25:40

THE REES-JONES FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER

2021 Q3
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth,
whatever you did for one of the least of
these brothers of mine, you did for me.'"

- Matthew 25:40



FOR THE LEAST OF THESE

THE REES-JONES FOUNDATION 2020 SUMMARY OF GRANTS


View the 2020 Summary of Grants here!

FROM THE PRESIDENT T. HARDIE

2020, a year to forget! Or so we are tempted as we try to emerge from a year that brought disruption and inconvenience, at a minimum, but more commonly hardship, anxiety, physical and emotional pain, and even despair.

2020 was hard on so many levels, and the hardship of that year has now even rolled into 2021. We want what we remember was normal, but we are now becoming accustomed to the idea that normal is no longer definable. So, we are now resolved that we must learn from, and not forget, the experience of 2020.

Throughout all of this we observed, and continue to observe today, how creative, resilient, determined, loving, brave and compassionate our partners are in North Texas and around the world, always putting the interests of others ahead of their own and seeking the welfare of the communities in which they serve.

Every partner looked at their respective challenges and stepped up, dropping old plans, adopting new ones, cutting costs where possible, finding new revenue sources, always sacrificing, never complaining, never quitting. This summary highlights some of them. In every case, their question always seemed to be, “what is needed and is there something we can do about it”.

And one last thing. We saw the presence of our Lord in the midst of it all. He doesn’t promise freedom from trials or suffering, but He does promise to be there, and we saw Him everywhere. The battle is not over, sadly, as 2021 continues to remind. But we are uplifted, encouraged, and strengthened in our resolve to continue serving Him through our partners who continue to serve those who bear His image and enjoy His love.

$42.7 million granted in 2020 - celebrating those who served the community
View the 2020 Summary of Grants here!
Explore Featured Stories from the Summary

YOUNG LIFE OPENS TEXAS CAMP

Many children and youth with disabilities that participate in Young Life’s Capernaum Program were never able to attend camp because there wasn’t a camp located nearby. However, with the addition of Young Life’s new Texas camp, this is no longer the case for participants located in Texas and the neighboring areas.

THE FIGHT TO END HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Modern-day slavery persists all around the world with victims of all ages, genders, and life circumstances. The Rees-Jones Foundation partners with three organizations that operate anti-trafficking and justice units in India and Uganda.

PROPERTY ACQUISITION EXPANDS COLLABORATIVE

Lumin Education and Bachman Lake Together have come together to create an early childhood hub that serves the Bachman Lake Community. Through the purchase of an adjacent lot, Lumin hopes to establish a permanent school while BLT desires to build a permanent facility for co-locating other family-serving agencies focused on children.

View the 2020 Summary of Grants here!

"And let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess,
for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how
we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds."


-Hebrews 10:24-25

OPPORTUNITY: THE DALLAS FOUNDATION PEGASUS PRIZE

We’re excited to share with you a wonderful opportunity available through The Dallas Foundation, a nonprofit philanthropy that brings together people, ideas, and investments in Greater Dallas so individuals and families can reach their full potential.

The Dallas Foundation will begin accepting applications for the 2021 Pegasus Prize on October 1 through October 29.

The Pegasus Prize is a $50,000 social innovation grant awarded to nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations with a charitable purpose, and hybrid organizations applying innovative approaches to addressing community needs.

The Dallas Foundation is seeking bold, unique solutions that meet today’s pressing needs while positioning Greater Dallas for a brighter, more equitable tomorrow. Past recipients of the Prize include Bonton Farms, Yoga N Da Hood and After8toEducate.


LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PEGASUS PRIZE HERE

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who
comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those
in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God."


-2 Corinthians 1:3-4

RECAP: THE REES-JONES FOUNDATION YOUTH INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

The Rees-Jones Foundation Youth Internship Program was started four years ago in order to supplement existing and help create new internship programs at several faith-based, nonprofit agencies in Dallas. The Foundation was inspired to start RJFYIP after several agencies voiced that they lacked the funding and/or staff to provide their interns with enriching opportunities outside of the traditional intern role. These organizations each had longstanding programs that served youth in their communities, but each lacked a program that helped these youth bridge the gap between adolescence and adulthood.

The Foundation felt that by partnering with these agencies, it could fill the gap by providing leadership opportunities, life and workplace competency soft skills, and new experiences to the interns. The Foundation coupled this with a grant to each agency, which enabled the agency to pay its interns. In 2018, The Rees-Jones Foundation welcomed the inaugural class of interns.

