D

LeBron and JAY-Z Support Dallas’ Boys & Girls Club With Sprite and Coke

Photo provided by Aardvark Communications

While many of the celebs in town for the All-Star game were supporting Dallas’ economy by exercising their credit cards at NorthPark, two of the beyond-well-known-names of the super universe were working with kids. LeBron James and Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter (pictured from the left) worked with 100 kids from the East Dallas Club of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Dallas Saturday afternoon.

Yes, there were the mandatory media opps, but when it came to the mentoring part of the program, LeBron and JAY-Z met privately with the students. (more…)

Sammons Once Again Takes Philanthropy To A Staggering Level With $100M Gift

The name Sammons is simply synonymous with greatness in giving. This morning the Sammons Foundation truly raised the philanthropy bar to a level that is simply put, “astounding.” The estate of founder Charles A. Sammons and the 3,500 people of Sammons Enterprises Inc., are presenting a $100 million gift to be divvied up among six beneficiaries.

Take a deep breath and think about that number –a one with eight zeroes. Need a comparison? That is more than the marvelous Crystal Charity Ball has raised since its founding in 1953. And this $100M gift, as well as many previous acts of Sammons generosity, is the legacy provided by an Oklahoma orphan, who made Dallas his home.

“With this historic contribution we are honoring Mr. Sammons’ conviction that the worth of a company should be based on its profitability and its contribution to the community,” said Sammons Dallas Foundation President Heather Kreager. “The beneficiaries will be able to continue their missions of helping improve the quality of life for the people within our community who are facing challenges.”

The six groups reeling from their good fortune and which were identified by Mr. Sammons prior to his death in 1988 are:

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Track Santa’s Tracks As He Heads To Biggest D

Santa’s already hit Australia and he’s making his way to the good little girls and boys in Dallas!

Last Weekend To Overcome The Guilt Factor

Okay, our lovely little last minute angels, the guilt factor is starting to kick. You’re scurrying around getting “stuff” and suddenly it’s hit you that the “charitable factor” hasn’t been satified. It’s really starting to gnaw at you. Never fear! The SweetCharity staff has been hard at work finding answers to your needs:

December 18: The late Allan McKinnon‘s Irving-based import and wholesale company Just Crystal was known for its fine crystal products (pictured) and working directly with companies in the Czech Republic. His daughter Melina McKinnon, who founded MC Films, is hosting a sale of Allan’s massive estate with proceeds going to Arts Fighting Cancer, which was founded by Melina’s hubby Michael Cain. Also included in the estate is the Molinari Collection, “a vibrant signed-collector’s edition glass from Brazil discovered at a German glass show by Allan.” Today is the last day of this very special offering being held at One Arts Plaza’s residential condominiums.

December 18 – 20: The West Village is hosting the Wish Key Event benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Texas. Any in-store purchase not only results in a $2-donation to M-A-W, it also earns the shopper a West Village Wish Key. What the heck do you do with the key, you ask? You take it to the holiday gift box located in West Village’s South Alley and try to open it. What’s inside? Everything from gift certificates to electronics and other goodies.  Where the South Alley? Think the area between Mi Cocina and Lemon Bar. Now you’re thinking!

December 20: Del Frisco’s is hosting a party for 200 children in the Wednesday’s Child program. You are NOT invited. Sorry about that. But you are needed. Many of these foster children have MIA parents and will probably not score very high on Santa’s list. So Dee “Laughing Lady” Lincoln (where did she get that laugh?) is setting up  26 stations at the posh steak mansion for the kids which include “gift cards, hoodies, backpacks, stuff a stocking, toys, build a bear, meet Dallas Cowboys players, pajamas, face painting, decorate a cookies, photos with Santa, and live music for dancing.” Where do you come in? They really, really need gift cards for the kids. According to spokes-elf Andrea Alcorn, “We are accepting gift cards $10 and up to Walmart, Target, or any store of choice that children can shop at. Donors can drop off gift cards at Friedman & Feiger law firm or Del Frisco’s — both are located next door to each other on Spring Valley Road.” They need them no later than immediately. While you’re there, say “Hi” to Dee and have a laugh.

And speaking of Wednesday’s Child, the Wednesday’s Child Benefit Corporation has an opportunity — giving cash without costing you anything. Yes, it requires you to register with GiveSmart. Once you’ve registered, each purchase you make at certain stores (Target, Borders, Best Buy, PetSmart, Walmart, Office Depot, and about 90 others) returns a percentage of the sale to the Wednesday’s Child organization.  Just think! You could register with GiveSmart, buy a passel of gift cards at one of these stores earning Wednesday’s Child a donation, and drop the cards off for the Del Frisco’s party. That sounds like two holes-in-one in a row.

