Neal White Editor/General Manager neal.white@waxahachietx.com 200 W. MARVIN AVE. P.O. BOX 877 WAXAHACHIE, TEXAS 75168 PHONE: 469-517-1470 FAX: 972/937-1139
March 24, 2015 FM: Neal White Editor Waxahachie Newspapers, Inc. RE: TPA Community Service nomination Throughout the year, there are a number of residents in our community in need. Not only does the Daily Light give them a voice, the newspaper raises awareness of those needs and in the process, serves as a catalyst for the community to come together to help those in need. Almost on a weekly basis, the Daily Light receives a call for help from someone in need. In almost every case, sharing those stories in the newspaper has made a world of difference — not only for those on the receiving end, but for our community at large as we chronicle neighbors helping neighbors. From helping Kelly Johnson fulfill her final wish to see her sister, to a desperate mother needing help to pay for her son’s dental work and the anonymous donor who answered the call, on a regular basis we are a conduit for the community to “ply it forward.” Whether chronicling the story of a community coming to the aid of an 11-year-old struck by a vehicle on her way home from school or 16-year-old Brooke Foster, the Ovilla Christian School volleyball standout in her courageous battle with cancer, the community reads — and responds. When we published the story on Westyn Bates, the 4-year-old diagnosed with cancer and how the family was without health insurance, donations poured into to aid the family. The same can be said of our local organizations, such as the Ellis County SPCA’s need to find forever homes for dogs and cats that were being put down because of a lack of space at the shelter. Or, our local post office enlisting our help in raising awareness for their annual food drive for the area pantry. When Waxahachie Bible Church needed donations for its after Christmas giveway to aid those in the community needing a little assistance, we responded. Again, and again and again, our community read and responded. When a family-owned eatery burned in a fire and the owner had no insurance, our stories generated donations to not only help with the family’s immediate needs, but to help them rebuild. When it comes to community service, the Daily Light serves as the catalyst for the community to help others. Enclosed in our submission are just a few examples from 2014. Sincerely,
Neal White Editor/General Manager Waxahachie Newspapers, Inc.