After honing their skills through the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas’ Social Innovation Accelerator program, a handful of local organizations can now expand their impact with new funding.
From telehealth services to helping remove the socioeconomic barriers to healthy eating, five organizations took the stage last night at the nonprofit’s sixth annual The Pitch competition, with a collective $270,000 up for grabs.
“Our focus on social innovation enables us to tap into the most effective new ideas for creating positive change in our region,” said Jennifer Sampson, McDermott-Templeton president and CEO of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, in a statement.
AES Literacy Institute takes top honors
The five pitching organizations were selected from the group of 10 that went through the United Way’s most recent impact-focused accelerator program, and received $25,000 for making it to the capstone pitch event.
Taking home the largest portion of the prize funding was AES Literacy Institute (photo at top), a Dallas-based organization founded in 2019 by Jermaine and ShaKimberly Cooper that helps North Texans earn their high school equivalency certificate, while offering additional support services like housing assistance, college placement, and career training. AES won the Social Innovator of the Year Award at the event, which came with a $60,000 prize, along with the $10,000 Presentation Award.
Other prize winners
Jennifer Sampson, McDermott-Templeton president and CEO of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas (left), and Anne Chow, and Anne Chow, AT&T Business CEO and United Way annual campaign chair (right), present the Entrepreneurial Spirit Award to Shireen Abdullah, founder of Yumlish. [Photo: United Way of Metropolitan Dallas]
Three other organizations took home prizes at the Thursday event. The Wesley-Rankin Community Center’s Aspiring Professionals program, which provides pre-apprenticeship opportunities to high school students to address workplace readiness, won the Audience Choice Award and a $25,000 prize.
Veritas Impact Partners, which works to provide telehealth services to workforce housing residents, won the $20,000 Impact Award.
And Yumlish, a provider of nutrition education aimed at addressing socioeconomic barriers to healthy eating, won the $20,000 Entrepreneurial Spirit Award (photo above).
While it didn’t win any additional prize funding, The Artist Outreach, an organization that partners with schools to use creative arts-based activities to enhance learning for early elementary students, received $25,000 for making it to The Pitch.
‘A powerful tool for change’
“Social innovation brings an entrepreneurial mindset to community impact work, and it can be a powerful tool for change,” said Anne Chow, AT&T Business CEO and United Way annual campaign chair, in a statement. “That’s why we make it a priority to invest in programs like The Pitch, which helps social entrepreneurs to exponentially grow their footprint and expand their impact here in North Texas. The result is improved access to education, income and health for our neighbors, and an even better community for us all.”
Innovating for good
The pitch competition capped off the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas’ Social Innovation Accelerator, which it runs in partnership with Accenture. Since 2013, the program has helped fuel the growth of social initiatives related to health, income, and education through funding, mentorship, and networking. According to the United Way, more than $6.1 million in funding and mentorship have been invested in 64 social entrepreneurs, who have gone on to impact more than 150,000 residents through the program.
“All aspects of our community—corporate, philanthropic, government and the public—must work together to ensure everyone has the opportunity to thrive,” said Charlene Lake, chief sustainability officer and senior VP of corporate social responsibility at AT&T and chair of the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas Board, in a statement. “Programs like the Social Innovation Accelerator and The Pitch are driving lasting change by activating the solutions of incredible entrepreneurs who have their finger on the pulse of what it will take to ensure the people in their communities can live their very best lives.”
Meet the other members of the Social Innovation Accelerator’s 2021-22 cohort below (descriptions provided by United Way of Metropolitan Dallas):
• Aspiratia Village—a venture by Ark of Hope Inc., which seeks to end homelessness by providing chronically homeless individuals immediate access to safe, permanent housing and the opportunity to engage in collaborative community services that promote clinical and social stabilization.
• BT Foundry—a nonprofit creative experience agency that provides real-world job experience and education in marketing and advertising through paid apprenticeships.
• Combined Arms—a nonprofit part of The Texas Veterans Network that connects veterans who are transitioning from military to civilian life with services, community and purpose.
• ESTe²M Builders—an interdisciplinary platform designed to develop confident, competent, and creative explorers.
• FEED Oak Cliff—a nonprofit whose Transformative Community Market seeks to lift the physical, financial and entrepreneurial profile of food desert residents.
The Pitch 2022 Emcee and Judges
Wesley-Rankin Community Center’s Aspiring Professionals program won the audience choice award. [Photo: United Way of Metropolitan Dallas]
Anne Chow emceed United Way’s signature event, which was held in person for the first time since 2019 at Gilley’s in Dallas.
Judges include:
Jorge Corral, Dallas Office Managing Director, Accenture
Chris Kleinert, CEO, Hunt Investment Holdings & co-CEO, Hunt Consolidated
Billie Jo Johnson, general manager, Toyota Financial Services, Toyota
Amber Venz Box, co-founder of LTK (formerly rewardStyle)
Steven Williams, CEO, PepsiCo Foods North America
Apply Now
The Social Innovation Accelerator is looking for participants for its next cohort, with an application deadline of April 13.
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R E A D N E X T
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