Charles Ragus founded Plano-based AdvoCare back in 1993 to “provide innovative nutritional, weight-management and sports performance products.” Despite Charles’ death at the age of 58 in 2001, the AdvoCare Foundation was created with the mission “to unlock potential for children in need by investing in long-term solutions for advancing their hope to live safe, healthy and happy lives.”
According to AdvoCare Executive VP/Foundation President Allison Levy, “AdvoCare was founded on the idea of building advocates who care. We started the foundation to strength our 23-year legacy of giving back and focus our efforts on the next generation of champions.”
To support the foundation’s mission, AdvoCare and Charles’ family including his widow Peggy Ragus and their three daughters (Debbie, Jenni and Stacey) funded the foundation with a gift of $1.5M.
Within the first year the Foundation has announced the first round of beneficiaries to share in $150,000. Of the eight lucky recipients are two North Texas organizations — YMCA Metropolitan Dallas and America Scores Dallas, both receiving $20,000 each.
America Scores Dallas Executive Director Crystal Schober, “America Scores Dallas brings a quality after-school program, through soccer, poetry and community service, to under-privileged kids from urban Dallas. Thanks to the generosity and commitment of the AdvoCare Foundation, we are able to start a new pilot program at Life School Oak Cliff this year.”
Hmm, sounds like AdvoCare is interested in spreading the wealth. Interested in applying. The next grant cycle will open in spring 2017.