Meet United Way's Newest Social Innovation Accelerator Fellows

These innovative thinkers are changing North Texas for the better by improving access to education, income and health.

United Way of Metropolitan Dallas was founded nearly 100 years ago.  Today, social innovation is part of every aspect of their impact work. They're constantly looking for and implementing innovative solutions to systemic problems in our community.

United Way of Metropolitan Dallas partners with nonprofit and for-profit social ventures that creatively address systemic challenges impacting North Texans in the areas of education, income and health.

The United Way Social Innovation Accelerator in collaboration with Accenture, is celebrating 10 years of impact this year. The program encourages innovative solutions to social issues by providing entrepreneurs with funding, mentorship and community connections to grow their ventures and amplify their impact.

Meet This Year’s Accelerator Fellows

Abide Women’s Health Services

A Black-led nonprofit that offers culturally informed prenatal and postnatal care. Abide offers low-cost access to healthcare with the goal of reducing infant and maternal mortality among Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) folk.

Delighted to Doula

Social Innovation Incubator Graduate

A nonprofit offering anti-bias-based, judgment-free education and postpartum support to mothers in communities that traditionally receive the lowest quality of care. Delighted to Doula seeks to reduce maternal mortality rates and increase the number of mothers who have access to healthcare.

EntryWay

A national nonprofit that transitions individuals and families out of homelessness to economic self-sufficiency. EntryWay provides full-time employment, housing and career training opportunities in partnership with the real estate industry.

Healthy Hip Hop

A platform that seamlessly integrates hip-hop culture, literacy and social-emotional learning to elevate student learning environments.

Pasos for Oak Cliff

This organization’s Pasos All Stars Program is a four-week summer intervention program that works to close the learning gaps of rising ninth graders in literacy and math by combining academics with the fundamentals of sneaker design.

Preserve Owner Prosperity

An organization that works to stabilize and strengthen historically under-resourced neighborhoods, preserve and elevate their unique histories, and ensure that as revitalization advances, legacy homeowners can participate in the prosperous future of their communities

Reading Huddle

Social Innovation Incubator Graduate

Seeks to increase the number of kindergarten-ready preschoolers who have achieved an age-appropriate level of literacy development through family-led, at-home story time sessions.

Somos Tejas Community Initiative

Addresses education through civic engagement and community development

Tech Savvy DFW

Creates access to STEM education in lower-income communities in Dallas-Fort Worth area. Tech Savvy DFW has a mission to ensure that students in minority communities have a chance to future proof their own lives.

Wholly Informed Sex Ed

Social Innovation Incubator Graduate

A nonprofit community outreach program that delivers life-saving comprehensive sexual health education based in the acclaimed Our Whole Lives curriculum to K-12 students in the Dallas area, serving in schools and community spaces.

What’s Next for the Fellows

The Social Innovation Accelerator fellows are already going through an intensive bootcamp, with expert instruction that will help them refine their business plans and set important organizational milestone goals. They are also receiving one-on-one mentoring and coaching from a team of Social Innovation Accelerator mentors.

Early next year, five of the 10 fellows will be selected to participate in The Pitch, United Way's annual social innovation competition, where they will compete for tens of thousands of dollars in additional seed funding.

You’ll be seeing a lot more of these incredible organizations as they go through the Accelerator and compete for a spot at The Pitch. Stay tuned!

United Way of Metropolitan Dallas - The Pitch Competition

 

Join United Way of Metropolitan Dallas on Wednesday, October 28, at 6:00 p.m. for the fourth annual Pitch competition, which is the culmination of their Social Innovation Accelerator. Come watch this year's top five social entrepreneurs compete for $225,000 in funding as they pitch their ideas to strengthen education, income and health in North Texas. As part of the virtual audience, you help decide who wins, so get your tickets today! 

