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Randy Bowman

VolunteerNow has set its Hearts of Texas Luncheon for April 18, 2024, at the Arts District Mansion, with a reception at 11:30 a.m. followed by the luncheon at 12:00 p.m. For 17 years, the centerpiece of this event has been the Lifetime Achievement Award, and this year’s honoree is Randy Bowman, businessman, nonprofit founder and philanthropist. He joins the ranks of notable community leaders such as the late Ruth Altshuler, Lyda Hill, Erle Nye, Roger Staubach and former First Lady Laura Bush.

VolunteerNow will also recognize and honor Community Partners of Dallas with the Ruth Collins Sharp Altshuler Award for excellent stewardship of volunteers. Lewisville ISD will receive the Tammy Richards Impact Award for driving greater volunteer impact through their partnership with VOLY.org.

Rachel Currie Triska, VolunteerNow CEO, said, “Every year at Hearts of Texas, we bring together people with BIG hearts doing BIG good in the BIG D and beyond. This year, we look forward to celebrating Randy’s outstanding achievements, and Community Partners of Dallas and Lewisville ISD for the exceptional work they and their volunteers do every day. The event is held in April during National Volunteer Month to highlight the power of volunteerism to create the change we want to see in the world.”

Luncheon Chair Chitra Raman added, “Through a fireside chat led by Gordon Keith of The Ticket, we will hear about Randy Bowman’s legacy and his devotion to his mother, Annie Lois Hunt Bowman, who inspired him to achieve and serve in transformative ways. He is an extraordinary leader and dedicated civic contributor whose service is an inspiration to us all, and we are excited to honor him.”

Randy Bowman: Bowman is known as an innovator in law and business, building successful careers in both, including 17 years as president of the successful logistics company he co-founded. He has served Dallas for decades, including as chair of Parkland Foundation, Employee Retirement Fund of the City of Dallas and Impact Dallas Capital boards. But in philanthropy, he is best known as the founder, CEO and driving force behind AT LAST! – The Urban Boarding Experience (https://atlastboarding.com).

Born into an impoverished family, Bowman possesses a unique understanding and respect for the challenges faced by such families, and an acute belief that stability and home life resources are fundamental to enabling children to learn.  On March 7, 2021, his idea manifested in launching AT LAST!, a weekday boarding experience for kids in poverty. Today, AT LAST! ensures that elementary school-aged children from impoverished families have the types of educational resources available to them during the home life portion of the school day that are available to children living in more prosperous households.

Bowman said, “I regard myself as the product of an amazing earthly mother and a grace-yielding Heavenly Father, and I want my work to reflect my unending gratitude to each. I’m honored to be receiving this prestigious award and thankful to VolunteerNow for it. My mother taught me that education is the key to a better life. I seek to honor her and the sacrifices she made to enable me to have this adult life. I do so through AT LAST!, which helps today’s similarly-situated moms access the educational resources necessary to enable their kids to have better adult lives.”

Hearts of Texas Luncheon sponsorships start at $2,500, and tickets are $150. To purchase sponsorships and tickets and for more information, visit https://www.volnow.org/heartsoftexas or contact Rachel Currie Triska at rcurrietriska@volnow.org or call 972.971.3450.

About VolunteerNow: VolunteerNow was founded in 1971 as the Dallas Voluntary Action Center by four visionary leaders –  Annette Strauss, Helen Boothman, Mitch Jericho and Jan Sanders – who knew how much the service of volunteers matters to the nonprofit community.  Today, VolunteerNow is one of the nation’s largest volunteer centers, widely recognized for our impact in marshalling thousands of volunteers to strengthen more than 4,200 nonprofit organizations. Learn more at https://www.volnow.org.

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Nonprofit collaboration Carson Leslie Foundation, Children’s Health Child Life Team and Grant Halliburton Foundation

Two Dallas nonprofit organizations have partnered to help North Texas children battling cancer. Carson Leslie Foundation and Grant Halliburton Foundation, neighboring tenants at Pegasus Park, are teaming up to deliver smiles to kids battling cancer and their caregivers at Children’s Health Children’s Medical Center Dallas.

