Get ready, Dallas! Kicking off tonight, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas is launching a yearlong celebration marking its 100th anniversary—a century of sparking meaningful change throughout North Texas. The festivities begin at the AT&T Discovery District in Downtown Dallas, chaired by Steven Williams, CEO of PepsiCo Foods North America.
“It’s a landmark moment for us,” says Jennifer Sampson, McDermott-Templeton President and CEO of United Way Dallas. “For 100 years, United Way Dallas has been the driving force behind creating opportunities for North Texas to thrive. We’ve brought together community leaders, corporations, nonprofits, and civic leaders with one goal: improving lives. Over the years, we’ve learned that when we unite through United Way, we become the heartbeat of the community, creating tremendous momentum.”
This year alone, United Way efforts have improved access to education, income, and health—the three pillars of their work—for more than 1.7 million North Texans. Their work positively impacts nearly 20 percent of the population in one of the fastest-growing regions in the country.
Earlier this month, United Way launched the Century Project. This platform will harness data to revolutionize how community organizations work together to make measurable change. It allows them to drill down to neighborhood and even street-level data to evaluate vulnerabilities based on social determinants of health.
“Our focus is hyper-local, and we use data science to target our investments,” Jennifer says. “This helps us work smarter with communities and deliver the measurable results that our donors expect—like improving grade-level reading, providing better-paying jobs, and ensuring access to healthcare.”
Over time, United Way has evolved from being a facilitator of philanthropy to an organization focused on driving measurable results against specific goals. That evolution has allowed them to become more focused and intentional with their work, and this data-driven initiative marks a key shift in how community organizations collaborate to create meaningful impact.
United Way is already looking ahead to the next century with Aspire United 2030, a bold initiative to create transformative change over the next decade. Through this plan, United Way aims to increase third-grade reading proficiency by 50 percent, raise the number of young adults earning a living wage by 20 percent, and expand affordable healthcare insurance coverage to 96 percent of North Texans.
The Centennial campaign is not just about celebration—it’s about action. Sponsored by Texas Instruments, the campaign will feature a series of volunteer events to engage the community and underscore the impact of service. These include everything from food distribution initiatives to a region-wide Reading Day, STEM festivals in partnership with the Perot Museum, and a Community Resource Fair at the Dallas Zoo.
These events are part of a community-wide volunteer series that highlights collaboration between nonprofits, corporate partners such as PepsiCo and Texas Instruments, and local sports franchises such as the Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Mavericks, and more.
“We want everyone in North Texas to be a part of the Live United movement,” Jennifer says. “It’s a celebration of our past, but also a promise for the future. We encourage people to visit the website, sign up to volunteer, and get their families, coworkers, and neighbors involved. This celebration will take all of us working together to write the next chapter of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas’ story.”
As United Way looks to the future, the spirit of collaboration that has defined its first 100 years will continue to be its greatest strength. The Centennial campaign unites every corner of the North Texas community, from corporate partners like PepsiCo and Texas Instruments to beloved sports franchises like the Dallas Cowboys, Mavericks, and Stars. Together, they represent a powerful, unified force, dedicated to creating opportunity and access for all.
But this celebration is not just about looking back—it’s about building a brighter future. “We’re living in a time where finding common ground can feel challenging,” Jennifer reflects. “What gives me hope is the work we do, because I believe there’s more that unites us than divides us. When we think about what we collectively want for our region and our city, we all want the same things: for every child to succeed, every family to thrive, and every neighbor to prosper.”
For 100 years, United Way has been the driving force behind that vision, and as they step into their next century, their mission remains as strong as ever: to create a North Texas where everyone can truly thrive.
Sign up with your email address to receive good stories, events, and volunteer opportunities in your inbox.
