#HelpThemHome

Dallas' Austin Street Center grows from humble beginnings to raise $1.2 million

So far this year, Austin Street Center has served more than 1,200 homeless individuals by helping them secure jobs and permanent housing.

And thanks to the $1.2 million raised at its 21st annual Humble Beginnings luncheon, held October 15 at the Omni Dallas Hotel, the nonprofit will get to make an even bigger difference for Dallasites in the coming months.

More than 730 attendees clamored to donate, both at the luncheon and during the previous evening, when co-chair Margaret Philips hosted a young professionals gathering at Jose to support "Maggie's Challenge."

Founded in honor of her father, David M. Phillips, a devoted supporter and former board member of Austin Street, Maggie's Challenge was created with the goal of engaging the next generation in Austin Street’s mission. All gifts made and tickets purchased through Maggie’s Challenge were matched up to $50,000 thanks to a generous supporter, and totaled $118,000.

But at the luncheon, which Margaret co-chaired with her mother, Hon. Jeanne Philips, attendees got to learn more about the good work being done by Austin Street, which was founded in 1983 and is currently led by CEO Daniel Roby.

On hand to receive the first-ever community service award, presented by Mayor Eric Johnson, was Katie Edwards, SVP corporate social responsibility and president of the Mavs Foundation.

Also receiving recognition — and a standing ovation — was Frank Mihalopoulos, who along with his late wife Maryann Mihalopoulos, were presented with the Norm Hitzges Distinguished Service Award.

Hitzges, a sportscaster for 1310 The Ticket, has spent the last 20 years devoting a 24-hour live, continuous broadcast called the Normathon to raising funds for Austin Street.

Mihalopoulos surprised the room by announcing that he was donating Xela Aroma, an all-natural candle and reed diffuser company founded by Maryann in 2000, to Austin Street Center to run as a social enterprise. Guests were delighted to find a Xela Aroma candle in their gifts bags.

There were also updates on Austin Street's new, 60,000-square-foot, 24/7, client-focused homeless shelter and day service center that is currently being built. Once completed in early 2022, the center will expand much-needed services for the homeless men and women of Dallas.

Concluding the luncheon was a special mini concert from Tony and Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter/actress Cynthia Erivo, who has also received two Oscar nominations.

Erivo performed two songs from her debut album, Ch. 1 Vs. 1, before sitting down to chat with WFAA's Tashara Parker.

Located in downtown Dallas, Austin Street Center serves men ages 45 and older, and women ages 18 and older, with the individual support they need to transition out of homelessness, including shelter, food, clothing, health and mental health services, spiritual support, and employment and education programs. Austin Street Center provides unconditional support for each person regardless of faith, sexuality, or circumstance.

In serving the city's homeless neighbors, Austin Street Center provides the basic necessities, such as a safe place to sleep and shower, meals, and clothing. In addition to meeting these fundamental needs, other life rebuilding skills and spiritual support services are provided, including financial literacy, employment coaching, Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous support meetings, individualized case management, and other weekly activities and services are available within the on-site chapel.

Cynthia Erivo, Tashara Parker

Photo by Atali Samuel Photography

Cynthia Erivo, Tashara Parker

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."

charity coffee

#HelpThemHome

Dallas' Austin Street Center grows from humble beginnings to raise $1.2 million

Cynthia Erivo, Tashara Parker

Coffee news

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

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