2009 Father of the Year Awards Beneficiaries Links

Discover more about the charitable organizations that benefit from the funds raised through Father of the Year, by connecting through the links provided below.

Children’s Medical Center of Dallas (www.childrens.com) - Children’s Medical Center of Dallas is a private, non-profit hospital dedicated exclusively to treating children from birth to age 18.  Their comprehensive care ranges from simple eye exams to specialized treatments, such as cystic fibrosis, and its transplant center.  Children’s is the only Level 1 trauma center for pediatrics in the Southwest and is the primary pediatric teaching facility for the University of Texas Southwest Medical Center at Dallas.  Housing 406 beds, Children’s plans to open the Children’s Medical Center Legacy in Plano, Texas, in 2008 to better serve the growing pediatric population.  The U.S. News & World Report and Child magazine have named Children’s as one of the nation’s top pediatric providers.  In 2006, the Dallas Business Journal named Children’s as a “Best Place to Work.”

Cook Children’s Medical Center (www.cookchildrens.org) - In 1985, Cook Children’s Hospital and Fort Worth Children’s Hospital joined together to form the now Cook Children’s Medical Center.  The Fort Worth Children’s Hospital originated as the Fort Worth Free Baby Clinic in 1918.  Cook Children’s Hospital began in 1929 with only 55 beds.  During the polio epidemic in 1952, the hospital studied the special needs of children and began to grow.  Today, Cook Children’s is licensed for 282 beds and have more than thirty specialties.  It sets itself apart from other children hospitals by providing unusual amenities.  These include fruit flavored anesthesia, child-sized medical instruments, and little red wagons for transporting patients. 

East Dallas Community School - A pre-kindergarten through third grade school, the East Dallas Community School has a Montessori structure that helps underprivileged and minority children.  Over 80% of children enrolled receive financial aid for their tuition.  The school maintains a balance of both ethnicity and income level and has been a great success in helping its students succeed in their classroom and out.

Educational First Steps (EFS) – (www.educationalfirststeps.org) Since 1990, Educational First Steps has improved the quality and availability of early education for economically disadvantaged Dallas area children, ages birth to five years old.  Instead of owning and operating its own preschool or childcare centers, EFS works in partnership with centers in low-income neighborhoods, providing a unique combination of services. EFS is the only group that mentors (in a hands-on capacity) on a weekly on-going basis - center directors, teachers and parents in Dallas County. EFS provides materials and supplies that are essential for the early childhood classroom. In 2002, they served 19 centers, and now in 2007 they have 53 affiliate centers serving 1,850 children. Of those centers, 19 are accredited by NAEYC or NAC – the national ‘gold- star’ standards for early childhood education.  An additional 15 centers are anticipated to become accredited within the next year.

Happy Hill Farm Academy/Home (www.happyhillfarm.org) - Happy Hill has been taking in the “dropouts and kicked-outs” for over thirty years.  Beginning as a mobile home, the home has grown to housing over 100 kids on their farm.  It is a place where troubled and disadvantaged children can find the help they need.  Happy Hill is not a United Way agency and does not receive any federal, state, or local tax money.  About 90% of its funding comes through private donations.  Funding is important to them because tuition is based on the family’s financial situation, and scholarships are also given out.  This does not provide a large enough income to support the school.  Children are accepted regardless of their ability to pay.  The 500 acre farm gives children an opportunity to also be involved in raising livestock and participating in sports through the Texas Association of Private Schools League.

Ronald McDonald House (www.rmhdallas.com) - Located in the Southwestern Medical District, the Ronald McDonald House in Dallas opened in 1981.  It was set up to house and provide a supportive environment for families with seriously ill children.  The Dallas location can now provide rooms for 30 families and asks for families to contribute $10 a night.  However, they never turned anyone away who could not pay.  It is not owned by the McDonald’s Corporation, but instead was named after its character for McDonald’s fundraising support and the positive, fun-loving feelings the popular character inspired.  Funding instead comes from individual and corporate donors, community organizations and special events.

Texas Scottish Rite Hospital (www.tsrhc.org) - One of the nation's leading pediatric centers for the treatment of orthopedic conditions, certain related neurological disorders, and learning disorders, Texas Scottish Rite does not charge the patients for its treatments.  In 1921, a group of masons founded the hospital on their beliefs of compassion for the sick and a desire to better themselves as a member of society.  Through contributions, Texas Scottish Rite has been able to care for more than 170,000 patients.

© 2008 Father Of The Year