Annual Fund Campaign Brings New Hopes for Children

By Mario Tarradell, Public Relations & Marketing Manager

New year, new hopes: At Big Thought we relish the chance to provide high-quality learning opportunities for children living in neighborhoods with low-performing schools, crime and poverty. We enthusiastically fill the opportunity gap by bringing in-school, after-school and summer programs to more than 140,000 Dallas children all year long.

We do this with the generous support of donors, people just like you that care about shaping Big Thought’s future and the families with whom we interact. As we launch our annual fund campaign with 2016 around the corner, we thank you for your gifts.

Your gifts enrich the lives of so many young people in Dallas, young people like Emma. Emma is 9, a 4th grader at Anson Jones Elementary. Emma participated in the recent Go IT Lego Robotics class at Anson Jones, a partnership between Big Thought’s Thriving Minds After School along with 4H Tech-Wizards, Tata Consultancy Services and Southern Methodist University.

Emma was all smiles, laughter and excited participation at the Go IT class. Emma has come a long way. Hampered by a speech impediment, Emma was timid and shy. She didn’t speak a word of English. Her mom and dad came from Mexico and spoke strictly Spanish at home.

School has been a struggle for Emma; she was retained in 3rd grade due to her lack of reading skills. But after three years in Big Thought’s Thriving Minds After School program, Emma is now reading English and Spanish. She’s blossoming – participating in many class activities, acting in school plays, and dancing onstage during talent shows.

Thanks to Big Thought, Emma found her inner confidence for learning, for growing. And thanks to you Big Thought can continue to serve Emma and many more children. Join us in making 2016 a new year filled with hope for Dallas children.