Dallas philanthropic leaders Diane and Hal Brierley have committed a gift of $5 million to the United Way Foundation of Metropolitan Dallas, making them the newest members of the Caroline Rose Hunt Legacy Society – Million Dollar Circle. The gift marks the couple’s largest-ever donation to a social service organization. The Unite Forever Campaign was launched in February of 2015 to raise $100 million for the United Way Foundation of Metropolitan Dallas to transform the lives and preserve the futures of North Texans.
The Brierleys’ commitment includes a $2 million gift to endow their annual $100,000 Tocqueville Society gift, also making them the newest members of the Tocqueville Legacy Circle, a group of Tocqueville donors who have funded their annual gift in perpetuity. Their additional $3 million gift is a bequest earmarked in part to support United Way’s Social Innovation Fund. The Brierleys hope their gifts will serve as a catalyst to encourage others to perpetuate their annual support of United Way, as announced at United Way’s ‘Second Tuesday’ Tocqueville Society luncheon held at AT&T Headquarters in Dallas on Tuesday, February 9th.
“The Brierleys have been a driving force behind many important endeavors in the city of Dallas,” said Jennifer Sampson, CEO and President of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. “Their longtime involvement and service at United Way have provided strategic direction, sage wisdom, and vast resources. We are grateful to Diane and Hal for this generous gift, sure to unite this community in creating secure futures for generations to come.”
While perhaps best known for their love of the arts and animals, Diane and Hal have been a powerful influence in the social services arena, specifically through United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. As bold visionaries, the Brierleys are not only supporting the Unite Forever campaign with resources, but also with their time. Diane and Hal have been United Way of Metropolitan Dallas Tocqueville Society members for more than two decades. They are members of the Tocqueville La Societe Nationale, recognizing those who give $100,000 or more to United Way, and longtime members of the $25,000 Circle of the Ruth Sharp Altshuler Tocqueville Society, chaired by Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach. Hal currently serves on the Board of Directors of the United Way Foundation of Metropolitan Dallas and has been a member since 2009. He also serves as Vice-Chair of the Unite Forever Campaign Committee, leading the Endow Tocqueville strategy. Diane and Hal served as Dinner Co-Chairs for United Way’s 90th Anniversary Gala in February of 2015.
“United Way of Metropolitan Dallas has developed strategies and technologies that will be models for United Ways around the country as they seek identify solutions, engage volunteers and re-shape the future,” said Hal Brierley. “Diane and I are proud to be part of the Unite Forever Campaign, and to take this step to perpetuate our support of United Way and its mission to fortify the fabric of this great city for all who live and work here.”
For nearly 30 years, Hal Brierley served as Chairman, CEO, and Chief Loyalty Architect of Brierley & Partners, a pioneer in the design and operation of customer loyalty programs. Hal began his entrepreneurial career immediately after graduating from Harvard Business School, as co-founder of Epsilon, a pioneer in database marketing, serving as President and CEO for 11 years.
In 1980, Hal served as the one consultant for the design of American Airlines’ AAdvantage program, the first frequent traveler program. Later, as Vice President of Sales and Advertising for Pan American World Airways, he launched WorldPass, the first global frequent traveler program. In 1983, he was named Senior Vice President of Marketing for Continental Airlines.
In 1999, as a spin-off from Brierley, Hal launched e-Rewards, Inc., today the world’s largest online market research panel with sales of over $300 million, serving some 2,500 market research firms.
“A pioneer in customer loyalty, Hal has played a key role in shaping the programs we know and enjoy today,” said Ed Galante, Unite Forever Campaign Co-Chair. “His remarkable business achievements and continuing efforts to educate future leaders are mirrored by his commitment to giving back to our community.”
In addition to his service to United Way, Brierley is a member of the Executive Board of the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts, a Lifetime member of the Board of Governors of the Dallas Symphony, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Baylor Health Care System Foundation, the Dallas Arboretum, the Dallas Opera, and North Texas Public Broadcasting.
Nationally, Hal serves on the Dean’s Advisory Board at Harvard Business School where he has underwritten a Marketing Chair, the Advisory Board of the Smithsonian National Zoo, the International Board of Advisors of the National Geographic Society, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Foundation Trustee Council, and the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of The Better Angels Society, the Foundation supporting Ken Burns’ documentary work for PBS.
Diane Brierley is an active and dedicated community volunteer, with a deep passion for the arts, education and wildlife conservation. She is a Life Trustee of the Dallas Theater Center, where she chaired its 50th Anniversary celebration; Vice Chair of the Board of the Dallas Zoological Society, where she chaired the opening of the Giants of Savanna and has held numerous other leadership roles; a member of the Board of Directors of the Dallas Opera and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Foundation.
Diane volunteers with the March of Dimes, Shakespeare Dallas, the SPCA, and TACA. She is a past member of the Advisory Board of the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts and a former member of the Board of Directors of TACA, the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Dallas Chapter, the Dallas Heritage Village, Friends of WRR, the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra, KERA-TV, and Regis College.
She is a member of Charter 100, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League, the Dallas Theater Center Guild, the Dallas Women’s Club, Marianne Scruggs Garden Club, the Women’s Board of the Dallas Arboretum, and the Women’s Board of the Dallas Opera. Diane has been the recipient of numerous awards, including TACA’s Silver Cup Award for the Arts; Dallas Historical Society’s award for philanthropy; and the Dallas Chapter of National Society of Fund Raisers’ Outstanding Philanthropist.
“Diane and Hal’s impressive and broad involvements have critically contributed to enhancing the quality of life in our community,” said Ruth Altshuler, Unite Forever Campaign Co-Chair. “Their contributions personally, financially and professionally are incredibly valued, as is their passion for improving the lives and futures of all those who live in Dallas.”
The Brierleys’ gift to the Unite Forever Campaign follows a $5 million dollar gift announced in October of last year made by the 19 grandchildren of Caroline Rose Hunt in her honor.
Led by co-chairs Ruth Sharp Altshuler, Ed Galante and Roger Staubach, the Unite Forever Campaign will ensure a more predictable, sustainable, and stable future for North Texas by ensuring operational and grant support for three critical areas: education, income and health. By building a strong financial base for United Way to withstand economic and annual fund fluctuations, it will grow investments in strategic partnerships beyond the parameters of the traditional three-year community impact grant cycle. Guaranteeing long-term resources for the future, the Unite Forever Campaign offers the flexibility to fund new and emerging community-wide solutions. Generous donors, including the Brierleys, have already committed more than $35 million toward the campaign’s goal.