Pivoting for charity

5 hot virtual fundraisers every Dallas socialite should click to attend now

Coronavirus wiped out the entire spring calendar of big fundraising events in Dallas. And, while many charitable luncheons and galas got canceled or moved to an already crowded fall, some are using technology to go digital.

From online auctions to virtual visitors at Zoom meetings, here are five hot high-tech initiatives raising money for worthy causes in Dallas this month.

Junior League of Dallas
Junior League's annual Auction Party is one of the most anticipated events of spring for Dallas young professionals. This year's party, themed, “Deep in the Heart of Dallas,” got canceled. But the community agencies JLD supports still need them, so the group has taken its auction online.

JLD's virtual auction, May 7-14, features more than 275 items including getaways, jewelry, clothes, spa and gym packages, photography packages, items for the home and pet, golf outings, kids' items, restaurant gift cards, and more. Bidding ends at 10 pm Thursday, May 14, and items will be available for pickup at JLD Headquarters May 21-23. There's even a diamond pull for $50 per ticket.

To view items and join the auction, go here.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra League
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra League is hosting an online raffle in place of its annual Savor the Symphony seated dinner. Proceeds benefit the outreach and education programs of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

Raffle items are divided into two tiers. Tier 1 items include a Bravo! Festival in Vail package and a Gold Stradivarius Membership. Tier 1 tickets are one for $500, three for $1,200, five for $2,000. Tier 2 Raffle items include Dallas Symphony Orchestra Gala Tickets, Loge Tickets & Dinner, and Sip & Savor and Wine & Dine packages. Tier 2 Tickets are one for $100 and seven for $500. In addition, underwriting sponsorships and "in honor of" donations may be made.

Raffle ticket payments must be received by Wednesday, May 13 to be included in the drawing. Blind drawings will take place on May 22.

For more information and to purchase tickets online, visit the Savor the Symphony website.

AWARE
The annual AWARE Affair gala raises critical funds for organizations that help to fight Alzheimer's. The canceled gala has been turned into an online auction for dozens of fabulous prize packages and experiences. They include gift cards to top Dallas restaurants, fashion accessories and shopping excursions, spa treatments, sports tickets, and luxury hotel stays. Bidding opens at 9 am Friday, May 15 and closes at 8 pm Friday, May 22.

Browse the auction items and register to bid on the event's website.

Girls Inc.
To celebrate 50 years of transforming girls’ lives, Girls Inc. of Metropolitan Dallas will hold a virtual gala at 5:30 pm Saturday, May 16. Former WFAA anchor Gloria Campos will host the evening, which will include with a special musical performance by best-selling singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor. Cecilia and Garrett Boone will be honored at the interactive event. The virtual gala is free to attend, but registration is required by May 15.

The goal of Girls Inc. is to provide young girls — especially those in low-income households — with academic and emotional support that will help them overcome obstacles they face growing up.

For more information and registration, visit the event's website.

Equest
Equest provides equine-assisted learning, therapies, and counseling to children and adults with physical, cognitive, sensory, coping and learning disabilities, as well as veterans. The organization has made a creative pivot after the loss of its big spring gala.

Equest’s therapy horses are making cameo appearances on company video conference calls. Customers can reserve 10 minutes live with one of Equest’s 30 therapy horses — miniature or full-sized — or Taco the miniature donkey, for a $50 donation. Money raised helps support Equest’s mission to provide hope and healing through the human-horse connection.

To schedule a horse appearance, call 972-412-1099 with the date and time of the video conference, payment information, and horse preference. Horses are available weekdays, 9 am-5 pm, on a limited basis.

For more information and to view the horses, visit Equest's website.

Taco from Equest can join your Zoom meeting, too.

Photo courtesy of Equest

Taco from Equest can join your Zoom meeting, too.

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Coffee news

Starbucks partners bestow $53K in grants to favorite Dallas nonprofits

Courtesy

Chalkboard at Starbucks celebrates Resource Center.

In a one-of-a-kind charitable program, coffee giant Starbucks has bestowed more than two dozen grants to organizations across Dallas — organizations selected by Starbucks employees themselves.

Called The Starbucks Foundation’s Neighborhood Grants program, it's unique as a charitable effort thanks to its profound level of engagement, by allowing employees to nominate nonprofit recipients.

The Starbucks Foundation is the company's charitable arm which issues grants to nonprofits — from coffee and tea-growing communities around the world to neighborhood groups.

The Neighborhood Grants program gives their "partners" (what they call their employees) the opportunity to support the local organizations they care most about. This year, more than 3,200 grants are being awarded across the U.S. and Canada. Of that number, 27 organizations in Dallas received a Neighborhood Grant, totaling $53,000.

That included a $4,000 grant to Resource Center, a Dallas provider of LGBTQIA+ services and a big Starbucks staff favorite: It was nominated by an unprecedented 40 partners, and has previously earned seven grants totaling $20,000 from The Starbucks Foundation since 2019.

Resource Center's director of corporate engagement & events Bill Scott says that the grant is part of a larger meaningful partnership.

"In the current climate, we've seen many corporations turn away from our community, but Starbucks has remained steadfast," Scott says. "And we see it in ways that go beyond the grants, whether it's volunteering at our food bank or being ready for any fundraising event where they'll set up a coffee station to distribute to our guests."

Founded in 1983, Resource Center focuses on three pillars: positive social engagement in safe spaces, supportive services to promote wellness, and skill-building opportunities to promote growth.

Resource Center accepts grant from Starbucks Foundation, from left to right: Bill Scott (RC), Daniel Sanchez (RC), Tres Brown (RC), and Howard Jackson (SBUX).Jeffrey McWhorter

"The grant will help us continue to serve and uplift our community with more programming in areas like health and wellness," Scott says. "Last year, we opened our first low-income affordable housing complex for seniors, and before it even opened, it was sold out. We can see that the services we provide fill a real need."

It's a rare scenario in the corporate world, Scott says.

"There are not many companies I have dealt with like the Starbucks Foundation where they rely on their partners to make recommendations and listen to their partners," he says.

For Starbucks partners like Marsh King, an operations consultation manager who's been with the company for nearly 28 years, Starbucks' priority on being mission-driven has been a big incentive to stay with the company.

"When you see a grant that might give Resource Center the funds to do something like buy more refrigeration for the food pantry they just opened — it's gratifying to see that direct impact and know that you're a part of it," she says.

The level of engagement is very grass-roots, says senior partner employee relations associate Howard Jackson.

"We have customers who come in and say, 'I saw you at that event last weekend," he says. "We support the community, and they are our customers, as well. Through this work, we connect a lot of dots."

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