An Active Summer!

Summer's going by so fast!

Dear Friends,

Despite the scorching heat—we’ll get to that in a minute—the summer has been a pretty cool season for The Salvation Army.

NATIONAL DONUT DAY

Salvation Army employees serving
donuts and coffee during this year's
National Donut Day!

Many in the DFW Metroplex joined us in celebrating National Donut Day on June 1. A long-time tradition dating back to 1938, the celebration reminds us of the service of the Doughnut Ladies during World War I, and the soldiers they served during the conflict.

This year, we collaborated with Dunkin Donuts, DART in Dallas, and the “T” in Fort Worth to celebrate this event. We distributed tasty Dunkin Donuts —for free— at DART's Mockingbird Station in Dallas and at the “T” Intermodal Transportation Center in Fort Worth.

We’re grateful for Dunkin Donuts, DART and the “T” for joining us in the National Donut Day celebration.

DALLAS COWBOYS ROOKIE CLUB

Recently, the Dallas Cowboys Rookie Club traded their football pads for our volunteer aprons. During National Salvation Army Week, the 2012 rookies came to our homeless shelter in Dallas to serve meals to residents.

Members of the Dallas Cowboys
Rookie Club painting the ceiling tiles
of the women's wing with a child
served by our homeless shelter
in Fort Worth.

Later in mid-June, the players were at it again, this time at our homeless shelter in Fort Worth. There, members of the Rookie Club refreshed several rooms in the women’s wing, providing a fresh paint job on the walls and decorating the ceiling tiles. The effort was part of the Dallas Cowboys’ “New Play Fitness Zone” project, which is part of the Dallas Cowboys and National Football League’s Play 60 initiative designed to tackle childhood obesity and inspire kids to play well and eat better.

The Dallas Cowboys Rookie Club did a marvelous job helping out those we serve. We are appreciative of their efforts!

HEAT RELIEF

It is dangerously hot out there!

Our cooling station across the DFW
Metroplex are open.
Find heat relief at a cooling station near you.

As you no doubt have noticed, we've been experiencing temperatures as high as 100+ degrees on several days. Such temperatures can be harmful to people's health, especially vulnerable groups like the homeless and the elderly.

Such high heat requires precautionary measures such as staying cool and keeping hydrated. However, there are many who do not have the means to do so. Last year in Dallas County, 31 people died due to heat-related issues. Many more suffered through the excessive heat due to a lack of resources.

The Salvation Army understands that many people need heat relief during the summer. And we're doing our part to help. We've set up Cooling Stations at 15 of our centers. Each Cooling Station provides cold beverages and a cool environment where people can stay during the day. Thirteen of the Cooling Stations are open Monday through Friday, while the remaining two -- one in Dallas and one in Fort Worth -- are open seven days a week.

Here’s a short video of Gerald’s experience at our Salvation Army Mabee Center Cooling Station in Fort Worth:

We hope you’re having a wonderful summer! Be sure to stay informed on the latest Salvation Army News through our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Warm Regards,

Captain Michele and Major Ward Matthews

DFW Metroplex Command Leadership

Leadership Blog: A New Season!

Almost (officially) Summertime!

Dear friends,

It’s been an exciting couple of months. Let us share a glimpse of some of the recent activities:

From left: Gene Jones, Jerry Jones,
Charlotte Jones Anderson,
and Jennifer Sampson during
the DFW Executive Leadership Breakfast.

DFW EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP BREAKFAST

Late April, we held our first-ever DFW Executive Leadership Breakfast at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas. The occasion was a meeting in the Metroplex of our National Advisory Board. The board meets three times a year in different cities around the country.

The breakfast event was attended by some of DFW's top business, civic, and government leaders, including Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings, Former First Lady Laura Bush, and Dallas Cowboys Owner and General Manager Jerry Jones, who was keynote speaker.

With more than 300 guests on hand, Jones delivered a passionate speech about the benefits of a corporate partnership with our organization. The Cowboys and The Salvation Army have been partners for 15 years. You can view a video of Jones' speech below, complete with an introduction by Former First Lady Laura Bush.

A model walks the runway
during this year’s
Women’s Auxiliary Fashion Show.

