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Giving Back

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Class Notes

Class Notes

Giving Back: One Couple’s Inspiring Philanthropic Journey

By Jennifer Nimmo Director of Communications

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There is positive power in twos.

Whether it’s the Dynamic Duo or history’s most iconic couples, two is stronger than just one and do-good efforts are doubled. This is certainly the case for Kathryn and Stephen Arata ‘84 and their philanthropic philosophy.

Kathryn and Stephen Arata are a husband and wife team for whom charitable giving means a true investment of time, talent and treasure. Kathryn and Stephen decided long ago that it wasn’t enough for them to simply write a check.

They have founded, championed, expanded, and nurtured numerous charitable endeavors with their church, the community, their alma mater, and Bishop Lynch High School.

As a couple, Kathryn and Stephen are a true match and have co-chaired two capital campaigns for Lovers Lane United Methodist Church. In addition to co-chairing the Parents Leadership Council at Southern Methodist University (SMU), they each serve on various SMU boards.

“We feel it is our responsibility to understand the organization’s mission and practices – and to see that transparency – to lend our support,” said Kathryn.

The

Inspiration

Stephen attended Bishop Lynch High School and Kathryn started her affiliation with the school by going to Friar football games.

Stephen is quick to credit his senior service project at the Notre Dame School for the Blind as the initial pivot point for his charitable interest.

“My work with the Notre Dame School was my first introduction to working with special needs children. It was both challenging and inspiring and set me on the path I’m on today,” said Stephen.

Growing up, Kathryn’s father was a Methodist preacher and her vows at confirmation to faithfully participate in the church’s ministries by prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness continue to fuel her purpose.

The Aratas’ first philanthropic endeavor with Bishop Lynch started when Stephen and his siblings established an endowed scholarship in appreciation of their parents’ lifetime of support, love and dedication to their family. The Bob and Jo Arata Endowment Fund was announced and celebrated at Bob’s 80th birthday party in 2012.

Together, Kathryn and Stephen’s hands-on dedication to philanthropy has been a gift to so many in the Bishop Lynch and Dallas communities. And their philanthropic reach even extends to developing nations around the world.

We feel it is our responsibility to understand the organization’s mission and practices – and to see that transparency – to lend our support. – KATHRYN ARATA

Feed My

Starving Children

Kathryn and Stephen began packing meals with Feed My Starving Children about 15 years ago. In fact, their stewardship and leadership helped bring Feed My Starving Children’s permanent packing facility to Richardson. The Aratas were so impressed with the four-star non-profit’s mission to eliminate childhood hunger in developing nations that they introduced BL President Chris Rebuck to the service opportunity and then they helped fund and spearhead the school’s first MobilePack on campus in 2018.

Today, Feed My Starving Children is Bishop Lynch High School’s signature service event. The 2020 Bishop Lynch MobilePack brought together hundreds of student, faculty, staff, and community volunteers to pack 166,752 meals in a one-day epic charitable program.

The Aratas are such fans of Feed My Starving Children that they combined two of their main charitable outlets for a very special empowering pack. Through their church, Lovers Lane United Methodist, Stephen started Rays of Light in 2009. The 501(c)3 is a respite program for families of special needs children that pairs each of the program’s 240 kids with a mentor. Rays of Light recently held a special needs packing event. “It was powerful to watch these children who face physical and mental challenges challenge themselves to do something for others like scoop rice and put labels on bags. It was a testament that we can all help out in our own way,” said Stephen.

BL President Chris Rebuck has known Kathryn and Stephen Arata for years and considers them good friends – both personally and to Bishop Lynch High School.

“Kathryn and Stephen Arata have been an influential example of philanthropic leadership for me in my presidency at Bishop Lynch. Their championing of our community-wide service partnership with Feed My Starving Children has been a shining example of their leadership and direction to connect likeminded organizations to create an even larger impact for good. From my earliest interactions with Stephen and Kathryn, they have provided me with mentoring and direction about how to continue to unite the mission of Bishop Lynch with the larger needs of the community in order to cultivate an environment where students and parents alike are inspired by participating in the programs of the school,” said Chris.

Continuing

to Give

The Aratas’ unique blend of time, talent and treasure were on full display early last March when Kathryn and Stephen jointly chaired the Bishop Lynch Legacy Gala at the Statler Hotel.

Both Kathryn and Stephen actively steered the preparations at weekly volunteer meetings and led the planning from beginning to end. Thanks to their leadership, the 2020 auction was a tremendous success and brought in record donations to the annual scholarship ask while inspiring other significant giving after the event.

Kathryn and Stephen were also instrumental in creating the Father Sean Martin Endowed Scholarship, which will improve student access to Catholic education.

The Aratas show no signs of slowing down their philanthropic giving. If anything, COVID-19 has exposed even more need within the community that Kathryn and Stephen are determined to address.

Ever busy and keenly aware of her call to help others, Kathryn is usually found with crochet hooks in her hands making prayer shawls to comfort cancer patients.

Kathryn and Stephen’s philanthropic mission is impressive, and it’s inspiring.

“It’s not just about reaching back to pull up others behind you. It’s about paying it forward and moving the bar to help other people,” said Kathryn.

It’s not just about reaching back to pull up others behind you. It’s about paying it forward and moving the bar to help other people. – KATHRYN ARATA

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