Launched in 2013, the United Way Social Innovation Accelerator is a mentor-driven social innovation fund and impact accelerator. The program invests seed funding and resources to support North Texas innovators whose organizations address issues of education, income and health. Up to ten organizations are invited each year to become Fellows of the United Way Social Innovation Accelerator. Each year, five of the 10 Fellows are selected and mentored by local business leaders in preparation for The Pitch where the Fellows can compete for funding for their innovative ventures.

https://unitedwaydallas.org/thepitch/

#LIVEUNITEDNTX

Volunteer Opportunity: Financial Aid Workshops

Volunteer to help North Texas students access Financial Aid for College Throughout February, United Way and The Commit! Partnership are hosting student financial aid workshops assisting North Texas families in accessing funds for college.   Volunteer Financial Aid Form Assistants are needed to navigate North Texas students through financial aid applications. As a Financial Aid Form Volunteer, you will visit with families and help them complete the financial aid forms, as well as provide general guidance on the appropriate next steps to access money for college. A simple 30 minute online webinar is recommended and will be provided to all volunteers.   Sign up as a financial form assistant (training provided) or as a general event volunteer.  Click here to view available dates and times: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/volunteer-to-help-students-access-money-for-college-financial-aid-workshop-at-molina-high-school-registration-15423186165

Trade In, Trade Up Denim Event at BELK This Weekend

Belk gears up for the back-to-school season in Modern. Southern. Style. with the “Concert Style” sweeps, denim donation events and more.

 

The sweeps, which runs from August 1 to September 15, offers customers a chance to win an all-expenses paid trip for four (4) to any 2014 Live Nation concert in the U.S. Belk will send their winner to the concert in style by including a $1,000 Belk gift card and $500 spending money in the prize package. Visit www.belk.com for more information and to enter. Entrants can increase their chances to win by sharing the results on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

 

In addition to the sweeps, Belk will host a nationwide, in-store denim event. From August 1- 3, customers can bring in one or more pairs of gently used jeans to donate to the United Way and receive a $5 coupon that can be used toward a new pair of junior jeans. United Way will distribute the donated jeans to local students in need.

 

Along with the company’s music campaign, Belk is featuring the winners of its southern musician showcase in back to school style videos. The videos are a behind-the-scenes look at the artists choosing their performance wardrobe in the Belk Fashion Lounge for their music tours. Viewers can see Belk’s new fashions for fall and shop the brands and products straight from the video at www.belk.com/music.

United Way Releases First Ever Scorecards

 

This week, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas proudly released its first ever scorecards.

 

The Community Goals (initially known as “United 2020”), approved by the Board in 2010, were developed by a group of more than 150 corporate, civic, philanthropic, and nonprofit leaders across our region. The group deliberately set goals that were big and bold and beyond the scope of United Way, alone, to rally wide-scale community support and collaboration.

 

After years of hard work — by volunteers, board members, content experts, business leaders, and staff — the 10-year vision for the community is being realized! You can view the full scorecards here: http://www.unitedwaydallas.org/pages/scorecard

 

Here are a few highlights:

• Laying the Groundwork for Success through Education: In 2009, the College/Career readiness rate across our region was just slightly above 40%. United Way Dallas set a goal that at least 60% of all students in our region would graduate college/career ready. In 2012, 61% of students met this mark, based on Texas Education Agency metrics. 

• Providing Pathways out of Poverty: Together, we’re working to reach the community-wide goal of 250,000 people on the path to financial stability by the year 2020. Since 2011, we’ve put over 70,000 people on that path. For example, through tax-time savings programs, 16,000 people received $29M total in tax refunds; providing a foundation for savings. But there is much more work to do!

• Paving the Road to Better Health: Good health is fundamental to our capacity to enjoy our lives, provide for our families, realize our dreams, and contribute to society. Healthy kids are more likely to succeed in school and healthy adults are more productive employees and community leaders. Since 2011, United Way funded programs have increased healthcare access for 332,000 individuals. For example, in just two years, the Healthy Zone Schools have shown dramatic results – increasing health, nutrition and fitness for over 18,000 students. 

Get involved today! 

Give to the United Way and your whole community keeps the change. Advocate by speaking out with someone today about how United Way is making lasting change. Volunteer by serving as a mentor, tutor or reader.

Sign up to read this Dr. Seuss Day 2/28

On February 28 — Dr. Seuss Day — United Way
volunteers will read to kids in 12 schools.
Do you want to be one of them?
Sign up today — these spots always go quickly!