Drat! We Swore We Wouldn’t Do It

I know, I know. We promised no more calls for toys, but this time of year we do want to stay on Santa’s good side, so here is the absolute very last shout out. There are many worthwhile organizations who are trying to help those in need. Some have been around longer than D Magazine like Brother Bill’s Helping Hand, that serves some of the poorest in our community. Founded more than 50 years ago by the late Bill Harrod, each year Brother Bill’s has a Christmas party for the children from the 75212 ZIP code. (Did you know that it is one of the poorest per capita ZIP codes in the U.S.?) This year they’re expecting 800 children to show up hoping for gifts. No, not Wii’s or Legos. Something under $10-$12. Isn’t that the cost of a Combo #1 at AMC? Oh, so you want specifics. My, you’re getting demanding, but we do want to keep you happy, so here is a rundown of the kinds of gifts Brother Bill’s needs unwrapped by this Saturday:

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Irving Cares That ExxonMobil’s Rex Tillerson Cares

Photo provided by Sunwest Communications

In 1957 before there was a Texas Stadium or a D/FW International Airport, a group of folks in Irving organized Irving Cares to help with the social welfare of the needy in the Irving community. The good news is that Irving grew; the not-so-good news is that the demand for Irving Cares also grew.  Why during the past year more than 25,000 people or 12% of the population of Irving required assistance for food, housing, transportation, counseling, and jobs from Irving Cares. Remarkably, Irving Cares has not only provided for these needs but has exceeded “industry standards with 80 cents of each dollar going back into the community as a program related expense.”

These accomplishments have impressed many including Rex Tillerson. Oh,  please, don’t ask who he is! You really don’t know. Think ExxonMobil. No, he’s not the fellow who runs the gas station down the street. Rex is chairman and CEO of ExxonMobil Corporation. You know, that local group that just announced plans to buy Fort Worth-based XTO Energy today.

Back to Rex and Irving Cares. It seems that each year ExxonMobil presents the Chairman’s Gift to a nonprofit organization. Guess which group received the $50,000 grant this year? Yup, Irving Cares!

Last week Rex not only presented the check to Irving Cares executive director Teddie Story (pictured with Rex), he toured the facility and was welcomed like Santa.

Last Call For Toys!

We posted a question about reputable groups that need toys. This is the last call for you to let us know of any organizations in need of toys for needy children. Yes, we know it’s still 11 days until Christmas, but these groups have got to get them to Santa for Christmas deliveries.

So, please comments section to blatantly promote any group that you feel could benefit. The kids would truly appreciate it!

Does Honest Group Need Toys?

A SweetCharity sweetie has her brow all rippled up. Seems that she wants to donate some toys, but she’s heard that some of the “reputable” toy drives don’t really get the goodies to real children. Serious? Really?

Does anyone know which are the reputable groups that make the Santa connection?

Crystal Charity Ball Part I: The Facts And Setting

When one encounters a tsunami event, one admits that an excruciatingly long blog would be worthless. Instead it would be much wiser to break up the coverage into areas of interest.

Needless to say, Saturday night’s Crystal Charity Ball was such the case and SweetCharity will post accordingly. Your patience is appreciated.

First, let’s tackle the facts and setting for “License To Thrill.”

FACTS AND SETTING: Since 1952 Crystal Charity Ball has held the top place in the tiara of charity galas in North Texas. There are no if’s, and’s, or but’s about it. It’s the Big Mama of events earning multi-million $$$ funds for children’s charities in one night. This year CCB chair Debbie Oates (pictured with husband Nickey) and her committee faced that challenge of providing a mega spectacular event that satisfied the investment of underwriters and sponsors, but also didn’t cross the line of appearing to be the 21st century’s Marie Antoinette court.

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Be Nice To Yourself And Give D

Since SweetCharity focuses on nonprofits and philanthropy, this next piece of news has caused a bit of good cheer in the SC world. D management has become very philanthropic. Perhaps it’s due to the incredible number of followers on Twitter and Facebook friends.

Whatever the reason, they’ve got such an opportunity for you!

Here’s the deal: If you look on the cover of D Magazine, the price is $4.99. But for an extremely limited time, you can give a year’s subscription as gift to your best friend, parents, boss, or whomever for . . . drum roll . . . $10. According to the SC calculator, that’s a savings of $49.88 for you and we promise not to tell the recipient of your smart shopping.

How do you it? Here’s the answer.

Now we know why the SweetCharity holiday party is a small bag of week-old cookies and a Swiss Miss packet that expired last year.