Philanthropy
Two CFT trustees were among those honored recently by the Greater Dallas Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals on National Philanthropy Day. CFT Board Chairman Charles J. Wyly, Jr. and his wife, Dee, were named out-standing philanthropists. Becky Bright, another CFT trustee, was recognized as outstanding volunteer fundraiser.
Dallas
Terdema Ussery, a member of CFT’s board of trustees, has been appointed chairman of the Dallas Housing Authority.
Leadership
Kristine Thomas, vice president of accounting, has been elected 2009 co-chair of the Fiscal and Administrative Officers Group, an association composed of key community foundation staff members from across the country.
Sign Of The Times
CFT recently partnered with the Center for Nonprofit Management (CNM) to lead a discussion among area nonprofit organizations on "Continuing the Good Amid an Economic Crisis."
Among the panelists at the event held at the Mabel Peters Caruth Center were Brent Christopher, CFT’s president and CEO; Cynthia Nunn, president, CNM; and Bruce Esterline, vice president, Meadows Foundation.
Topics included how nonprofits and philanthropic giving are affected during the economic downturn. Financial and risk-management professionals discussed how nonprofits can minimize risk and shore up financial resources while leading staff through difficult economic times.
Event Highlights Collaboration To Build Better World
Communities Foundation of Texas and Educational First Steps teamed up recently to host a town hall conversation, "Connecting With Your Community," at the Mabel Peters Caruth Center.
More than 100 young leaders and professionals heard speakers Darian Rodriguez Heyman, executive director of Craigslist Foundation, San Francisco, and Dr. Tim Bray, executive director of the Institute for Urban Policy Research, now located at The University of Texas at Dallas.
Collaboration was the theme of the evening. "It is an exciting time in the nonprofit sector as more organizations are recognizing the powerful impact of a collaborative approach for social change," said Mr. Rodriguez Heyman.
Educational First Steps is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality and availability of early childhood education, especially for economically disadvantaged children.
CFT acknowledged members of the host committee: Dawn Blankenship, Valentina Collins, Mason and Allen Custard, Ann and Trey Fielder, Carolyn and Loren Greaves, Jennifer Mosle, Wendy and Edward Oglesby, Jennifer and Brandon Ratzlaff, Capera Ryan, Kelly and Chris Spivey, Robin and Craig Unterberg, and Krista and Craig Weinstein.
Sharing And Giving
Clients at the Wilkinson Center’s Munger Place Food Pantry also volunteer their time in the Sharing and Giving Program. The Wilkinson Center is one of 22 recipients of this year’s The Dallas Morning News Charities, an annual fund drive to help the hungry and homeless. For years, Communities Foundation of Texas has helped select effective charities for the drive. Now, for the second year, CFT is handling administrative responsibilities for the campaign by processing gifts and maintaining donor records. For more information, visit www.cftexas.org/netcommunity/give/charities.