Dodge For A Cause, a high-energy corporate dodgeball tournament, returned to SMU’s Moody Coliseum on Wednesday, August 26, drawing 28 spirited teams to compete for bragging rights in support of Vogel, a Dallas nonprofit dedicated to helping children and families overcome homelessness and poverty.

Varsity Brands, competing as “Varsity Blues & Bruisers” clinched the championship title, while last year's champion, Sewell Automotive Companies competing as “The Dodgefather’s VIII,” claimed second place. The biggest win of the night, however, came off the court: the tournament raised $200,000 to support Vogel’s mission. This year’s event was supported by Kainos Capital, Varsity Brands, Copart, Kirkland & Ellis, and many more.

Dallas boasts the sixth-largest GDP in the nation and is home to more than 20 Fortune 500 headquarters, yet the city faces a sobering reality: nearly one in three children in Dallas grow up in poverty, one of the highest child poverty rates among large U.S. cities.

Vogel works to break this cycle by ensuring every child has a safe home, a self-sufficient family, and the foundation for long-term success in school and life. The organization provides developmental programs for children and supports parents in building stable, nurturing home environments. For families across Dallas, Dodge For A Cause means more than just a night of dodgeball: it’s a step toward a stronger, more hopeful future.

Since 1987, Vogel has seen over 17,000 young, homeless children walk through their doors. Vogel provides educational, developmental, and therapeutic services to children and families affected by homelessness. Using its “Two-Generational” approach to solving homelessness, services are provided to client families through the early childhood education program and parent opportunity department. These services are free, in a safe and nurturing school environment, in which the families can learn and grow together. Visit VogelAlcove.org for more information. 

Photos c/o Samuel Harvey for Vogel and Varisty Brands