So what’s a half million $? A heck of a lot of moolah to the non-profits. That was extremely evident to nine area children’s charities at Maggiano’s Monday, March 31.
The mega-giveaway was the check presentation by the 2013 Crystal Charity Ball committee. That’s the tricky deal in the world of fundraising. So many times you hear that this chi-chi group raise gagillion dollars, but what you really want to hear is how much of that made it to the hands of the non-profits.
Pete and Caren Kline
With garlic wafting through the air and wine being toasted, CCB Chair Caren Kline with her proud husband Pete smiling on and Underwriting Chair Pam Perella handed out hefty checks.
How hefty? Try these on for size:
- Educational First Steps (Four Steps to Excellence 2.0) — $430,000
- Good Street Learning Center, Inc. (Operation Next Steps: Program & Facility Improvements) — $458,988
- NETWORK of Community Ministries, Inc. (Children of Grandfamilies Initiative) — $508,989
- New Friends New Life (Trafficking Prevention & Sexual Abuse Recovery Program) — $525,000
- Parkland Foundation (Crystal Charity Ball Pediatric Burn Center & Playroom) — $1,252,316
- Suicide and Crisis Center of North Texas (Teens Can Survive Program) — $275,400
- Texas Scottish Rite Hospital For Children (Specialized Prosthetics Program) — $500,000
- YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas (Park South YMCA Capital Improvements: Urban Swim Project) — $789,722
Family Gateway
In addition, Caren announced that Family Gateway had been designated as the 2013 Horizon Project and would be receiving funding to provide pre-K education access to the children they serve.
But before each check was handed over, the recipients briefly told about their organizations and appreciated the involvement with CCB.
New Friends New Life’s Katie Pedigo stressed how CCB had made such a “difference” in the Dallas non-profits. YMCA’s Gordon Echtenkamp acknowledged that in addition to the incredible funding to support their efforts to save children’s lives, the CCB seal of approval was priceless. Parkland Foundation’s George Engdahl subbed in for PF President David Krause, who was in Berlin discussing fundraising (in German). George also recognized that despite Parkland’s being above the fold in local news, CCB’s Caren and ladies had stood by Parkland throughout 2013.
Afterwards, the chit-chat of the evening included:
- Newlywed Toni Pickens buying the George Strait package at the Park Cities Quail fundraiser.
- Pam Perella discovering life-after-CCB underwriting. She’s been working on the Perella’s Montana get-away.
- 2104 CCB Chair Robyn Conlon’s April agenda: 10 Best Dressed reveal and the CCB theme announcement on April 22. She promises that it’s a first, but refuses to talk. She hasn’t even revealed it to her kiddos.
But the evening was truly focused on how the funds would help children. It would save children’s lives by teaching them how to swim. It would support a service for youngsters considering suicidal crossroads. It would make a life-changing difference for young victims of sex trafficking and so much more.
The evening’s check presentation of $4.7M brought to a total of more than $117M that the CCB has provided along with its “seal of approval” to the children’s non-profits for the past 52 years.
There are children who will never know the 100 women and countless people and organization providing services and program for their betterment. But that’s what CCB is all about — helping children.