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Philanthropic Dallasites unite to honor superb women and decades of giving

More than 1,200 people turned out to celebrate a philanthropic society that has been making a major difference in Dallas for the past 30 years. Ruth Sharp Atlshuler began hand-writing letters encouraging her friends and acquaintances to contribute to the United Way in 1987, and that small act set in motion a legacy that has grown tremendously over the past few decades.

Now named in her honor, the Ruth Altshuler Tocqueville Society recognizes civic and business leaders whose vision for North Texas is matched only by their generosity. The more than 950 members each contribute $10,000 or more annually, bringing hope and essential aid while helping shape the region's future.

Altshuler was honored at the United Way's luncheon, held at the Omni Dallas, along with 2017 Decades of Distinction Award winners Margaret McDermott and Margot Perot.

McDermott, who turned 105 this past February, founded the McDermott Foundation with her late husband, Eugene (the founder of Texas Instruments), in 1955. Millions of dollars have since been donated in support of educational, cultural, social, and other civic ventures. Perot has lived in Dallas with her husband, Ross, since 1957, and has served on numerous philanthropic and civic boards. She also chaired the first Dallas Tocqueville Society member dinner in 1987.

United Way board chair Anne Motsenbocker and foundation board chair Jason Downing each welcomed and thanked the crowd — the group's largest ever turnout — before Ross Perot Jr. gave a short introduction to Altshuler and her work.

Luncheon chair Regen Fearon stressed the impact of the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, which treats 360 degrees of need in the community and beyond. Just the day before, NBC's Today visited Dallas to follow United Way volunteers as they packed up supplies and donations for the city of Houston in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

Kelly H. Compton, Caren Prothro, Carolyn Perot Rathjen, and United Way CEO Jennifer Sampson then introduced the Ruth Sharp Altshuler Basic Needs Fund, which will help ensure that the United Way can continue to respond to the needs of families year after year.

Two of Altshuler's grandsons, Lucas Jacobson and Peter Jacobson, paid tribute to the remarkable woman through a song they composed and performed for the occasion, drawing a palpable reaction from guests that included former First Lady Laura Bush, Annette Strauss, Diane and Hal Brierley, Gene Jones, Drew Pearson, Caroline Rose Hunt, Ron Kirk, Matrice Ellis-Kirk, Dr. Kenneth Cooper, and Roger Horchow.

Fresh off his California wedding that weekend to Capa Mooty, former Dallas Cowboy Troy Aikman took the stage as the 2017-18 United Way campaign chair. His #UniteWithTroy campaign vows to make good use of social media and digital giving with online auctions, where one-of-a-kind experiences with Aikman and his football pals will be up for grabs.

Altshuler herself closed the event, inspiring laugher and several standing ovations as she spoke of her years with the Tocqueville Society and the United Way. Altshuler summed up her decades of service with a particularly apt quote from Albert Schweitzer: "Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing."

Mary Kathryn Bass, Katherine Perot, Angie Carlson

Photo courtesy of United Way

Mary Kathryn Bass, Katherine Perot, Angie Carlson

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