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MySweetEssential: Katy Trail
According to Friends Of Katy Trail Board Of Directors President Charlie Shufeldt,
Thank you for the opportunity to tell you why we believe our Katy Trail capital campaign is essential to the well-being of Dallas, now and in the future.
For over 20y years, since the time the discarded Katy railroad line became a linear park, the Katy Trail has been an essential green space and recreation resource in Dallas. The Trail spurred incredibly dynamic business growth and fostered an essential sense of community by connecting people and vibrant neighborhoods and parks.
Several years ago, Friends of the Katy Trail determined that we had to make safety enhancements and other improvements to match growing demand on the Trail. These projects include completing the original vision of two fully separate paths for pedestrians and cyclists running the entire length of the Trail, as well as new entry points, widened bridges, and further landscaping. However, we never could have seen that these improvements would become even more critical in the coronavirus era.
Usage this year is up 20% along the Trail. Since March, Dallasites have flooded the Trail, seeking connection to others and mental and physical respite. The campaign projects address the needs of the pandemic, because they will provide more access, capacity, and space, including more room for social distancing.
You may have seen that the first campaign construction projects have already started on the Trail. The existing soft-surface path is being resurfaced, and the new stretch of soft-surface is under construction.
We now have less than $1 million to raise of an $8 million campaign cost so we are well on our way. However, we cannot greenlight all the essential campaign projects unless we reach our campaign goal.
This investment in the Katy Trail is an investment in the future of Dallas. It will keep one of our community’s most cherished assets safe, accessible, and enjoyable for many years to come.
Gifts of any size are appreciated—we have received gifts from $100 to $2,500,000–and naming opportunities are available. All donors will be recognized online and in print, and all who contribute $10,000 or more will be permanently recognized on the Trail.
These are challenging times for all of us, so we are truly grateful for your consideration and support. You may give online at katytraildallas.org/completethetrail or feel free to contact me at [email protected] or Ann Whitley Wood, Major Gifts Director, at [email protected].
* Graphic and photo provided by Friends Of Katy Trail
Children’s COVID-19 Back-To-School Guidelines Are A Primer For Parents With Health Concerns
It’s barely the middle of August and kids are heading back to school… sorta. Some will be doing it online and others in person. Unlike years past when the big deal was hitting Office Depot for school supplies, this year’s big deal is the risk of sending a youngster out the door to school.
Luckily, the folks at Children’s Health have provided “Back-To-School Guidance” suggestions. They’ve broken down various health conditions (diabetes and endocrinology, heart/cardiology, oncology, etc.) and their risk factors for children.
The content also extends to the health issues of other members of the family and how they should be taken in consideration about the child’s participation in the school year.
According to Children’s, “A household’s risk is defined by the person in the household with the highest risk. If there are four people in a house and one has moderate to high risk of complications from COVID-19, then all household members should follow the same precautions.
“While we do not yet fully understand the risk of transmissibility from children to adults, any high-risk medical condition or immune-compromising medication should be considered in the risk assessment. These guidelines can be used a resource for having conversations with the medical team caring for adults with increased risk who are household members with children that may be returning to school.”
*Photo courtesy of Children's Medical Center Foundation
MySweetEssential: Communities In Schools Dallas Region
According to Communities In Schools Dallas Region Interim President/CEO Adam Powell,
When the school year came to a bizarre close in March, my nine-year-old son asked why he didn’t get to see his friends anymore. As I struggled to find an age-appropriate way to explain what was going on, I realized that kids, unfortunately, will bear the brunt of the economic, social, and psychological costs of this global pandemic — not to mention the potential academic losses — if we as a society continue to ignore their essential needs.
And so I am proud to be part of an organization that was specifically created to meet the needs of Dallas-area students, which have only increased in the wake of the pandemic. Since its inception, Communities In Schools of the Dallas Region (CISDR) has partnered with school districts to address the scarcity of essential resources, focusing on the social, psychological, and behavioral issues that hinder educational achievement, and providing mentoring, counseling, and guidance designed to scaffold students’ success. As society struggles to adapt to the ever-changing COVID-19 reality, CISDR will continue to work steadfastly and relentlessly to provide essential services to students and families, while simultaneously supporting the schools in our community and the teachers on the front lines, during what can only be described as unprecedented times.
Now more than ever, our kids need Communities In Schools. Low-income students are falling behind due to the Digital Divide, and children with underlying mental health issues are disproportionately facing anxiety. We have worked tirelessly over the summer to ensure we are there to support our students this coming school year, but we can’t do it alone. We need volunteers to be caring adults in these children’s lives, even if their presence is virtual for the moment. We need continued financial support to withstand an uncertain economy. Please visit our website at cisdallas.org to donate or volunteer today. Together we can make sure that our schools — whether physical, remote, or somewhere in between — will continue to be the “safe place” our students need and deserve.
* Graphic and photo provided by Communities In Schools Dallas Region
August 7 Updates: Cancellations, Going Virtual, Postponements and Reschedules
On the boot heels of 2020 Cattle Baron’s Ball’s cancellation, more notices of change of plans are coming in with September appearing to be the hardest hit.