This collaboration was made possible by a $25,000 grant program available to the 35 nonprofit tenants of Water Cooler at Pegasus Park to encourage impactful collaboration in the social sector. Through a competitive application process managed by Lyda Hill Philanthropies and The Dallas Foundation, collaborating tenants can apply for grants.

Both organizations, Carson Leslie Foundation and Grant Halliburton Foundation, are joining forces to align existing projects. Pediatric cancer patients at Children’s Health Children’s Medical Center Dallas receive the following:

  • Each month Carson Leslie Foundation acts like the Tooth Fairy by delivering unexpected surprises to each child on the oncology floor at Children’s Health Children’s Medical Center Dallas. (HEARTS of GOLD Hootenannies: CarsonLeslieFoundation.org/hootenannies-support)
  • A Hope Care Kit by Grant Halliburton Foundation are tote bags filled with mental health resources, self-care items, items to provide comfort and a note of encouragement to the recipient.
    (Hope Care Kits: GrantHalliburton.org/hopecarekits)
  • A handmade lap quilt donated by Modern Quilt Guild of Dallas

Carson Leslie Foundation’s team of National Charity League, Mockingbird volunteers along with Grant Halliburton Foundation staff assembled unexpected surprises, which were distributed to Children’s Health Children’s Medical Center Dallas on January 23, 2024. The collaborative program will continue throughout 2024.

A 2019 study by Warmerdam found that family members of children with cancer experienced elevated rates of mental health-related doctor's visits for up to 20 years after the initial diagnosis. Mothers of children with cancer had a 40 percent higher rate of outpatient visits for mental health issues compared to the general population, while siblings had a 10 percent higher rate.

“Combatting the psychological effects is critical to helping children with cancer live normal lives now and in the future,” Annette Leslie, chief mission officer of Carson Leslie Foundation, said. “Similar to 'chemo brain' in adults, childhood cancer and its treatment may harm brain development, causing problems with attention, memory, and language, and leading to depression and anxiety. Our organizations have joined forces to provide much-needed mental health support to children with cancer and their families.”

By partnering, both organizations aim to provide surprises and mental health support to address the critical need for children battling cancer as they may also face depression, anxiety, or other mental health conditions. The collaboration further emphasizes the importance of these programs to support the mental health and well-being of children facing a cancer battle.

“Both of our organizations believe that positive change can be achieved through collective efforts and a commitment to compassion,” Kevin Hall, president of Grant Halliburton Foundation, said. “The powerful combination of our organizations encapsulates the spirit of unity we aim to instill within our collective Water Cooler community.”

The Water Cooler at Pegasus Park, sponsored by Lyda Hill Philanthropies in partnership with J. Small Investments and Montgomery Street Partners and managed by The Dallas Foundation, was envisioned as a social impact hub with a mission to foster community and improve productivity. In line with this vision, the partnership between Carson Leslie Foundation and Grant Halliburton Foundation stands to positively impact local children battling cancer.

“We are thrilled to see Grant Halliburton Foundation and Carson Leslie Foundation partner together to accelerate their respective missions, which is exactly what the Water Cooler is all about,” Margaret Black, managing director of Lyda Hill Philanthropies, said.

About Grant Halliburton Foundation:

Grant Halliburton Foundation was established in 2006 in memory of a Dallas teen who battled depression and bipolar disorder for several years before his suicide death at the age of 19. The Foundation that bears his name works to help families and young people through education, resources, and support. Since 2006, the Foundation has provided mental health and suicide prevention education and training to more than 325,000 students, educators, parents, and professionals. The Foundation also offers Here For Texas, which includes HereForTexas.com and the Here For Texas Mental Health Navigation Line. These free community tools, available in English and Spanish, aim to offer easy access for North Texans seeking mental health and substance use information and resources. Learn more about Grant Halliburton Foundation at GrantHalliburton.org.

