On Sept. 23, North Texas Giving Day donors contributed over $220,000 to support students, patients and research at The University of Texas at Dallas. This year’s gifts were directed toward providing hearing services and speech-language therapy to children, delivering brain health measurement and training to communities, and providing assistance to students in need.
The Callier Center for Communication Disorders raised more than $112,000 during the 18-hour fundraising drive, sponsored by Communities Foundation of Texas. Each year the Callier Center provides thousands of patients with clinical services, including hearing evaluations and treatment, cochlear implant services and speech-language therapy.
Funds raised for the “Be a HEAR O Campaign” will provide audiology and speech-language services to children in need who have hearing loss or impairments. Anonymous gifts totaling $50,000 and a $12,000 gift from ChandlerSpeaks helped contribute to the campaign’s success.
“The Callier Center and the individuals and families we serve are deeply appreciative of the generous support shown by our community donors and matching-fund partners,” said Angela Shoup BS’89, MS’92, PhD’94, the Ludwig A. Michael MD Callier Center Executive Director. “Their generosity provides access to needed evidence-based treatment, and their commitment to making a difference in the lives of children and families impacted by speech and hearing difficulties is inspirational.”
UT Dallas’ Center for BrainHealth received record-breaking support of almost $73,000, including a $33,000 matching gift from Laurie and Todd Platt.
These gifts will help expand The BrainHealth Project, a landmark scientific endeavor to improve brain health and performance nationwide over the next 10 years. By providing digital access to holistic measures of brain health, virtual personalized coaching sessions and self-paced modules that promote brain-healthy living, The BrainHealth Project seeks to enhance participants’ quality of life and strengthen brain performance.
“With these gifts, we can help people in underserved and vulnerable communities strengthen their resilience and brain power,” said Sandra Bond Chapman PhD’86, chief director of the Center for BrainHealth and the Dee Wyly Distinguished University Chair in BrainHealth. “We are tremendously grateful to our compassionate and forward-looking donors for helping us improve lives by making brain health tools accessible across our entire community.”
Other UT Dallas causes also benefited from community donations this year. More than $38,000 was raised for scholarships and student support.
UT Dallas’ Student Ambassadors delivered an unequaled impact for their fellow students. The group’s peer-to-peer fundraising efforts secured 163 donations to benefit the Comet Closet. Established in 2015, the Comet Closet provides UT Dallas students with professional clothing at no charge to be worn for interviews or other professional events.
“I’m really proud of the way the ambassadors came together to raise these funds for the Comet Closet,” said Anja Sheppard, a Eugene McDermott Scholar, computer science senior and executive chair of philanthropy for the Student Ambassadors. “The pandemic has made it difficult to form a community, but it’s incredible to see the way that UT Dallas is bouncing back. I’m excited to see how the Comet Closet can build upon its current services for fellow Comets with these donations.”
Across the Metroplex, North Texas Giving Day donors contributed more than $66 million to 3,366 nonprofit organizations. Organized by Communities Foundation of Texas, the regional effort is the largest community giving event in the U.S.
New Dimensions Campaign
Learn how to contribute to New Dimensions: The Campaign for UT Dallas. The effort aims to help meet the needs of students, expand the impact of research and create a new destination for cultural dialogue in North Texas.