Here’s today’s rundown of developments:
Canceled
- Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance’s Annual Hope Fashion Show scheduled for Thursday, September 24
- Cattle Baron’s Ball Trailblazer party scheduled for Friday, September 25
- Texas Women’s Foundation’s Leadership Forum And Awards Reception scheduled for Monday, September 28
Going Virtual
- Dallas Chapter Of Links‘ Women Who STEAM Awards Luncheon scheduled for Friday, August 28
- New Friends New Life’s Annual Luncheon scheduled for Friday, September 18
Postponed To A Date TBD
- Klyde Warren Park’s Splash Bash scheduled for Sunday, August 30
Rescheduled
- West Dallas Community School‘s 25th Anniversary Gala scheduled for Thursday, September 10, at The Belo Mansion has been rescheduled for Wednesday, April 21
- Dallas Opera’s First Night scheduled for Friday, October 9, at the Winspear Opera House has been rescheduled for Friday, March 5
- Dallas Opera’s Viva Diva! scheduled for Friday, November 6, at the Winspear Opera House has been rescheduled for Monday, May 10
Despite the damage being done to North Texas fundraising by COVID-19, there is good news. From the recent reports of case reductions, it appears that the donning of masks and socially distancing are paying off.
MySweetEssential: Klyde Warren Park
According to Klyde Warren Park President Kit Sawers,
Now, more than ever, parks are being used by their communities. Not only has research consistently promoted the mental health benefits of outdoor spaces, it now also concludes that, during this global pandemic, outdoor activities are actually much safer than indoor ones.
Though Klyde Warren Park was unable to play an immediate role in the City of Dallas’ emergency response to COVID-19 (providing food, funding or medicine), we are certainly playing a role in its recovery. Demand for the space has been enormous, due to lack of activity in the community, the desire of families to be outside and an earned trust in our commitment to putting safety first. With the City of Dallas forced to cut $25 million from its own budget—and park and rec operations drastically reduced—Klyde Warren Park has been a refuge for those who no longer have access to free summer programming, want to cool off in clean water or just run barefoot on a mosquito-free mowed lawn.
Despite most of the Park’s programming being cancelled due to COVID-19, we have been offering several socially-distanced opportunities for the public, such as free fitness classes, movies, and, most recently, a Fireworks Salute to Healthcare Heroes, broadcast by CBS 11 to the wider community on July 4. The Park has also been a venue for dozens of peaceful demonstrations since late May, and our staff is actively participating in the city’s post-pandemic reopening strategy, working with other major venues and medical professionals to set policy throughout the region.
Klyde Warren Park is not funded by City of Dallas tax dollars. Money is raised each year by staff and board members to pay for security, cleaning, repairs and programming, saving the City money and simultaneously creating a huge economic boost for our region. Other revenue traditionally comes from events, sponsorships, third-party rentals and earned revenue, most of which have evaporated this year.
With the Park’s 2020 operating budget already cut by 30% and $100,000 of additional cleaning required to accommodate CDC guidelines, we are reaching out to those who love the Park to help us do what the community needs us to do right now. A donation of any size would help ensure the Park remains an outdoor haven where children and families – regardless of age, ethnicity or income level – can feel safe coming together during these difficult times.
* Graphic and photo provided by Klyde Warren Park
JUST IN: Despite 2020 Cattle Baron’s Ball’s Being Canceled, The Fundraising Will Giddy-Up On
North Texas' Cattle Baron’s Ball is one of the fall season’s biggest fundraisers with more than 3,000 guests partying to raise funds for cancer research in North Texas with the American Cancer Society. Since its establishment in 1974, it has not only raised more than $85M but it has become the … Read More...
Petco Foundation Provides Spay Neuter Network With A $40,000 Grant To Reduce Shelter Intake
Dallas’ Spay Neuter Network got an early Christmas gift. The Petco Foundation has awarded it a $40,000 grant “to help reduce the number of pets entering shelters through its intake diversion program and create a lifesaving community for animals.” According to SNN Executive Director Bonnie … Read More...
MySweetEssential: Cristo Rey Of Dallas
According to Cristo Rey of Dallas Development Director Abby Hoak-Morton, Now more than ever, a culture of innovative thinking is critical to the Greater Dallas community. At Cristo Rey Dallas, students who wouldn’t otherwise have access to a college prep education are working one day a … Read More...
Patrick Kennedy Revealed His Own Battle With Mental Health At 11th Annual Beacon Luncheon
For years the Grant Halliburton Foundation has been a forward champion in battling mental health. While the subject was once considered verboten by many, the Foundation has created a luncheon that brings it out in the open to help those suffering from the disease to realize they are not alone and … Read More...
JUST IN: Hoblitzelle Foundation Adds Two New Board Members And Elects Its First Female Chair
Despite COVID-19 seeming to dominate headlines, area foundations are making news themselves. The latest is the generous Hoblitzelle Foundation that has just revealed three newsworthy developments. First is that Karen Shuford has just been elected to be the Foundation’s first female chair in its … Read More...
MySweetEssential: Dallas Historical Society
According to Dallas Historical Society Executive Director Karl Chiao, The Dallas Historical Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation, collection, and exhibition of Dallas and Texas history to educate and inspire present and future generations. Formed in 1922, the … Read More...