North Texas nonprofit United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and PepsiCo are setting out to raise $20 million in support of southern Dallas’ short- and long-term needs.
The goal of the Southern Dallas Thrives fund is to improve the quality of preschool education, provide families with nutritious meals, prep high schoolers for college or their careers and offer supportive services and workforce development training to women.
PepsiCo’s current and retired employees have donated $8 million to the fund so far, according to United Way.
Steven Williams, CEO of PepsiCo Foods North America, said Southern Dallas Thrives is a model partnership that advances economic mobility for some of the city’s most vulnerable residents. That’s why he supports it wholeheartedly, he said.
“In order to create a community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, we also have to create the access to thrive,” Williams said.
The corporation’s commitment to raising $20 million from its web of staff exemplifies the generous spirit of North Texas to Jennifer Sampson, the CEO of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas.
Sampson hopes the endowment fund will serve as a catalyst for continued investment in southern Dallas.
“These financial commitments are transformational for the southern Dallas community, and for current and future programs that work to improve education, income and health — the building blocks of opportunity — for residents of this traditionally under-resourced area of our city,” Sampson said.
PepsiCo hopes to reach its fundraising goal by fall 2025, in time for United Way’s centennial anniversary. Other groups putting money in the fund include Celanese, Vistra, AT&T, Comerica, Oncor and Bank of Texas, according to United Way.