20^th ANNUAL WOMEN’S AUXILIARY FASHION SHOW

Later in the month, the Annual Fashion Show conducted by The Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary in Dallaswas held—and boy what a show it was!

The event began with shopping in the Chic Boutique, where guests purchased designer items at great prices. Then came the fabulous runway-style fashion show produced by Jan Strimple Productions. Pat and Emmitt Smith emceed the event where more than 600 attendees had the opportunity to bid on gently worn clothing donated by some of the   best-dressed women in Dallas.

Following the event, donated clothing items that were not featured at the fashion show were sold at a special WEARhouse sale at The Salvation Army's Christmas and Disaster Center in Dallas. For two days, the general public had the chance to purchase name-brand designer items at super-discounted prices.

This year, the fashion show event and related sales raised $660,000.   

Charlotte Jones Anderson delivers her keynote speech
during this year’s Annual Doing The Most Good Luncheon
in Fort Worth

2012 ANNUAL DOING THE MOST GOOD LUNCHEON IN FORT WORTH

The very next day, we hosted our 2012 Annual Doing The Most Good Luncheon in Fort Worth. Approximately 200 people were on hand at Ridglea Country Club to hear keynote speaker Charlotte Jones Anderson, Executive Vice-President of Brand Management for the Dallas Cowboys. Anderson spoke about the strong relationship between the Dallas Cowboys and The Salvation Army and how the relationship originated.

Anderson shared how she and her father, Jerry Jones, sat in Dick Ebersol's office at NBC television in New York and secured his agreement to broadcast The Salvation Army's National Red Kettle Kickoff during halftime at the Cowboys Thanksgiving Day game in 1996. Now, 15 years later, the kickoff has become an annual tradition.

Luncheon guests also heard a testimonial by John Corker, a former linebacker with the former Houston Oilers who lost his football career because of substance abuse. After football, Corker became an over-the-road truck driver. One night while rolling through Fort Worth, he stopped to party. The next morning he couldn't remember where he left his truck. When his boss found out, Corker was fired. With no place to go he came to The Salvation Army. His life has not been the same since.

Bill Lively address the audience of this year’s
Denton Luncheon at the
Oakmont Country Club in Corinth.

ANNUAL LUNCHEON IN DENTON                  `

In mid-may, we hosted a luncheon at the Oakmont Country Club in Corinth to raise funds for our shelter and services in Denton. The event was attended by donors, community leaders, elected officials and supports. The keynote speech was delivered by Bill Lively, the former President and CEO of the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee.

Lively talked about how Super Bowl XLV not only brought significant revenue into the Metroplex but also created programs to help North Texans after the big game was over. Two signature programs -- SLANT-45 and the Youth Education Town -- focus on the needs of children and young adults. We might mention that the ownership of the Youth Education Town was awarded by the NFL to The Salvation Army. We plan to an official opening of the new program in early 2013 after major renovations at our center in Arlington.

IN CLOSING

As we move into the summer, the lowest time of the year for donations, it’s important to remember that with your continued support we will remain true to our commitment of doing the most good.

We're in this together. With your help we can continue to serve men, women, boys, and girls here in our local community. We’ll continue to ensure that we are worthy of your trust.

Be on the lookout for the latest news and events on our Facebook and Twitter pages! 

Warm Regards,

Captain Michele and Major Ward Matthews

"2012 Annual Doing The Most Good Luncheon" Comes to Fort Worth on May 1st!

The Salvation Army will hold its Annual Doing The Most Good Luncheon on May 1 at the Ridglea Country Club in Fort Worth. The luncheon will raise funds for The Salvation Army’s programs that serve the community, including free community meals, food pantry assistance, after-school programs for children, a transitional-housing program, substance abuse rehab and more.

Charlotte Jones Anderson, joined by
parents Jerry and Gene Jones (left), receives
her gavel as official NAB Chairperson
from Salvation Army Commissioners
William and Nancy Roberts (right).

Charlotte Jones Anderson, Executive Vice President of Brand Management for the  Dallas Cowboys, will be the keynote speaker at the event. For 21 years, Charlotte has demonstrated a knack for innovation, versatility, and a strong willingness to make a difference in the lives of others. In January of 2011, she was named the National Advisory Board (NAB) Chairperson of The Salvation Army, due in part to her many years of support for the organization. 

