Meet our 2023 Beneficiaries: For Oak Cliff
It’s time for another beneficiary introduction, and this time, it’s from our friends at For Oak Cliff, located in our hometown of Dallas, Texas.
“Conceived out of necessity, For Oak Cliff got its start in 2014 by Taylor Toynes and his W.W. Bushman fourth grade class. Toynes began teaching at Bushman Elementary in his hometown neighborhood of South Oak Cliff through Teach for America. While in the classroom, he saw that a majority of his students did not have school supplies, an issue that Toynes realized stemmed from the community’s extreme poverty.
That summer of 2015, Toynes organized with students, community members, and local organizations to host the inaugural Back To School Festival, a vessel to equip the community and students with the necessary supplies, resources, and service providers to have a successful school year. Over the past seven years, the festival has grown tremendously, helping serve over 4,000 students and parents each summer!
Most recently, For Oak Cliff took an even bigger step toward its mission and purchased a 20,000 sq. ft. building sitting atop 10-acres of land! Formerly the Moorland YMCA, it is now called the For Oak Cliff Community Campus - a safe space to expand our pillar-driven programming. Comprised of a 13-person staff, For Oak Cliff works to identify the pressing needs of the Superblock and curate solutions-driven programming and resources.”
They are serving the South Dallas community in transformative ways!! Their 10-acre piece of property is an oasis and vital resource to that part of the city and we are grateful for the ways they are meeting the needs of families and children. The annual Back-to-School Festival is in a league of its own. This event provides resources, supplies and food in a fun and engaging festival-style manner. It is a highlight to this community as they gear up for a new school year.
This year we are thrilled to take on the role as the presenting sponsor to make this event possible! We are so grateful for another year with this incredible organization. Click here to check out their website and learn more about their impact in the Dallas community.
