February 10, 2020, Dallas – To mark the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment in 2020, community philanthropic partners came together to create the 19th Amendment Centennial Fund, which has provided $320,000 in grants to create a yearlong series of events to recognize the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote. This funding supports effective, inspirational and authentic ways to create conversation, drive positive change and build strategies to advance gender equity. Funded projects include programs and events that provide a publicly accessible component of the project’s work, such that it can be explored and enjoyed by individuals from diverse cultures, ages and economic means.
The collaborative funders include: AT&T, The Boone Family Foundation, Communities Foundation of Texas, the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs, The Dallas Foundation, the Embrey Family Foundation, The Hoglund Foundation, Lyda Hill Philanthropies, the McCune Losinger Family Fund
at Communities Foundation of Texas, the Rainwater Charitable Foundation, Texas Women’s Foundation, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, and the George and Fay Young Foundation.
A steering committee of the philanthropic partners advised on the grants of up to $10,000 for programs and events by nonprofit organizations and up to $1,000 for public schools.
The 38 projects that were chosen to receive funding incorporate the following concepts:
- Celebrate: Remember, honor and applaud those who have moved women from suffrage to seats at many tables and continue to work to improve the position of women in society.
- Educate: Tell the story behind the creation and significance of the 19th amendment, including who was involved, what sacrifices were made for it to happen and the women of color who were marginalized to advance the movement.
- Activate: Make the call for people to participate in democracy and provide data, information and solutions for ways to increase Texas’ ranking as 49th among the states when it comes to women’s political participation.
The 19th Amendment Centennial Fund grantees include:
Arts & Culture: ($112,000)
- Avant Chamber Ballet
- Dallas Black Dance Theatre
- Dallas Heritage Village
- Dance Council of North Texas
- Echo Theatre
- Junior Players
- Make Art With Purpose
- Media Projects, Inc.
- New Texas Symphony Orchestra
- Oak Lawn Band
- Shakespeare Dallas
- The Women’s Chorus of Dallas
- USA Film Festival
Civic Engagement: ($58,800)
- Bachman Lake Together
- Dallas Area Interfaith
- Faith in Texas
- Friends of the Dallas Public Library
- IGNITE
- Jolt Initiative
- Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas
- YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas
Education: ($144,000)
- Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum
- Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture
- Dallas Leadership Foundation
- Dallas Peace and Justice Center
- Dress for Success Dallas
- Friends of Aldredge House
- Girls Embracing Mothers
- Girls Empowerment Network
- Inspire School Programs
- Literacy Achieves
- Our Friends Place
- Puede Network
- ReflectUS
- Texas Woman’s University Foundation
- The Texas Tribune
- Trinity River Mission
Other: ($5,000)
- Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity $5,000
Details about the individual grant awards and project/program descriptions for each organization is available at www.cftexas.org/centennialgrantees. Several of the grantees will be working with University of Texas at Dallas students on social media strategies to promote their projects.
“Each of these organizations’ thoughtful initiatives has allowed the opportunity to find effective, inspirational, and authentic ways to create conversations, drive positive change, and build strategies to advance gender equity,” said Sarah Cotton Nelson, Chief Philanthropy Officer at Communities Foundation of Texas. “We’re so grateful to each of the collaborative funders who partnered to make this possible.”
“The 19th Amendment Centennial Fund celebrates the leaders who have, and continue to, champion equity for women, while acknowledging that there is still much to be done,” said Dallas Foundation Senior Vice President & Chief Impact Officer Helen Holman. “We are particularly excited that the grant recipients each have an aspect of their funded project that engages individuals and families from across Dallas, continuing the conversation about the importance of including women’s voices in all areas of society.”
“For the George and Fay Young Foundation, the 19th Amendment Centennial Fund represents an opportunity to celebrate progress around gender equity and remind us there is much work to be done. We are grateful to the many partners who continue to move this conversation forward,” said Executive Director Christopher Shaw.
“An important aspect of the grants was to be intentionally inclusive of the whole history of suffrage and how women of color were involved and were able to vote only in the last 55 years,” said Cynthia Yung, President of the Boone Family Foundation.“The Girls Scouts of Northeast Texas created a Women Vote! patch with a curriculum that reflects that history and over 6,000 girls have learned about suffrage and voting rights over last six months!”
A few examples of upcoming events include:
March 5 from 5:30pm – 7pm: IGNITE and Media Projects, Inc. Claiming Our Place in Politics panel discussion and film trailer celebration featuring State Representatives Rhetta Bowers and Victoria Neave at Belo Mansion
March 22 at 3pm: New Texas Symphony Orchestra’s “Celebrate Women” concert at Moody Performance Hall
March 24 from 5:30pm – 7:30pm: IGNITE, Media Projects, Inc. and Dallas Public Library’s film showing of Sisters of ’77 and panel of politically engaged women including Dallas County Treasurer Pauline Medrano, moderator Lauren Smart of the Dallas Morning News and more
April 28 from 11am – 12:30pm: INSPIRE School Programs’ Radiant Luncheon on April 28
June 6: Texas Women’s University & Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas Suffrage Patch Activity Day
To keep up with additional upcoming events celebrating the 19th amendment from the grantees, visit www.cftexas.org/events
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About Communities Foundation of Texas
With the goal of building thriving communities for all, Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT) works locally and across the state through a variety of charitable funds and strategic initiatives. The public foundation professionally manages 1,000 charitable funds for individuals, families, companies and nonprofits in addition to powering several key initiatives such as Educate Texas at CFT, W. W. Caruth, Jr. Fund at CFT and CFT’s North Texas Giving Day. CFT has awarded more than $2 billion in grants since its founding in 1953. Learn more at cftexas.org.
About The Boone Family Foundation
The Boone Family Foundation has worked to be a resource for social justice. Its goal is to be an innovative funder that tries to promote and support organizations and programs that will make the community a fair and just place for all people. To learn more, visit www.theboonefamilyfoundation.org
About The Dallas Foundation
The Dallas Foundation, established as a community foundation in 1929, brings together people, ideas and investments in Greater Dallas so individuals and families can reach their full potential. For more information, visit dallasfoundation.org.
About The George and Fay Young Foundation
The George and Fay Young Foundation was founded as a charitable trust in 1985 and incorporated in 1993. Long-time Dallasites, George and Fay Young believed strongly in giving back to the community which had given so much to each of them. Their legacy is carried on by second and third generation family members working with the Foundation. In turn, the Foundation seeks to support innovative and effective partner organizations as they work to create positive, sustainable solutions within the communities they serve. To learn more, visit https://gfyfoundation.org
About United Way of Metropolitan Dallas
United Way of Metropolitan Dallas is a community-based social change organization that puts opportunity in the hands of all North Texans. Working with our determined supporters, we lead the charge to improve education, income and health—the building blocks of opportunity. We invite all change-seekers in our community to Live United to achieve lasting results right here at home. To give, advocate or volunteer, visit UnitedWayDallas.org.