Here’s a video clip of Charlotte speaking about The Salvation Army and its vision of doing the most good:

For additional information, visit our Annual Luncheon page. You also may call 817.344.1818 or email us at dfwmc_events@uss.salvationarmy.org.

Leadership Blog: Angel Tree Report, Fighting Hunger Together, and More!

It's almost Springtime!

Dear Friends,

Wow…March certainly blew in fast. We hope you had a wonderful February. So many things have happened this past month.  We have so much to share!

ANGEL TREE REPORT: THE NUMBERS ARE IN!

Volunteers at last year's Angel Tree
distribution at our Christmas Center
in Dallas.

This past Christmas season, we served more than 16,000 families in the DFW Metroplex. More than 54,000 children and special-needs adults received gifts through the Angel Tree program.  In all, about $3.7 million worth of gifts were donated.

Of course, we could not have done it without our more than 6,000 volunteers, who contributed more than 32,500 hours to help make all this possible.

A Salvation Army volunteer
serving food to a recipient.

FIGHTING HUNGER TOGETHER

Thousands of North Texans will experience hunger this year. With your help, we can continue to provide food assistance to those in crisis situations.

In 2011, our centers served 947,520 meals to families and individuals in need across the Metroplex. This happened, in large part, thanks to donations and food drives from companies, organizations, and individuals like you.

Through these donations, our food assistance program remains strong and ready in case families and individuals face food shortages.

Food donations for The Salvation Army may be dropped off at your nearest Salvation Army Center. You can find a list of Salvation Army locations in the Metroplex here.

RECENT EVENTS

Charlotte Jones Anderson, National Advisory
Board Chair of The Salvation Army and
Executive Vice-President of Brand Management
for the Dallas Cowboys, serves a meal to residents
of the Carr P. Collins Center in Dallas.

On February 8^th, DRG Concepts, the Dallas Cowboys, and Downtown Dallas business leaders served lunch to 275 men and women at our Carr P. Collins Social Service Center. The lunch was part of a partnership between DRG Concepts and the Dallas Cowboys. During the Christmas season, DRG's downtown restaurants—Dallas Chop House, Wild Salsa, and Dallas Fish Market—collected donations from their patrons. The combined value of the lunch and the donations collected was $12,000!

Meanwhile, the Hockaday School’s soccer team hosted a soccer clinic at our Pleasant Grove location in southeast Dallas. The children learned the basics of the game by participating in passing, scoring, and defensive drills. The clinic concluded with an exhibition game, in which the children split up into several teams that included members of Hockaday’s soccer team.

Members of the Fort Worth Women's Auxiliary
serve sandwiches and heart-shaped cookies
to residentsof the Catherine and Evangeline Booth
Friendship Houses in Fort Worth

Two of our auxiliary groups made sure those we serve had a great Valentine’s Day! The Junior Auxiliary worked with women and children from our women's shelter in Dallas to decorate Valentine's Day cookies. Our Fort Worth Women’s Auxiliary hosted a Valentine's Day party for residents of our Catherine and Evangeline Booth residences for senior citizens. The residents enjoyed great food and drinks, as well as entertainment.

We invite you to stay in touch with us through our Facebook and Twitter pages for upcoming news, events, and opportunities to make a difference.

Warmly,

Captain Michele and Major Ward Matthews

DFW Metroplex Command Leadership

Leadership Blog: A New Year!

We're back!

Dear Friends,

Welcome to a brand new year of serving others and meeting needs in Jesus' name! We hope you enjoyed great moments with your family and loved ones during this past holiday season. Please allow us to start the new year off right by saying...




THANK YOU!

Thanks to all that supported us
this Christmas season!

Thanks to all of you who have donated your time, money, and energy to support our recent Christmas programs!

We had lots of volunteers ringing bells at our red kettle locations. Hundreds more helped distribute gifts for children and special-need adults through the Angel Tree program.

We could not do all of this without your support! Once again, a big thank you to each and every one of you!


ONLINE RED KETTLE: ONLY SEVEN DAYS LEFT!

Click the kettle to enter

onlineredkettle.org/dfwgive

There’s still time to make a positive impact in the lives of others through Online Red Kettle. It’s a great way to make a difference in the community.

You can make a donation by going to onlineredkettle.org/dfwgive, helping us raise money for important services in the community.