About Carson Leslie Foundation:

Carson Leslie Foundation (CLF) was established in 2010 to honor Carson’s dying wish, “Make sure they study those tumors in my brain because if those tumors can help some kid someday not die from cancer like I am, I’d like that, it’s hard to have cancer, and help the next kid with cancer.” To honor his wish, CLF works across three pillars: Research, Mental Health of Teens Battling Cancer, and Advocacy. CLF has invested and directed millions of dollars into medulloblastoma research and helped advance five laws benefitting the overall state of childhood cancer. Our Founder serves on the $6B Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) Advisory Council for Childhood Cancers and has advocated to make childhood cancer research a priority.  These efforts have resulted in CPRIT increasing its investments in childhood cancer research from 3% to over 12%. CLF supports the mental health struggles of teens and kids battling cancer with monthly gifts of encouragement. And, with the support of the Jordan Spieth Family Foundation, CLF provides Under Armour backpacks, filled with comfort items and necessities, to newly diagnosed teens battling cancer at major institutions in Texas. 

   

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Monica Christopher

Texas Woman’s University has named longtime nonprofit executive and community relations veteran Monica Christopher as the inaugural president of the university’s Dallas campus. She begins her role on Feb. 1.

 

Christopher, who has held key fundraising and relationship building posts spanning 25 years at Communities Foundation of Texas and The Dallas Morning News/WFAA, will lead the Dallas campus as it works to elevate the impact of the campus in the Dallas community.

 

“Monica is an exceptional innovator and collaborator with a solid track record of successful fundraising and relationship building in Dallas, which will serve Texas Woman’s well in its quest to grow the Dallas campus,” Texas Woman’s Chancellor Carine Feyten said.

 

“Her Dallas roots run deep, and she has an extensive background working with boards, foundations, nonprofits and corporations. With her leadership at Texas Woman’s ? Dallas and her partnership with other university and college leaders, I can see Dallas developing into even more of a destination city for those seeking higher education credentials,” Feyten added. “Monica demonstrates great passion for her work and exudes a polished, energetic professionalism.”

 

As president, Christopher will provide strategic leadership for the campus, which is located in the Southwestern Medical District. She will work with students, faculty, staff and key stakeholders — including alumni, community members, business and industry leaders, legislators and policymakers — to ensure Texas Woman’s is a key contributor to the higher education landscape in Dallas.

 

“Texas Woman’s has a distinguished history in Dallas, and I am honored and beyond thrilled to serve as the inaugural president of the Dallas campus,” Christopher said. “I look forward to working with the university’s talented faculty, staff and students to grow the campus, build on its legacy of excellence and bring greater awareness to the outstanding degree programs offered here.” 

 

The State of Texas established Texas Woman’s University System in 2021 as its seventh university system, pushing its Dallas and Houston campuses to transform, grow and continue serving the state and its communities as the nation’s only system with a woman-focused mission. Among the system’s strategic priorities is installing leadership at both campuses. A search is currently underway for a Houston campus president.

 

 

 

About TWU Dallas

Texas Woman’s first established a presence in Dallas in 1954, when the nursing program was launched at Parkland Hospital. Today, the T. Boone Pickens Institute of Health Sciences – Dallas Center is a 190,000-square-foot facility that sits in the heart of the Southwestern Medical District. Since then, Texas Woman’s has become a notable contributor to the healthcare workforce, graduating an average of 2,000 nursing and allied health professionals each year.

 

The Dallas campus also is home to the renowned Stroke Center, which provides more than 5,000 hours of clinical, neuro-rehabilitation services annually at no cost to members of the community. In addition to an MBA and graduate level Healthcare Administration programs, the Dallas campus offers upper-level undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs in nursing, occupational therapy and physical therapy.

