Seeking to help mold the nonprofit leaders of the future, Texas Instruments Foundation has established a fellowship program that is funded by $2.1 million in foundation grants.

The grants, which the Dallas-based semiconductor maker said honors its founders’ legacy of giving, will fund three annual work experiences to university or graduate students who plan to have careers in the nonprofit field.

The TI Founders Leadership Fellows program was designed in collaboration with the Dallas Museum of Art, the University of Texas at Dallas, and the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, and is named in honor of J. Erik Jonsson, Eugene McDermott, Cecil Green, and Pat Haggerty, the company said.

“Our founders created a legacy of deep community involvement and giving back.”
Andy Smith

“Our founders created a legacy of deep community involvement and giving back,” TI Foundation Executive Director Andy Smith said in a company blog. “That legacy has strongly influenced our culture and has inspired decades of community service by TIers around the world. We want to honor their passion and commitment for making a difference and celebrate the impact their generosity has had on our community.”

Each of the collaborative organizations will have a fellow for a year under the program, and each will manage their own fellowship program, including when applications will open and a deadline for when they are due, said Nicole Bernard, corporate public relations channel manager for Texas Instruments.

UT Dallas Communications Manager Brittany Magelssen said at UTD, the fellowship will be awarded to an undergraduate student, graduate student, or some who had graduated within six months of the fellowship who wants to pursue a nonprofit career.

The university’s Office of Development and Alumni Releations will administer the program.

FOUNDATION CONTINUES PHILANTHROPIC LEGACY

TI’s connections to the three collaborative organizations run deep.

Its history with United Way dates to the early 1960s, when J. Erik Jonsson helped with efforts of the American Red Cross and the Community Chest to create what was then called the United Fund, the company said. Johnson was the United Fund’s first board chairman.

Then, in 1961 Jonsson, McDermott, and Green founded the Graduate Research Center of the Southwest in Richardson. It later was renamed as the Southwest Center for Advanced Studies. Ultimately, it became a member of the University of Texas Systems in 1969 with the name the University of Texas at Dallas.

The Dallas Museum of Art was one of the many nonprofit arts organizations supported by TI, a commitment that began with McDermott and his wife, Margaret.

“Following in the footsteps of our founders, we continue to ensure arts and culture programs remain a part of our community for all to enjoy, and to help make our city a more vibrant place to live and work,” Smith said. 

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