Online Red Kettle is active till January 31! Remember that 85 cents of every dollar donated locally to The Salvation Army goes straight to programs serving people in need!



RECENT EVENTS

While individual volunteers were logging hundreds of hours in support of our Christmas programs, numerous organizations and corporations also pitched in to help in their own unique ways.

Former Dallas Cowboys Charles Haley
(right) and Russell Maryland (second
to right) being introduced at last month's
turkey distribution at The Salvation Army's
Cedar Crest Community Center in Oak Cliff.

Sam’s Club donated over 400 turkeys to seniors and families at The Salvation Army's Cedar Crest Community Center in Oak Cliff. The crowd was also excited to see former Dallas Cowboys players Charles Haley, Doug Dennison, and Russell Maryland help distribute the turkeys to seniors and families.

The University of Texas at Dallas launched a food drive last fall benefitting our Salvation Army community center in Plano. UTD delivered the food to our Plano location in mid December. In addition to the food drive, the university also donated bicycles to families served by our community center in Plano.

Bank of America volunteers present
a $12,100 donation towards our
food assistance program.

Just before serving meals to residents at our Carr P. Collins Social Service Center in December, employees from Bank of America presented a check for $12,100 benefitting our food assistance program. The donation is part of Bank of America's Feeding the Hungry community initiative.

The Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, and the PGA Tour recently made a grant of $2,000 to support services at our Mabee Social Service Center in Fort Worth. Meanwhile, GE Capital presented us with a check for $10,000 to support therapeutic and educational activities at our Carr P. Collins Social Service Center in Dallas.

Blake Fetterman, Director of Operations
at the Carr P. Collins Center in Dallas,
helps sort out socks donated by Hanes.

Earlier this month, Hanes donated 500 pairs of socks to our homeless shelter in Dallas. The socks were donated as part of Hanes’ 3rd Annual Virtual Sock Drive, which benefits those served by Salvation Army homeless shelters.

We invite you to stay in touch with us through our Facebook and Twitter pages for upcoming opportunities to make a difference.

Let’s make it a great year, friends!


Warmly,

Captain Michele and Major Ward Matthews
DFW Metroplex Command Leadership

Leadership Blog: A Joyful Season!

That time of year!

Dear Friends,

This has been an exciting time of year for The Salvation Army. We'd like to share some of the recent activities with you.

  

DOING THE MOST GOOD LUNCHEON – 11/11/11

"Doing The Most Good Luncheon" speaker
Scott O'Grady tells his story as a pilot
fighting for his life in Bosnia.

This year’s “Doing The Most Good Luncheon,” presented by AT&T, raised more than $3 million, benefitting programs serving thousands in the Metroplex.  

Keynote speaker Scott O’Grady, a former U.S. Air Force pilot, spoke of his experience being shot down over Bosnia and parachuting to the ground. He survived for six harrowing days in enemy territory before being rescued.

We thank Luncheon Chair Mark Schortman, Underwriting Chair Jan Pickens, and everyone involved in making this year’s luncheon a success.

 

ONLINE RED KETTLE

Click the kettle to enter
onlineredkettle.org/dfwgive

With the Red Kettle Drive in full swing, The Salvation Army has made it easier for you and others to participate online thanks to onlineredkettle.org.

Through onlineredkettle.org, you can set up your own kettle account, establish a fundraising goal, and raise money for The Salvation Army from the comfort of your home! You can personalize your kettle account with photos, graphics, and links to other sites, while notifying friends and family about your fundraising goal via email and Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Online Red Kettle is fun, easy and FREE! It’s a great way to make a difference in the community.

If you want to make a simple donation, go to onlineredkettle.org/dfwgive  and help us raise money for the Red Kettle drive.

Online Red Kettle is active till January 31^st, 2012! Remember that 85 cents of every dollar donated locally to The Salvation Army goes straight to programs serving people in need!

 ANGEL TREE

Christi was able to provide
Christmas for her three children thanks
to the Angel Tree program.

We’re pleased to announce that every child and special-needs adult in the Angel Tree program will receive gifts this Christmas! Last Friday, we began distributing gifts to over 50,000 underprivileged children and special-needs adults.

