Altrusa International Inc., of Downtown Dallas selected
Friends of Wednesday’s Child to be the primary recipient for our Dessert First fundraiser in 2011.  

   

On March 15, 2011, The Altrusa International, Inc. of Downtown Dallas Foundation presented Friends of Wednesday's Child with a check for $40,000 raised at Dessert 2010. 

First. Left to right: Sue Gray - Vice Chairman of FOWC Board, Pat Lockerd, President/CEO of FOWC, Debbie Tull - Altrusa, Martha Hardwick Hofmeister - Altrusa.

 

 

 

As 1 out of every 207 children in North Texas is a foster child, the need for assistance is ever increasing. After being removed from their homes due to abuse and/or neglect, foster children often have to start their lives over in a new place at a young age. 

Friends of Wednesday's Child steps in to help make their new life in foster care joyful and to ensure that their needs are met. Friends of Wednesday's Child is the only organization that provides funds to fulfill the specific needs of North Texas foster children when no one else can or will so they are able to have as normal a childhood as possible.

Money raised by Dessert First and from the sale of chocolates will help these Friends of Wednesday's Child programs:

 

 Tutoring Services  Winter Hugs & Warm Soles Project
 College Scholarships  Extracurricular Activities
 Medical Equipment  Kids to Kamp
 Orthodontics  Life Book Project
 Teen Back to School Project  Birthday Project
 Emergency Clothing  

 

 

   

Two Angry Moms - 2009   It's a Move, It's a Movement

Two Angry Moms is a movie that chronicles what can happen when fed-up Moms start a grass-roots revolution aimed at establishing programs that overcome roadblocks to getting real, healthy food into school cafeterias.

Altrusa International, Inc. of Downtown Dallas heard the message and embraced this very special project in supporting the documentary.  The Club donated $10,000 to sponsor the production of a Spanish-translation of this vital documentary to debut in Dallas on Saturday, October 24, 2009 at the Lakewood Theater.  Altrusa also sponsored three showings of the documentary and a panel discussion with the producer, Amy Kalafa, and local nutrition experts.

 A few facts:

35% of American Children are obese or at risk 

30% of boys born in 2000 and 40% of girls will develop diabetes 

Americans spend $200 billion per year in diet-related health care costs 

The cost of fresh fruits and vegetables has risen 40% in the past 20 years 

The cost of soda, sweets, meat, dairy and fats has decreased as much as 20% in the same time 

Americans spend less than 10% of their income on food, but 17% of GDP is spent on healthcare

  

 

   

 

 

Dallas Community Lighthouse - 2009 

 

Downtown Dallas Altrusans made it possible for over 60 children to provide Mother’s Day gifts to their mothers, grandmothers or female care givers.

The children, ranging in school grades from Kindergarten to 8thgrade, were given the opportunity to earn Altrusa “Bucks” for such things as completing their homework assignments and getting good grades.

The “Bucks” they earned were then exchanged for gifts that could be given to Mom for Mother’s Day, 2009.

 
 

 Altrusa volunteers served as customer service representatives to our junior shoppers; collected the money for items sold, and wrapped and tagged the gifts for distribution the next day. 


The Downtown Dallas club also provided the funding for the Saturday morning breakfast where the gifts were presented to the parents. All present enjoyed a lovely breakfast quiche, donuts, juice and coffee.


The mothers were very pleased by the efforts of their children to show their appreciation. It was a wonderful Mother’s Day.