As we embark on another year of impact, I feel an incredible sense of hope and excitement. Hope for the lives that we will change — together — and excitement about the communitywide Live United movement that is growing in size, momentum and enthusiasm with each passing day.
Over the past 12 months, we achieved great things, thanks to the support of our corporate, foundation and community partners and change-seekers like you.
- When third-grade reading proficiency declined as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we continued to expand our early literacy programming, sending free books to tens of thousands of local families and moving closer to our goal of distributing 1 million books by 2027.
- As many North Texas families struggled to save money, we served tens of thousands of workers looking for better-paying jobs and seeded hundreds of college savings accounts for low-income students.
- As our neighbors sought health care coverage through the Marketplace, Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), our Healthcare Navigators helped tens of thousands of families evaluate health care affordability, understand benefits and apply for subsidies.
- During the 140 days of the Texas Legislature’s regular session, we advocated alongside more than 900 hand-raisers to secure additional funding for early childhood development programs, to support extended Medicaid health coverage for new moms and to educate policymakers on such key topics as rental assistance and affordable housing.
- Working closely with dedicated corporate partners, we expanded our investments in southern Dallas, launching the historic Southern Dallas Thrives Fund with the support of current and former PepsiCo employees to address the short- and long-term challenges of our neighbors in the southern sector. This is the first fund established by a corporation to support a specific community impact initiative in our 99-year history.
You can explore more of the impact and outcomes of our programs and partnerships by reading our newly released 2022-2023 Impact Report online at unitedwaydallas.org. Change-seekers like you improved access to education, income and health for 1.6 million North Texans over the last year — creating real change that our neighbors see and feel every day. Our annual Impact Report captures our collective impact and is a catalyst for even greater impact in the new year.
With your continued support and partnership, we’ll build on the opportunities we created for North Texans to thrive by staying focused on our Aspire United 2030 goals to:
- Increase by 50% the number of students reading on grade level by third grade.
- Increase by 20% the number of young adults earning a living wage, adding nearly $800 million in wages per year in North Texas.
- Increase to 96% the number of North Texans with access to affordable health care insurance.
As we kick off 2024, we are in an excellent position to continue driving progress toward these goals, ensuring that every North Texan has the access and opportunity to thrive. The new year is particularly exciting because it brings us closer to our Centennial anniversary. Over the next 12 months — and through our Centennial celebration in 2025 — our events and initiatives will create meaningful impact and be bigger, more visible and more engaging than ever.
I invite you to engage with the Live United movement and see how making an investment, joining a Giving Society, contributing time as a volunteer or advocating for policy change can make a direct impact in the lives of your neighbors (and give you a terrific sense of satisfaction too!). Be on the lookout for exciting events and new initiatives that will ensure our Live United movement will create more opportunities for North Texans than ever before.
- Looking for an unforgettable volunteer opportunity? Sign up to share the joy of reading with students at schools across North Texas on United Way Reading Day, March 1. Visit unitedwaydallas.org/readingday to learn more.
- Love a little friendly competition? Join us May 2 at The Pitch, our exhilarating social innovation competition where talented social entrepreneurs compete live for funding and the title Social Innovator of the Year. Visit Unitedwaydallas.org/thepitch to save your spot.
- Eager to engage in local public policy efforts? 2024 is not only a presidential election year — it will also include opportunities for you to weigh in on important voter issues that directly impact our community. Visit unitedwaydallas.org/advocate and sign up for our Advocacy Alerts to stay informed and engaged.
This is just a quick preview of what’s ahead. Stay tuned for more ways to engage with this important community impact work.
As we continue the march toward our Centennial year, we have abundant opportunities to change lives in North Texas. Together, we will create generational change for North Texans, ensuring that more students graduate ready to succeed, more workers achieve financial stability and more families access the health resources necessary to thrive. We create meaningful, measurable change because you unite with us.
In closing, I wish you a happy and healthy new year. Thank you for your commitment to our mission and for being an important part of our movement for change. You make this work possible. Thanks to your passion, dedication and support, this will be a year to remember for United Way — and for North Texas — as we work side by side to make our region a better, more equitable place for everyone to call home.
Jennifer Sampson
Mc-Dermott Templeton President and CEO
United Way of Metropolitan Dallas