Community partnerships are crucial to provide funding, support and enrichment for Dallas ISD students. Four awards were presented during the May 24 Board of Trustees meeting to this year’s outstanding volunteers and partners who made a positive impact on education.
The Superintendent’s Award was presented to Pat and Emmitt Smith Charities. Beginning in 2014, the organization has provided uniforms and resources to a growing number of students. A back-to-school event now serves all students at five Dallas ISD schools. Additionally, Smith Charities provided special funding assistance for Hurricane Harvey evacuees, and introduced additional partners to help families.
The Emmett J. Conrad Extra Mile Award was presented to KMPG. Focusing on improving literacy during the past five years, KPMG provided books for more than 75 district elementary schools. Most recently, the company provided books for the African American Read-Ins, the districtwide Read for Me event, all students in Summer School programs, the Model UN program and ESL Summer Backpack Reading Program. The company has also committed to adopting three schools for expanded services.
The Dallas Mavericks received the Jeanne Fagadau Leading the Charge Award. This year, the Mavs provided school supplies and a ticket voucher for all 157,000 students in Dallas ISD. The Community Block Tickets Program provided tickets to home games, the Science of Basketball STEM workshops, and scholarships. Teaming up with others, the Mavs supported the UPS Store for Classroom Champions; with Shock Doctor and McDavid HEX for basketball safety equipment; with American Airlines for the Black History Month Essay Contest; with North Texas Ford Dealers and First Book for the Buzzer Beater Reading Challenge; and with EVERFI and the Seth Curry Foundation to provide Venture-Entrepreneurial Expedition.
American Airlines was named the Premiere Industry Partner for its partnership and support of W.H. Adamson Collegiate Academy. The company provides staff to support student learning, college- and career-readiness and resources including school supplies and backpacks, iPads, and scholarships. It also recruits additional industry partners and provides support through Junior Achievement to several Dallas ISD schools with job shadowing and mentoring. This summer, the company is underwriting costs for out-of-state STEM experiences.