In the past, the Youth Internship Program hosted three in-person events for the interns each summer, however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this summer operated a little differently. The Foundation hosted weekly webinars in addition to three in-person events. During the webinars, interns heard from special guests who spoke about financial literacy, post-secondary education opportunities, and specific career tracts like the military and psychology.


READ MORE ABOUT THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM HERE

"And he said to them, 'Go into the world
and preach the good news to all creation.'"


-Mark 16:15

Latest Blogs by the Foundation
see all blogs

Rees-Jones Foundation Awards 15 Non-Profits With Christmas Grants
Read the Article
Remember To Whom We Belong

Remember to Whom We Belong By T. Hardie, President  For to us a child is born, to…

Read the Article
Children’s Health and UT Southwestern Break Ground on New Dallas Historic Campus

Children’s Health and UT Southwestern Break Ground on New Dallas Pediatric Campus; Announce $100 Million Donation from…

Read the Article
VIEW MORE BLOGS BY THE FOUNDATION
VIEW BLOGS HERE

"If you pour yourself out for the hungry
and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then
shall your light rise in the darkness and
your bloom be as the noonday."


-Isaiah 58:10

BIG WINS FROM OUR GRANTEES

GENESIS WOMEN'S SHELTER

announces the planned opening of its new, non-residential facility, which will include a thrift shop and will offer advocacy, individual and group counseling, and access to childcare for mothers. This news was shared by Academy Award Winning Actress Octavia Spencer on YouTube!

COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION OF TEXAS

helped 3,366 organizations raise over $66.2 million during NORTH TEXAS GIVING DAY from 103,701 unique donors who made 285,372 donations (preliminary numbers)

BRIDGE LACROSSE

claims high school varsity championships with its boys team winning the Texas Class D State Championship and the girls team taking the Division 3 Championship

CATCH-UP & READ and UPLIFT EDUCATION

appear in multiple local news publications in recognition of their important work in education

NORTH TEXAS FOOD BANK

launches a children's book that will provide access to 90 meals for each book purchased

CLICK HERE TO SHARE YOUR BIG WIN

"...being strengthened with all power according to
his glorious might so that you may have great
endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks
to the Father."


-Colossians 1:11

Q3 GRANT MAKING RECAP

The Rees-Jones Foundation awarded $17.6 million through 26 grants during Q3 (August and September).

Below is a small representation of the nonprofit organizations that the Foundation humbly supported.

Association for Independent Living

$40,000 | Funding to support the AFIL Way Program, which helps adults with disabilities live more independent lives.

Callier Center

$90,000 | Funding to purchase 3-D printing equipment, which will be used to create custom hearing aids for infants with hearing impairments.

Center for Survivors of Torture

$40,000 | Funding to support the Healing Children Program, which provides children and youth in North Texas with mental health services.

ChildCareGroup 

$75,000 | Funding to support the Born Learning Parent Engagement Program, which helps parents build positive parenting skills and ensure healthy child development.

Educational First Steps

$150,000 | Funding to support the accreditation of of early childhood care centers located in under-served neighborhoods.

Gladney Center for Adoption

$100,000 | Funding to support the facilitation of adoptions of older children in the foster care system.

Hope Walks

$1,135,000 | Funding to provide children in Ethiopia with access to clubfoot treatment.

International Justice Mission

$7,000,000 | Multi-year funding to support innovations aimed at ending modern-day slavery in India.

Living Water

$1,700,000 | Funding to provide sustainable, safe water solutions in Uganda, Zambia and Nicaragua.

SEE MORE GRANTS AWARDED BY THE FOUNDATION

The mission of The Rees-Jones Foundation is to
serve God by serving others, sharing His resources
in ways that provide opportunities for the disadvantaged,
relief for the suffering, and encouragement in the
growth and well-being of children and families.
In so doing, the Foundation hopes that the
love of Christ is experienced in practical ways by those served.

ABOUT THE FOUNDATION'S NEWSLETTER

25:40 is a quarterly newsletter from The Rees-Jones Foundation. This newsletter is specially designed for you – our wonderful grantees! We hope that you will find the information both useful and interesting.

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'”

– Matthew 25:40

ABOUT THE NAME | We decided to name this newsletter 25:40 after the scripture from Matthew 25, which we as a foundation, draw inspiration from in our work. Through our grant making, we seek to deliver hope, resources, and support to those in our community who are in need.

The Rees-Jones Foundation is a private foundation that works with non-profit organizations, primarily in North Texas, that provide programs that defend the welfare of children suffering from abuse or neglect, afford relief to those facing mental health challenges, provide youth with opportunities for enrichment and character development, encourage healthy families and communities, and promote the humane treatment of companion animals.
share this newsletter