer the challenge led by Mayor Cheney in the morning. The mayor will be joined by Santa and his elves as well as a collection of area high school cheer and drill teams. The mascots of several Collin County sports teams, including the Dallas Legends, the Dallas Sidekicks and the Allen Americans, will challenge each other in a putting contest on the Dance Floor, the PGA District’s massive putting course.

The public is invited to enjoy the free celebration throughout the day. While there, guests are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots, which can be placed in one of the donation boxes located throughout the Omni PGA Frisco Resort grounds. Guests who choose to purchase a toy from Gimme Toys, the curated toy store in the PGA District, will get a 20% discount on any item purchased for the Toys for Tots program.

Omni PGA Frisco hopes this is the beginning of a long and successful partnership with Toys for Tots.

“Since we opened last year, Omni PGA Frisco has made a commitment to be a strong community partner,” said Jeff Smith, vice president and managing director for Omni PGA Frisco Resort. “We are proud to help create a more magical holiday season for all children in North Texas.”

The resort will maintain donation boxes throughout the resort beginning Oct. 17 through this year’s Dec.16 deadline.

Founded in 1947, the mission of the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to less fortunate children in the community in which the campaign is conducted. 2023 was a record-breaking year! Marine Toys for Tots distributed an unprecedented 25.5 million toys, books, and games to 10.3 million disadvantaged children with the help of 50,000+ Volunteers. To date, Toys for Tots has distributed: 677 million toys to 301 million deserving children.  We are grateful for everyone who provided hope and joy in 2023!      

About PGA Frisco

PGA Frisco is a public/private partnership between the PGA of America, Omni Hotels & Resorts, the City of Frisco, and the Frisco Independent School District. The 660-acre campus is a unique destination that includes: two world-class 18-hole championship golf courses, collectively known as Fields Ranch, and a state-of-the-art clubhouse; the Omni PGA Frisco Resort, featuring 500 guest rooms and suites and 10 exclusive four-bedroom Ranch Houses, four pools, destination spa and 127,000 square feet of meeting and event space; the Monument Realty PGA District which features The Swing, a lighted 10-hole short course, The Dance Floor, a lighted 2-acre putting course and an expansive retail, dining and entertainment district, including an outdoor area for concerts and events, the high-tech, data-driven PGA Coaching Center; the Home of the PGA of America and the Jerry J. Ransom Northern Texas PGA Golf House.

 

About Omni PGA Frisco Resort

Opening May 2, 2023, Omni PGA Frisco Resort offers a reimagined destination resort experience for the ultimate getaway. With a wide selection of unique experiences and remarkable year-round programming and activities, the resort provides a diverse and fun-filled destination for guests of all ages. The oasis of the 660-acre PGA Frisco campus, this luxury resort will be both one of the world's leading meeting and conference destinations as well as a bucket list leisure destination featuring two championship golf courses at Fields Ranch designed by Gil Hanse and Beau Welling. With comprehensive resort amenities featuring a signature spa, 13 restaurants and bars, and retail shops - there's something designed for all. Featuring subtle nods to Texas culture, each of the resort's 500 guest rooms and suites and 10 exclusive four-bedroom modern-Texas ranch houses, offer sweeping views of lush surrounds. The resort features more than 127,000 sq. ft of indoor and outdoor space for meetings and events, including 2 ballrooms; 19 meeting rooms; 9 outdoor event venues; and Panther Creek Pavilion, the ideal venue for weddings. Visit omnipgafriscoresort.com or call 469-305-4500 for more information and room reservations. Follow Omni PGA Frisco Resort on Facebook and Instagram.

 

About Monument Realty

About Monument Realty: Founded in 2017, Monument Realty is a next-generation, full-service real estate brokerage based in Frisco, Texas, headquartered at The Star. Named the Number One Best Large Company to Work For by the Dallas Morning News, Monument is the Official Real Estate Company of The Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers, Dak Prescott, and PGA of America. For more information, visit monumentrealtytx.com and follow Monument Realty on InstagramFacebook and LinkedIn.

About the PGA of America

The PGA of America is one of the world’s largest sports organizations, composed of nearly 28,000 PGA Professionals who work daily to grow interest and inclusion in the game of golf. For more information about the PGA of America, visit PGA.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.