United Way of Metropolitan Dallas is celebrating the success of its annual fundraising effort under the leadership of David T. Seaton, Chairman and CEO of Fluor Corporation. At the United Way Awards, presented by Fluor on Thursday, June 2, at Gilley’s Dallas, supporters were thanked and recognized for their roles in reaching an ambitious fundraising goal. The 2015-2016 campaign, when complete, will reach $73 million.
Funds raised support efforts to achieve United Way’s 10-year community goals: preparing at least 60 percent of all high school graduates for success, lifting 250,000 people out of poverty permanently, and improving health and quality of life across North Texas.
More than 750 companies and organizations participated in the United Way annual workplace campaign, and more than 318,000 donors from the workplace and community contributed. United Way’s annual campaign has raised more than $54 million, while gifts to United Way Foundation of Metropolitan Dallas are expected to exceed $13 million. Additionally, major gifts and state and federal grants account for nearly $6 million of the $73 million total. United Way’s fiscal year officially ends June 30th.
“It takes all of us working together to create the kind of impact United Way makes here. And this year, we’ve made a huge impact,” said Seaton, 2015-2016 annual campaign chair. “Together, we will raise $73 million for our community and I could not be more proud of the accomplishment. I’m particularly pleased with Fluor’s work with United Way to expand the use of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education tools to serve 13,000 North Texas students this year and that will reach thousands more next year. Thank you to so many committed people who have made this campaign a success.”
“Donors and volunteers stepped up in tremendous ways to forever change lives in our community,” said Jennifer Sampson, CEO and President of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. “During this campaign, we engaged nearly 7,000 volunteers to contribute more than 40,000 hours through more than 350 days of impact. Together we are creating generational change in North Texas, giving people an education that leads to better jobs and more secure futures.”
Fluor Corporation received the prestigious Spirit of Caring Award, presented to the company that demonstrates excellence in supporting the campaign and outstanding community involvement throughout the year. Fluor’s employee giving campaign raised more than $1.2 million, while the Fluor Cares volunteer program engaged and empowered employees to make a lasting difference in their communities, providing critical STEM education opportunities for local students.
Seaton passed the torch to his successor Mark Rohr, Chairman and CEO of Celanese Corporation, to serve as the 2016-2017 United Way annual campaign chair.
“We are grateful for such strong corporate and community support and unparalleled campaign leadership,” said John Stephens, senior executive vice president and CFO of AT&T and United Way Board Chair. “Together, we’re making trailblazing strides in donor, advocacy and volunteer engagement to build a stronger community and change lives forever.”
Stephens, Seaton and Sampson recognized remarkable volunteers and donors who were instrumental to the campaign’s success on the event stage. Joel T. Allison, President and CEO, Baylor Scott & White Health,is this year's recipient of the J. Erik Jonsson Award, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas’ highest volunteer honor. A former chairman of the board of United Way, Allison has been a leader in both philanthropy and healthcare throughout his career and epitomizes the spirit of volunteerism that is the inspiring legacy of J. Erik Jonsson. Allison served on both United Way’s Campaign Cabinet and Tocqueville Cabinet in 2003 and on the Chairman’s Council in 2012. He is a longtime member of the Ruth Sharp Altshuler Tocqueville Society.
Presented by Roger Staubach, the Decades of Distinction Award honored Ruth Sharp Altshuler for her longstanding commitment to changing lives in North Texas. Altshuler first volunteered with United Way more than five decades ago. In 1986, she founded the Dallas chapter of the Tocqueville Society and handwrote more than 100 letters, which generated more than $1 million in donations. She was elected chairman of the Board of Directors of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas in 1987 and received the J. Erik Jonsson Award in 1989. Altshuler was honorary chair of the 90th Anniversary celebration and today serves as a Co-chair of the Unite Forever Campaign.
Additional United Way Award recipients include:
- Give Award – Diane and Hal Brierley
- Advocate Award – Jeff Hardgrave, Atmos Energy Corporation
- Volunteer Award – Millie Bradley, Exxon Mobil Corporation (Retired)
- Education Award – Regen Horchow Fearon, Early Matters Dallas
- Income Award – Michelle Thomas, JPMorgan Chase
- Health Award – Troy Aikman and Dr. Kenneth Cooper, The Cooper Institute
- Social Innovation Award – SVP Dallas
- Emerging Leader Award – Elizabeth Ryan, Lynn Pinker Cox & Hurst
- Public Service Award – The Honorable Kenneth Sheets, Texas House of Representatives
- Social Media Award – Michelle Staubach Grimes
- Robert Miller Media Award – Alexa Conomos, WFAA Channel 8
- Community Impact Award – Texas Instruments
- Campaign Growth – SECURUS Technologies
- Outstanding New Campaign – Glazer’s
- Outstanding Leadership Campaign – Texas Instruments
- Outstanding Tocqueville Campaign – EY
Million Dollar Companies:
AT&T/CWA 6215, Texas Instruments, PepsiCo/Frito-Lay, PwC, Celanese Corporation, Energy Future Holdings and its family of companies including Luminant and TXU Energy, UPS, Fluor Corporation, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Bank of America, EY, Atmos Energy Corporation, Deloitte
Outstanding Employee Campaign Coordinator:
Christy Dobry, Energy Future Holdings; Rene Dowl, City of Garland; Yessenia Medina, Baylor Scott & White Health
Outstanding Corporate Engagement Award (for each division/industry):
Bank of Texas, Baylor Scott & White Health, City of Garland, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Fluor Corporation, Glazer’s, Haynes and Boone, LLP, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, KPMG LLP, Regency Centers, Texas Instruments.
United Way of Metropolitan Dallas brings people together to improve lives and create lasting change here in North Texas by focusing on education, income, and health – the building blocks for strong families and thriving communities. We galvanize and connect all sectors of society – individuals, businesses, non-profits, and government – to create long-term change through investing in solutions that produce healthy, well-educated and financially stable individuals and families. We raise, invest and leverage more than $50 million annually in community-focused solutions serving Dallas, Collin, Rockwall and southern Denton counties. We do more than help one person beat the odds – we are changing the odds for entire communities. To learn more, please visit UnitedWayDallas.org.