 

Locations to choose from:

Julian T. Saldivar (West Dallas)Lorenzo De Zavala (West Dallas)Edward Titche (East Dallas)Joseph J. Rhoads (South Dallas)

Central (Seagoville)Haley (Irving)Hanes (Irving)Burks (McKinney)

Caldwell (McKinney)Finch (McKinney)

First Annual Community Training Institute

The Women’s Council of Dallas County is hosting the first annual Community Training Institute (CTI) on April 25th in North Dallas at Temple Emanu-El. CTI is a half-day educational seminar of general sessions and workshops for nonprofit leadership in DFW, and is presented in the style of the former Community Board Institute, a unique collaborative program for the nonprofit community that was held in Dallas for more than 33 years.

CTI seminars are designed for senior and mid-level leadership in nonprofit organizations as well as board members, civic-minded corporate executives, foundations and graduate students.

CTI’s done-in-a-half-day program features two keynote speakers: Major General Mary Saunders (Ret. USAF), Executive Director, Leadership Institute, Texas Woman’s University, General Morning Session; and Jennifer Sampson, CEO, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, Luncheon Session. Workshop topics include: How to Maximize Volunteers’ Time and Engagement; Nonprofit Outcomes: Finding Measurements That Matter; HR: Reviews, Development and Staffing to Keep and Grow the Right Staff; Social Media and Marketing: Picking the Right Tool; and Finding the Elusive Money Tree: Growing New Sponsors in a Tough Economy.

CTI will culminate with a luncheon presentation of the 57th awards program of the Women’s Council. Award recipients include: Distinguished Public Service – Lisa Hembry, CEO, LIFT; Member Organization – Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity; Individual Member – Sharon King, VP, CCCS; and Woman of the Year – Jennifer Sampson, CEO, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. Grant beneficiaries are: Child Abuse Prevention Center; ChildCareGroup, and North Texas Food Bank.

Tickets are available online at http://www.dallaswomenscouncil.org/ and cost $75 for the conference and luncheon. Sponsorships are still available. For more information, call 214.997.1240 or email cti@DallasWomensCouncil.org

Rainbow Days Back-to-School Celebration!

Back-to-School Celebration

Tuesday, August 17

1:00 - 4:00 PM

Dallas Market Center in North Hall

On Tuesday, August 17, Rainbow Days will host its 19th Annual Back-to-School Celebration, a fun event to help Dallas-area children living in homeless, domestic violence and transitional shelters kick off the school year with new backpacks filled with the necessary school supplies.

Rainbow Days, in partnership with Captain Hope’s Kids and the Dallas Market Center, will conduct the carnival-like event for over 400 children and family members from 23 local homeless, transitional or domestic violence living shelters and is expanding this year to include Collin County’s Samaritan Inn.

The children will enjoy entertainment, games and refreshments while receiving new school uniforms and new backpacks filled with school supplies – all to help give them a fresh start for the new school year.

How can you help?

Make a financial donation to Rainbow Days, Inc. with BTS in the memo line.

There are several other ways you can volunteer.

The Back-to-School Party is just one component of Family Connection, Rainbow Days’ award-winning program that offers a wide array of comprehensive services for Dallas’ homeless children and their families. Over 1,000 homeless children participate in the Family Connection program throughout the year. Through the program, children are given the confidence and life skills needed to make healthy choices, overcome adversity and stay drug-free.

“Every child should be given a reason to be excited about going back to school,” said Cathey Brown, Founder and CEO of Rainbow Days. “It’s not just the backpacks or the supplies that they receive, it’s the sense of purpose and self-esteem that we’re striving to build. We are truly grateful to our generous corporate, community and individual supporters who will make this event another success for over 400 homeless children this year.”

For over 28 years, Rainbow Days, Inc. (a United Way agency) has inspired children to live a life filled with hope and promise. To date, Rainbow Days has impacted more than 105,000 children in the Dallas Metroplex and trained more than 30,000 professionals in one of their award-winning curricula.

The Back-to-School Party is closed to the public, but is open to media.

Contact: Kelly Wierzbinski 214.887.0726 (o) / 214-850-7927 (c)/ kellyw@rdikids.org