Jennifer Sampson is all smiles as she celebrates the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas’s 100-year journey.
"We know that community leaders, corporations, nonprofits, some of these professional sports teams and athletes, when we come together through United Way, we are the heartbeat of this community," Sampson said.
For the past century, United Way has been a beacon of hope and service, significantly impacting North Texans' lives. "It's a landmark moment for United Way of Metropolitan Dallas," she said.
The centennial celebration kicks off Thursday night at the AT&T Discovery District in Downtown Dallas, with campaign chairman Stephen Williams and a host of past campaign chairs supported by the PepsiCo team.
This year-long tribute to United Way’s history promises to be both reflective and forward-looking.
"We've got lots of exciting volunteer engagement opportunities planned that we'll be releasing and sharing over the course of the next 12 months," Sampson said.
But what exactly does the United Way do? Many people are unaware that the United Way does not directly engage in charitable work. Instead, they act as a backbone to dozens of nonprofits in the community.
"We provide grants to nonprofits," Sampson said. "We also work with funders to co-create initiatives to address very specific issues in our community tied to our strategy."
The numbers speak volumes about United Way's influence. This year alone, their efforts have improved access to education, income, and health for over 1.7 million North Texans, which represents 20% of the population.
"We have a proven track record of results because we've got measurable goals in place that help us track the social return on investment,” she said.
United Way's hyper-local focus allows them to use data science to address neighborhood-specific needs across Dallas, delivering measurable results in education, job access, and healthcare.
Sampson emphasizes the importance of corporate collaboration in their initiatives.
"We are a bridge between corporate philanthropy and the nonprofit sector here in North Texas," she said. Many major employers in the area run successful employee-giving campaigns that significantly fuel United Way's community impact work.
For more information on their initiatives and opportunities, go to unitedwaydallas.org.
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