We’re grateful to all that adopted Angels this Christmas season, as well as the volunteers that are distributing the gifts to Angel Tree families.

Hear Christi speak of her experience with the Angel Tree program.

 RECENT EVENTS

Dallas Cowboys players prepare
to serve meals to men and women at the
Carr P. Collins center in Dallas.

Volunteers have been active this holiday season. Members of The Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary in Dallas helped pack candy bags to be given as Christmas gifts to inmates locked up in prisons across Texas. Each candy bag also includes a gospel tract that shares the plan of salvation to lead people to a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Due to their annual Thanksgiving Day game, The Dallas Cowboys served up an “early” Thanksgiving meal at The Salvation Army’s Carr P. Collins Social Services Center. Cowboys players donated their time to serve dinner to more than 200 less fortunate men and women at The Salvation Army’s homeless shelter in Dallas. Brill Garrett, wife of Cowboys' head coach Jason Garrett, and the wives of some of the players also pitched in to help.

Captain Andy Miller with two children
during the Christmas Party hosted by
the Dallas Cowboys.

The Cowboys continued showing their holiday spirit. The team hosted a Christmas party for children served by our centers in the Metroplex. The children enjoyed food and fun at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. Each child also received a brand new pair of TOMS shoes that they decorated and painted to their liking.

Meanwhile, the players’ wives held their annual Dream Drive for The Salvation Army at Sam’s Club in Grapevine. The players’ wives went on a shopping spree benefitting 20 underprivileged families served by The Salvation Army.

We thank each and every one of you who helped those in need this holiday season. We encourage you to remember others at this special time of the year.  Stay in touch with us through our Facebook and Twitter pages for upcoming opportunities to make a difference.

 

 

 

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a wonderful new year!

Warmly,

  

Captain Michele and Major Ward Matthews

DFW Metroplex Command Leadership

Leadership Blog: Commitment to the Community

Dear Friends,

The Salvation Army has been blessed with individuals who walk the walk. Sadly, we have lost such an individual.

 

Charles Wyly

On August 7^th, Charles Wyly passed away in Aspen, Colorado.  As a past chairman of the DFW Metroplex Advisory Board and a member for more than 40 years, his commitment to The Salvation Army was nothing short of remarkable. Charles was instrumental in pushing forward The Salvation Army DFW’s long range plan, initiated in 2003. He was also a member of The Salvation Army's National Advisory Board where he served as treasurer.

We are grateful for the time we’ve spent working with Charles. We ask that you join us in praying for comfort for his wife, Dee, and for his family.

The Salvation Army will participate in
"North Texas Giving Day."
Save the date!

The Salvation Army will be participating in the Donor Bridge “North Texas Giving Day.”

What makes this event unique? From 7 AM to 7 PM on Thursday, September 15^th, the Communities Foundation of Texas, sponsors of the event, will match a portion of your contribution.

Ruben Brown with children
from The Salvation Army - Arlington

Many showed their commitment to the community this summer. Former NFL Guard Ruben Brown kicked off a 7,000 mile, cross-country motorcycle ride called “Ruben’s Run.” The ride’s objective was to build awareness and raise funds for The Salvation Army.  Ruben stopped in the Metroplex on July 25th and made time to visit with those we serve.

Lieutenant Patrick Jones
with the children of The Salvation Army -
Dallas Temple

When our 15 Cooling Stations were running low on bottled water during the triple digit heat wave this summer, Sam’s Club took the initiative to donate 40,000 bottles of water to benefit the stations.

Back-to-school shopping can be very costly. Knowing this, the Office Depot Foundation and the Women’s Auxiliaries of Dallas and Fort Worth donated 1,150 backpacks to children served by The Salvation Army.

Field Day
at The Salvation Army -
Waxahachie

Volunteers from Boeing and Southwest Airlines recently served the community by hosting food drives benefiting Salvation Army food pantries across the Metroplex.

Other volunteer activities this month included two field days at our Pleasant Grove and Waxahachie locations. Summer day camp children throughout the Metroplex enjoyed activities such as face painting, tug-of-war, and basketball.

As the summer winds down, we wish you a wonderful conclusion of the season! Stay informed of our latest news by liking our fan page on Facebook!

Warmly, 

Captain Michele and Major Ward Matthews

DFW Metroplex Commanders