United Way of Metropolitan Dallas has announced that Pro Football Hall of Famer and Dallas Cowboys Legend Troy Aikman will lead the organization’s 93rd annual fundraising campaign. The 2017-18 campaign officially begins July 1.
Aikman will follow the leadership of Mark C. Rohr, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Celanese Corporation, who is serving as Chair of the 2016-17 annual campaign. The current campaign is on target to raise a record-breaking $75 million for the North Texas community.
Aikman is uniquely positioned to build on United Way’s unprecedented fundraising success. Resources raised will support efforts to achieve bold, 10-year community goals to prepare at least 60-percent of all high school graduates to succeed in college and careers, move 250,000 out of poverty permanently, and improve health and quality of life across North Texas.
“United Way is an organization I’ve been involved with for a very long time, and I believe in its work to enrich education, improve health and wellness and provide families with secure futures,” said Aikman. “I’m proud to serve in this role and work side by side with the most outstanding business leaders in North Texas to meet our goals. Together, we’re committed to ensuring that United Way programs and services continue to lead the way in making our community a better place to live, work and raise our families.”
Aikman’s history with United Way stretches back to his playing days when he was part of the nonprofit’s national partnership with the NFL. In 2011, he and Dr. Kenneth Cooper launched the Healthy Zone Schools Recognition Program, a partnership between United Way and The Cooper Institute to fight childhood obesity at the school level. In 2012, Aikman partnered with Roger Staubach to launch the $25,000 circle of the Ruth Sharp Altshuler Tocqueville Society. In 2014-15, Aikman served as co-chair of United Way’s 90th Anniversary Celebration with Charlotte Jones Anderson. And, in 2016, he cemented his relationship with United Way when he committed gifts totaling $1 million to the Unite Forever Campaign to establish United Way’s first-ever donor-advised fund.
Aikman follows a long and influential line of global CEOs who have served as United Way annual campaign chair, including Randall L. Stephenson, Chairman and CEO of AT&T; Rich Templeton, Chairman, President and CEO of Texas Instruments; Thomas J. Falk, Chairman and CEO of Kimberly-Clark Corporation; Tom Greco, former CEO of Frito-Lay North America; and David T. Seaton, Chairman and CEO of Fluor Corporation.
“The leadership of our Annual Campaign Chair is vital to open doors and unite Dallas in our work to change lives in our community,” said Jennifer Sampson, McDermott-Templeton President and CEO of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. “Troy is one of the nation’s most respected figures in the business of sports and certainly one of Dallas’ most beloved citizens. His drive and dedication are unmatched, and his voice for United Way will extend our organization’s reach and impact like never before.”
To get a jump on the ‘17-18 fundraising goal, Aikman has named United Way the beneficiary of the “25th Anniversary of the Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl Champions.” The event, organized by Aikman to honor teammates and coaches from Super Bowls XXVII, XXVIII and XXX, will be held Saturday, February 25, 2017, in Dallas. The evening will feature appearances by Cowboys legends, a conversation with Head Coach Jimmy Johnson and other members of the 1992 coaching staff, and a special celebration honoring Jerry Jones for his election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The Presenting Sponsors of the event are AT&T, Celanese Foundation and Texas Instruments. Fluor Corporation is the Champions Sponsor, and PwC is the Dinner Sponsor. Event Chairs include Laura and Jason Downing (Deloitte), Anne and Alan Motsenbocker (JPMorgan Chase & Co.), Rachel and Mark Rohr (Celanese Corporation), Jennifer and Edward Sampson (United Way of Metropolitan Dallas), Lenise and Randall Stephenson (AT&T), and Mary and Rich Templeton (Texas Instruments). Event Vice Chairs are Karen and Tom Falk (Kimberly-Clark Corporation), Laura and Scott Moore (PwC), Nancy and Vivek Sankaran (PepsiCo/Frito-Lay), and Lynette and David Seaton (Fluor Corporation). Event Host Committee members include Tony Aquila (Solera), Christine and Jim Berry (Deloitte), Cathy and Chris Cheatwood (Pioneer Natural Resources), Lisa and Jay Clingman (JPMorgan Chase & Co.), Karen and Alan Katz (Neiman Marcus), Marianne and Roger Staubach, and Michelle and Scott Vopni (EY).
To learn more about the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and how to give, visit www.unitedwaydallas.org.