Dallas Women’s Foundation Announces $50 Million Campaign
Nearly $31 Million Raised to Advance Women’s Economic Security and Leadership
DALLAS, Oct. 21, 2016 – Dallas Women’s Foundation announced today that the organization has raised $30.8 million toward a $50 million campaign to advance women’s economic security and leadership in North Texas. The announcement was made at the Foundation’s 31st Annual Luncheon, presented by U.S. Trust. The luncheon raised more than $1.26 million and attendees were challenged to give to drive the Unlocking Leadership Campaign total over the $31 million mark. The campaign supports the Foundation’s research, advocacy and grant-making to unlock opportunities for women and girls.
“In 2013, Dallas Women’s Foundation began a comprehensive fundraising campaign to improve the future of North Texas in a way that only the Foundation can – by investing in the economic security and leadership potential of women and girls,” said Ashlee Kleinert, campaign co-chair. “The results are inspiring: almost $31 million has been raised to date, and more than 4,000 donors are invested in the work of the Foundation to advance women and girls. But, with women seriously and disproportionally suffering the consequences of poverty in our community, and also dramatically underrepresented in leadership positions, we are compelled to take greater action – and to engage everyone in the community to reach the campaign goal.”
The Unlocking Leadership Campaign funds are earmarked for the Foundation’s primary focus areas. The Economic Security Initiative aims to strengthen the economic security of 16,000 women and girls by 2021. The initiative has committed $2.3 million in grants to 10 partner organizations, and has already reached more than 8,750 women and girls. As part of this initiative, an additional $2.6 million has been committed to the Foundation’s Child Care Access Fund, an innovative and comprehensive response that
addresses early childhood education and care; out of school time care; and political and community advocacy for policies that improve the provision of child care overall. The campaign’s Leadership Initiative also aims to provide 60,000 women and girls with leadership training and opportunities, and thus far has reached nearly 28,000 women and girls through grant-making and programs.
“While Dallas Women’s Foundation has always invested in economic security and leadership, we knew that our unique focus and expertise on women and girls could be the catalyst for a greater impact,” said Foundation President & CEO Roslyn Dawson Thompson, “This campaign is a commitment to greater investment in these critical issues affecting women and girls, using innovative approaches and evidence-based models, to drive measurable outcomes and real change that ripples from the women and girls to the entire community and region. We aim to change the trajectory of what is possible for women and girls on the margin, because when their lives and opportunities are transformed, our entire region and economy are transformed.”
The Unlocking Leadership Campaign is led by co-chairs Ashlee and Christopher Kleinert, Paula and Ron Parker, and Trea and Richard Yip. The Campaign Cabinet members are Ellenore Knight Baker, Kalita Beck Blessing, Julie S. England, Hilda C. Galvan, Caren K. Lock, Janie Strauss McGarr, Maribess Lehmann Miller, Retta A. Miller and Janice V. Sharry.