It has been said, time and time again, that we are truly blessed to live in Denton County. From our great towns and cities, to our school districts, to our great economic opportunities, Denton County is wonderful place to live, work, play and raise our families. With all of the good things that we enjoy about our community, there is still much need. That is where we are also blessed because Denton County is home to numerous non-profit organizations that work tirelessly to support those in need in our community.
I am honored to serve on several non-profit boards in Denton County and I wanted to highlight just a few of these outstanding organizations, plus give contact information on how you can also get involved. If your New Year’s Resolution was to give back to your community and help make 2012 better than 2011, volunteering is such a great way to help others as well as ourselves.
United Way of Denton County
United Way of Denton County has been mobilizing resources to advance the common good since 1951. While it is important to help individual people, advancing the common good is about changing systems to help all of us. We are all connected and interdependent. We all win when a child succeeds in school, when families are financially stable, when people are healthy.
United Way’s goal is to create long-lasting positive changes by addressing the underlying causes of these problems. Living united means being a part of the change. It takes everyone in the community, working together, to create a brighter future.
United Way of Denton County’s Community Investment Committees focus on the building blocks of a good life in the area of Education, Income and Health.
Education – Helping Children and Youth Achieve Their Potential
Income – Promoting Financial Stability, Financial Education and Independence
Health – Improving People’s Health
United Way of Denton County is an efficient charitable organization with one of the lowest overhead costs for a non-profit organization in America. United Way’s goal is to maximize and add value to the amount of dollars going to community needs. The extensive use of volunteers allows United Way to maintain a small staff and low overhead.
New and creative partnerships are happening daily at the United Way of Denton County and I am pleased to be a part of it!
United Way of Denton County offers a resource distribution system that is accountable, caring, responsive, and creative. It is regarded by donors, the community, and partnering agencies as an effective and efficient means for allocating funds to provide the greatest impact on community needs and issues. To learn how you can be a part of United Way of Denton County check out www.unitedwaydenton.org or 940-898-8976
Communities In Schools of North Texas
More than 20,000 Denton and Wise County public school students are in at-risk situations for failure and of dropping out of school. With the help of Communities in Schools of North Texas (CISNT), part of the nation’s largest dropout prevention network, many will beat the odds this year and stay in school. CISNT, a non-profit administered through guidelines by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), is part of an innovative national approach established to combat the dropout problem.
By providing on-campus social workers, Communities in Schools of North Texas can work with school staff to identify at-risk students and help match them with the services they need whether it be a new winter coat, after school tutoring, or assigning them a mentor. Mentoring a student is fun, rewarding, and life-changing to the student and mentor!
If you have a heart for students, this is a perfect organization to connect with. We are always in need of volunteers and student mentors. Plan to attend our annual Gala Friday May 18th.
To learn more about how you can connect with a student in need check out: www.cisnt.org or 972-350-4773
School District Education Foundations
Our children are our future. Education foundations provide funding to go back into the classroom and provide innovative programs to instill learning. With education funding a critical issue, school districts depend more and more on education foundations to provide supplemental funding. I have served on the LISD Foundation for many years and can attest to the benefits foundations bring to the quality of education we have here in Denton County. We not only provide scholarships for graduating seniors, but funds also stay within the districts through teacher grants for classroom initiatives and other enrichment programs.
Consider funding a scholarship or grant in honor or memory of a family member, co-worker, or friend! It’s a great way to give help your school district and acknowledge the people special to you.
Argyle ISD Education Foundation: aisdef.org 940-464-7241
Denton Public School Foundation: dentonisd.org 940-369-0078
Lewisville ISD Education Foundation: lisdef.com 469-948-2022
Northwest ISD Education Foundation: nisdtx.org 817-215-0174
Rotary International
What would it take to change the world? Rotary’s 1.2 million members believe it starts with a commitment to Service Above Self.
Rotary International is the oldest service organization in the world and with more than 34,000 clubs worldwide, you’ll find members volunteering in communities large and small to support education and job training, provide clean water, combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, eradicate polio and many other worthy causes.
I serve as a member and Past President of the Rotary Club of Flower Mound. “Service Above Self” is a motto that I strive to achieve each day.
Through a strong weekly fellowship, Rotarians develop close personal bonds of friendship while working on a variety of causes to improve their local community, while also having a strong international emphasis.
There are numerous clubs here in Denton County that meet for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Find out more at rotary.org
Join me in helping to serve a need in our community and helping to make Denton County a great place we all call home.
Andy Eads, Denton County Commissioner Pct 4, [email protected] 940-349-2801
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