Homeless to Housed Exhibit
After a week-long rain delay, UWDC joined the Denton County Homelessness Leadership Team and the Denton County Homeless Coalition to showcase the most current homelessness data in the “Homeless to Housed” Exhibit on the lawn of the Denton County Courthouse-on-the-Square. The exhibit featured highlights from the recent homelessness report of data-driven efforts to bust barriers to housing in Denton County with volunteers and staff on-hand to answer questions and provide additional information.
Concern for the Hungry Increases Results
Thanks to support from local businesses and schools, the Mayor’s Day of Concern for the Hungry collected cash and food donations equal to 19,827 pounds of food to replenish shelves of local food pantries. Nine school campuses competed earlier this spring in the inaugural Giving Heart Campus Challenge collecting 6,933 pounds and local businesses got in on the action in June with almost 12,000 pounds. The cumulative total represents a 31% increase over 2018 to address food insecurity in Denton County.
New Class of Financial Coaches
Thank you to a new class of volunteer financial coaches, freshly trained to empower low and moderately-low income people and families to improve their financial capabilities. These volunteers will transform financial habits to transform lives through one-on-one, client-driven coaching relationships established in partnership with service providers across Denton County.
UWDC to Adminster DHA Community Impact Funds
The Denton Housing Authority and UWDC together announced the allocation of $100,000 of non-federal Denton Housing Authority (DHA) funds to the DHA Community Impact Fund established last year under UWDC’s direction to bolster services and programs for the benefit of low-income families in housing-related programs in Denton County.
These funds will be distributed through grants to Denton County nonprofits that are a part of Denton County's housing crisis response system with the goal to prevent homelessness and provide intervention services to people experiencing homelessness in our community. The RFP will be available in September. Preference will be given to organizations helping families in crisis achieve a greater level of income and security through bundled, integrative services not only addressing housing, but also education, childcare, transportation, etc.
Golfing United
Golfers eagerly hit the course for the anticipated 29th Annual People Helping People Golf Tournament presented by local vehicle dealerships after a week-long rain delay. Denton County’s longest-running charity golf event reached new heights raising $62,377 to support our mission to improve and transform lives in Denton County.
The event’s original date had to be postponed due to unfavorable playing conditions. The wait proved to be worth it as golfers crowded the members-only Denton Country Club ready to enjoy a perfect eighty-degree Texas day in late June to golf united.
“We’re seeing people out here golfing for a great cause and helping us improve and transform lives across Denton County,” said our President & CEO Gary Henderson. “We just want to say thank you to our sponsors, our golfers, and our volunteers who helped make today possible.
Golfers received their choice of complimentary hats or visors and enjoyed lunch sponsored by First United Bank. With golf clubs in hand, teams took off on golf carts and quickly filled DCC’s 18-hole golf field. Golfers were able to participate in on-course contests like firing a tee shot from an Air Cannon courtesy of Cima Solutions Group, competing at the betting hole, the Groggy Dog Speed Hole, and the Longest Drive courtesy of PointBank.
Participants closed the day with Metzlers BBQ at the 19th Hole Celebration where tournament and contest winners were announced. The first-place winners were the First United Bank team of Jay Ross, John Rollins, Brock McKnight, and Nathan Tune.