 

About Monica Christopher

Christopher is the inaugural president of Texas Woman’s Dallas campus. A seasoned fundraiser and community relations professional, she has served in key positions in both areas for the last 25 years, forging numerous successful private-public sector partnerships and amassing extensive experience in cultivating and stewarding major donors, grant making, program management, and public speaking. During her 15-year tenure at Dallas-based Communities Foundation of Texas, she rose to the level of senior vice president and chief giving and community impact officer, leading several teams in fundraising efforts that set new benchmarks in gifts and funds created. While at The Dallas Morning News/WFAA, she also held several positions over nearly 10 years in community relations aimed at building community engagement, raising brand awareness and coordinating charity events. Additional leadership roles for Christopher include involvement in the Dallas Regional Chamber, Dallas Summit, Junior League of Dallas, Cotton Bowl Athletic Association, and the Women’s Auxiliary at Children’s Medical Center, among other organizations.

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Kevin Berthia and Kevin Briggs Photo credit: Fotolanthropy

Kevin Berthia, suicide prevention advocate and suicide attempt survivor, and Kevin Briggs, California Highway Patrolman and author of Guardian of the Golden Gate: Protecting the Line Between Hope and Despair, will be the featured speakers for Grant Halliburton Foundation’s Beacon of Hope Community Luncheon on Friday, April 19, 2024, at the Omni Dallas Hotel.

 

The Beacon of Hope Luncheon supports Grant Halliburton Foundation’s work to provide education, resources and support for children, teen and young adult mental health. Sponsorships start at $600, and individual tickets will be available in February 2024. To learn more and to purchase tickets, visit GrantHalliburton.org/boh.

 

The 2023 Beacon of Hope Presenting Sponsor is Emily Lewis. Natalie Hatchett and Courtney Hubbard are luncheon co-chairs; Chris and Brent Bolding are vice co-chairs, and founding luncheon chair is Barb Farmer.

 

“We invite you to join us for a conversation with these two ‘Kevins’ who speak very candidly and openly about how they met on the Golden Gate Bridge when one tried to take his life,” said Kevin Hall, president of Grant Halliburton Foundation. “Their message of hope and healing is powerful, and we hope that it will inspire you to open up to others struggling with thoughts of suicide.”

 

In 2005, Kevin Berthia, a young father battling depression, met California Highway Patrolman Kevin Briggs during a very public suicide attempt. Berthia was facing substantial medical debt and went to the Golden Gate Bridge with the intention to jump. There he met Sergeant Briggs, now deemed the “Guardian of the Golden Gate” due to his efforts that have prevented more than 200 suicides from the bridge. During their encounter, Briggs listened to Berthia for 92 minutes as he stood 220 feet above the waters of the San Francisco Bay. Ultimately, Berthia made the decision to come back over the rail, choosing hope and life. This moment was captured by a nearby photographer and the resulting image has been shared globally via news outlets and social media platforms.

 

After reconnecting at an event eight years later, Briggs and Berthia are now close friends and sought-after speakers who bring a message of hope and healing to the conversation about suicide prevention and recovery. Their inspirational true story will be profiled in 92 Minutes, a feature documentary in production by Dallas-based film nonprofit Fotolanthropy, whose films have been featured on Netflix and beyond.

 

Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among Texas youth ages 10-24 (CDC). The Beacon of Hope Community Luncheon aims to bring focus to the vital work needed to educate the North Texas community on adolescent mental health and suicide prevention. Through its work in North Texas schools and communities, Grant Halliburton Foundation aims to change this reality as it works to promote awareness and understanding of teen and young adult mental health and to prevent suicide.

 

In the last 17 years, the Foundation has provided mental health education, training and support to nearly 325,000 students, educators, parents and professionals, thanks to funds raised from the Beacon of Hope Luncheon.

 

ABOUT GRANT HALLIBURTON FOUNDATION

Grant Halliburton Foundation was established in 2006 in memory of a Dallas teen who battled depression and bipolar disorder for several years before his suicide death at the age of 19. The Foundation that bears his name works to help families and young people recognize the signs of mental illness through a variety of avenues including education, conferences, collaboration and encouragement. Since 2006, the Foundation has provided mental health education, training and support to more than 325,000 students, educators, parents and professionals. The Foundation also offers Here For Texas, which includes HereForTexas.com and the Here For Texas Mental Health Navigation Line. These free community tools aim to offer easy access for North Texans seeking mental health and addiction information and resources. Learn more about the Foundation at GrantHalliburton.org.