CFT's 60th Celebration, Publication in Park Cities People & Preston Hollow People

In 1953, Communities Foundation of Texas was founded on a simple, yet remarkable notion— that every day we have the opportunity to make tomorrow better. This vision has led us to match real community needs in areas such as education, health care, public safety and poverty with the passions of individual and corporate donors driven to make a difference.

In 60 years, we’ve made more than $1.3 billion in grants and are now one of the largest community foundations in the nation. Today, we celebrate this tremendous milestone with the countless men and women who have given back to our communities, and with those who still look forward to making tomorrow better.

The first major gift to the Dallas Community Chest Trust Fund, later Communities Foundation of Texas, came from Pearl C. Anderson, an African-American grocer and physician’s widow. Her gift was a future interest in a prime piece of real estate in downtown Dallas worth $325,000.

Growing up in rural Louisiana, Pearl was not allowed to go to the racially segregated school a few miles away, and there was no school for black children. When such a school was finally built, it was the result of a gift from the Rosenwald Fund. Pearl felt that she owed a debt to those who made it possible for her to get an education, and she vowed that she would one day pay it back. Her gift to

WISDOM

of Pearl

the Community Chest Trust Fund kept her promise. She asked that the donated funds be used to help “the poor, young people, and other struggling people,” regardless of race or religion.

Today, we still use the Pearl C. Anderson Fund to honor her wish. Recently, the fund made a grant to the S.M. Wright Foundation’s tutoring center (shown above), which provides free, one-on-one tutoring for South Dallas students.

THE SCIENCE

of giving WILLIAM WALTER CARUTH, JR. started a construction and building supply company during the Great Depression. He went on to achieve legendary success in land development before his death in 1990. A passionate philanthropist, Caruth gave generously to his favorite causes: education, scientific and medical research, and public safety.

In 1997, the W.W. Caruth, Jr. Foundation at CFT made a major grant to UT Southwestern Medical Center to create Caruth Scholars in Medical Research. The program enables 20 of the world’s brightest young medical scientists, like Dr. Kim Orth (shown at right), to work in the most promising areas of research under the school’s prestigious faculty, whose concentration of Nobel laureates is the world’s highest. Will Caruth wanted to support scientists making profound discoveries.

Today’s medical scientists continue to discover the effects of his generosity.

Before there were Morton’s Potato Chips, there was Granville C. Morton, honing his potato chip recipe in the kitchen of his Dallas sandwich shop. He ultimately sold the store to manufacture the chips and made his fortune years later when the company joined General Mills.

Morton gave to many causes throughout his life, including $1 million in 1965 to help build a cancer and research hospital. Today, his granddaughter Meredith Woodworth advises on grants from the Morton Fund at CFT, which has granted $23 million since 1982 to such nonprofits as

OFF THE

old block

the American Red Cross, Ability Connection of Texas, Dallas Baptist University, Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center and Fellowship of Christian Athletes (shown above). “He wanted to make Dallas a better place,” Meredith said. The man who started out making snacks now nourishes countless lives through his generous legacy.

Since 1953, Communities Foundation of Texas has partnered with families like yours to help make our communities stronger. Join us and start your charitable fund today.

Call us at 214-750-4255, email giving@cftexas.org or visit www.CFTexas.org/Giving.