North Texas Giving Day is here! At Common Desk, we’re lucky to have members in our community who do some incredible work with nonprofits, some of which we’ll be highlighting shortly.
But before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s zoom out on this annual day of giving. North Texas Giving Day was started 12 years ago by Community Foundation of Texas (CFT) with the vision of creating an ultra-accessible philanthropy opportunity for all. Each fall, CFT hosts the largest community-wide online giving event in the nation, combining thousands of North Texas nonprofits and charitable organizations onto one platform to boost awareness, support, and contributions. We love seeing our members receive the support they need to continue doing great work in our communities, so let’s dive into just a few of the efforts you can rally behind on September 23.
Cry Havoc Theater Company
Cry Havoc Theater Company puts young artists in the lead as the creators and actors of bold art, provoking dialogue around challenging issues like gun control, gender roles, and immigration. They didn’t create these issues, but their generation will lead on them in the future. The work of Cry Havoc allows for teenagers’ new, unvarnished perspectives to shake up old, entrenched conversations. To read more about the work of Cry Havoc, visit its website; and to help further its mission to amplify the voices of young people and serve as a conduit for community dialogue, donate on North Texas Giving Day!
Las Chicas del Barrio
Las Chicas del Barrio is a 501c3 nonprofit organization located in Dallas, TX with a mission to inspire and equip young Latinas to pursue a path of growth and purpose, to strive towards higher education, to become financially literate, and to improve physical, mental, and emotional health. It’s launching its first mentorship program in October 2021, which will provide 1:1 mentorship for 30 high school- and college-aged Latinas in Oak Cliff. The organization’s 3-year goal is to be serving 100 young women and have a facility from which it can offer services such as accessible therapy sessions, career coaching, tuition and study abroad scholarships, entrepreneur education, high school and college tutoring, and volunteer opportunities for the community.
Mentors and staff are volunteer-based; in addition to weekly meetings with mentors, Las Chicas del Barrio provides a monthly workshop for mentees.
Helping Hands for Single Moms Dallas
The mission of Helping Hands for Single Moms Dallas is ending generational poverty by assisting low-income, single mom families while the mother attains a college education, financial independence, and a positive family legacy. Currently up for a national Invest In Others award through its founder, Ralph Ujano, Jr., Helping Hands for Single Moms Dallas has recently released a book to tell the inspiring stories of its single mom graduates, which you can buy here. To learn more or to apply for the program, visit the organization’s website.
ALS Texas
The ALS Association, the only national nonprofit completely dedicated to fighting ALS, is on a mission to discover treatments and a cure for ALS, and to serve, advocate for, and empower people affected by ALS to live their lives to the fullest. The work of the Texas Chapter covers all the bases—research, patient and community services, public education, and advocacy—in providing help, support, and hope to those facing the disease.
Funding helps provide local care in multidisciplinary clinics, support groups, and medical equipment loan programs, to support patients who need help now; advocacy, to ensure public policy serves the needs of ALS patients; and research, to find a cure to end ALS.
The Stewpot
The Stewpot is a community ministry of First Presbyterian Church of Dallas located in Downtown Dallas, Texas. Founded in 1975, it serves individuals and families experiencing economic and housing insecurity. The Stewpot is known for its creative and responsive posture, and for partnering with dozens of organizations to deliver a range of critical services including housing, stabilization, food, education, health, and enrichment programs. Learn more here, and follow the organization on Facebook and Twitter at @thestewpot, and Instagram at @stewpotdallas.
