The Dallas-based Texas Instruments Foundation has awarded a $1 million grant to the North Texas Food Bank, in support of the organization’s new five-year strategic initiative, Fulfilling Futures.

NTFB said the award will help the nonprofit advance the central goal of its strategic plan: meeting at least 80% of the food needs in every ZIP code across its service area over the next five years.

The food bank distributed more than 137 million meals last year, but gaps remain when viewed at the neighborhood level, the nonprofit said, noting that TI’s funding will help provide “an additional 3 million meals to North Texans facing hunger.”

“The generous grant from the TI Foundation is making a real difference for the 774,000 North Texans facing food insecurity,” NTFB President and CEO Trisha Cunningham said in a statement. “This support not only helps us provide nutritious meals to children, older adults, and families in need—it also strengthens our new strategic plan, allowing us to expand our reach and serve even more people in the communities where they live.”

“As a former TI employee, I’m especially proud to see the company’s ongoing commitment to North Texas, both through this critical funding and the many employees who volunteer their time to support our mission,” Cunningham added.

Photo: North Texas Food Bank

Initiative aims to close ‘critical meal gaps’

The NTFB’s Fulfilling Futures initiative aims to expand the nonprofit’s reach by closing critical meal gaps, strengthening partnerships, and supporting long-term well-being through a more holistic approach to hunger relief, the organization said.

Andy Smith, director of TI giving and volunteering and executive director of the TI Foundation, said the award reflects a core TI value.

“TI has a long-standing commitment to strengthening the communities where our employees live and work, and supporting our neighbors in North Texas is a key part of that,” Smith said. “We want to help address the challenges that matter most to this region, like hunger, because tackling those issues makes our community stronger for everyone. Through this grant and the ongoing efforts of our employee volunteers, we’re proud to stand with the North Texas Food Bank in its vital work.”

Longstanding partners

Today’s news is part of a lasting bond between the foundation and the nonprofit. Since 2018, the TI Foundation has contributed more than $6 million to the North Texas Food Bank, including matching the donations and volunteer time of TI employees and retirees, the food bank noted. TI employees also serve as active NTFB volunteers, logging over 2,000 volunteer hours since 2018.

According to the food bank, recent data shows Texas now leads the nation in hunger, surpassing California, with nearly 5.4 million people experiencing food insecurity. About 33% of those are children. More than 1.3 million of those Texans live in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, ranking it No. 1 for hunger in Texas and No. 3 among metro areas nationwide, the NTFB said.

For more information on the North Texas Food Bank or to get involved through donations, volunteering, or hosting a food drive, you can go here.

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