In advance of D CEO’s 2020 Nonprofit & Corporate Citizenship awards event on Aug. 25, we’re profiling all 90+ finalists in the program—one category at a time. Today, we recognize the four companies being recognized for Collaboration of the Year.
This category honors “a successful collaborative partnership and/or creative, innovative and data-driven approach around a key community issue between businesses and nonprofits, foundations, schools, or government entities.
Now in its third year, the Nonprofit and Corporate Citizenship Awards are presented by D CEO and founding partner Communities Foundation of Texas. This year’s program attracted more than 510 nominations. All finalists will be featured in our August/September print edition and at a virtual awards event on Aug. 25, where the winners in each category will be revealed.
Capital One and Major League Hacking
Capital One teamed up with Major League Hacking, and partnered with NAF Academies, Dallas ISD, Plano ISD, and Uplift Education to test and debut an artificial intelligence curriculum to impact future generations of students in DFW. The partnership built the curriculum with the innovative competition-minded of Major League Hacking and delivered it through NAF Academies in schools to set a Guiness Book of World Records title for the largest AI programming lesson, kicking off a program that has involved more than 10,000 people. The collaboration helped teach coding through project-based approach and real-world application, as developing digital skills and comfort with technology is an essential piece of 21st century success.
NEC Corp. of America and Dallas ISD
NEC Corp. of America partnered with Herbert Marcus Elementary in Dallas ISD to help transform the school with mentorship, volunteer projects, and funding the Catch Up and Read program. The collaboration began with a transformation of the school’s entrance, but the relationship has expanded to Angel Tree adoptions of school families, fundraising to support a makeover of the teacher’s lounge, and mentoring of both students and staff. In fact, NEC Corp. serves on the school’s steering committee and has regular calls with the school’s principal to discuss leadership strategies and weigh in on various issues. The relationship has been rewarding for both parties, and has helped move the school from a “D” rating to a “B,” with recognition as a “breakthrough campus.”
Park Place Dealerships and Children’s Health
Park Place Dealerships works with more than 300 local organizations in North Texas, and places a special emphasis on arts, education, children’s advocacy, and medical research in its work with the community. At Children’s Health, Cape Day is a way to honor patients who fight illness while raising money to make life better for kids at the hospital. Park Place won a competition to design a cape the allowed patients to make a statement with their cape, using the phrase “I am…” which was printed on this year’s cape and delivered to patients at the hospital. That led to a robust program with employees taking photos with their own capes and promoting the initiative via social media, culminating with a blow-out celebration at Granite Park in Frisco.
Vizient and Dwell with Dignity
Healthcare performance improvement company Vizient has worked with the nonprofit Dwell with Dignity to support it with significant financial gifts, as well as professionally produced video for marketing and countless hours of volunteering. The relationship has also led Dwell with Dignity, which helps provide soothing homes for families struggling with homelessness, to a connection to the veteran community. The partnership is part of the culture of Vizient, where employees are given five paid off days a year to volunteer and donates $15 per volunteer hour for up to 40 hours a year, which can be up to $600 per employee per year.
