Presented in partnership with Communities Foundation of Texas, this year’s awards recognize more than 130 North Texas leaders and organizations.

By Christine Perez | May 16, 2025|10:12 am

D CEO has named finalists in its eighth annual Nonprofit and Corporate Citizenship Awards, presented in partnership with the Communities Foundation of Texas.

This year’s program attracted more than 800 nominations, demonstrating the depth and strength of the nonprofit community in the region and deep engagement with the companies that support them.

Multiple judging sessions were held by D CEO editors, who named a total of 133 finalists.

Two new categories were added this year: Newcomer Nonprofit, which recognizes the work of an organization that is still in its first three years of operation, and Board Member of the Year, which honors the work of exceptional leadership at the board level.

For 2025, two special awards will be presented: Longtime civic leader and George W. Bush Presidential Center President and CEO Ken Hersh will be honored with the program’s Legacy Award, and Amanda Alvarez will receive the Emerging Leader Award for her work with nonprofit LaBori Boxing.

All 133 finalists will be recognized in D CEO’s August issue and at an exclusive awards event in July, where the winners in each category will be revealed. They are presented here in alphabetical order within their categories, by organization or company name.

Corporate Citizenship Categories

CORPORATE LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE

Mark Wade, Bank of Texas

John Hussey, Cuddly

Tom Harris, Hillwood

Ryan Chismark, Meritax Advisors

Larry Miller, NDBT

James Dondero, NexPoint

James Sellers, Sellmark Corp.

Stacy Bowers, Simmons Bank

CORPORATE PARTNER OF THE YEAR

Atmos Energy + Texas Health

Celanese + United Way of Metropolitan Dallas

McKinsey & Co. + Water Cooler at Pegasus Park

National Life Group + Parkland Health

Oakwood Bank /b1 Bank + Youth With Faces

Park Place Dealerships + Plano ISD Education Foundation

TXU Energy + The Senior Source

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Aligned Data Centers

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas

Charles Schwab

Dallas Mavericks

NexCourt

Texas Rangers

WFAA

EQUITY LEADERSHIP

Dikita Enterprises

HKS

ISP Creative

IN-KIND SERVICES SUPPORTER

DHD Films

Jones Day

KDC

PDS Health

Three Box Strategic Communications

SUSTAINABILITY LEADERSHIP

Gaedeke Group

Nonprofit Categories

LEGACY AWARD

Ken Hersh, George W. Bush Presidential Center

EMERGING LEADER AWARD

Amanda Alvarez, LaBori Boxing

CAPITAL ONE IMPACT INITIATIVE AWARD

Agape Resource & Assistance Center

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County

Edwards Housing Inc.

NEWCOMER NONPROFIT

Dallas Housing Coalition

The Glenhouse Foundation

HeadFirst Mental Health Initiative

Obtaining New Ground

Project Unbroken

ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR (MEGA)

Austin Street Center

Buckner International

Dallas CASA

HHM Health

Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute

My Possibilities

ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR (LARGE)

The Center for American and International Law

OurCalling

Parkland Health Foundation

ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR (MIDSIZE)

Christ’s Haven For Children

Dallas Education Foundation

Forest Forward

Junior Players

ManeGait

POETIC

ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR (SMALL)

Ally’s Wish

Hope Clinic of Garland

KidLinks

Project 4031

RefreshNTX

Taylor’s Gift Foundation

Venture Dallas

ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR (MICRO)

Dallas Street Choir

Fostering Dreams Foundation

Independence Gardens

Kayla Cares 4 Kids

Unfaulted Corp.

BOARD MEMBER OF THE YEAR

R. Bruce Moon, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Tarrant County

Dr. Basheer Ahmed, Muslim Community Center for Human Services

Ginny Kissling, North Texas Food Bank

Deedie Rose, Trinity Park Conservancy

LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE (MEGA)

Anna Hundley, Autism Treatment Center

Cindy Schamp, Baylor Scott & White Medical Center, Irving

Dave Woodyard, Catholic Charities Dallas

Joshua Arce, Partnership With Native Americans

Julie Butner, Tarrant Area Food Bank

Craig Davis, Visit Dallas

LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE (LARGE)

Debra Caudy, 29 Acres

Traswell Livingston III, ASD: A Home for Life

Shonda Schaefer, Habitat for Humanity of Collin County

Victor Boutros, Human Trafficking Institute

LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE (MIDSIZE)

Marjorie Murat, Dallas Afterschool

Martha Thomas, The Defensive Line

Lisa Rose, The Gatehouse

Sacher Dawson, Hope Farm

Verna Jones, Under 1 Roof

Dan Bailey, Youth Equipped to Succeed 

LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE (SMALL)

Armando Cantu, CARDBoard Project

Richard McKay, Dallas Chamber Symphony

Claudia Beeny, House of Shine

Richie Butler, Project Unity

J.D. Trueblood, Turtle Creek Association

LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE (MICRO)

LaDondra Wilson, Dallas Wings Community Foundation

Dederick Tubbs, Konnect To The Konnection

Dylan Rafaty, North Texas Disability Chamber

Valerie Ballard, Operation Tiny House

Leon Birdd, Servants of Our Lord (SOUL) Church

Andrea Tabor, Twelfth Step Ministry

MOST SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING OR AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

The American Cancer Society

Ascend Dallas

Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center

Harold Simmons Park

Mary Kay Ash Foundation

Nexus Family Recovery Center

NONPROFIT TEAM OF THE YEAR (LARGE AND MEGA)

The Family Place

Jubilee Park & Community Center

Metrocrest Services

NONPROFIT TEAM OF THE YEAR (MIDSIZE)

Baylor Scott & White Health and Wellness Center

Greenspace Dallas

Methodist Justice Ministry

Rainbow Days

NONPROFIT TEAM OF THE YEAR (MICRO + SMALL)

Forgiven Felons

Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Metro Relief

North Texas Wildlife Center

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE

Cafe Momentum

Restorative Farms

Rian Ryelee Foundation

Ruthie’s For Good

INNOVATION IN EDUCATION (MIDSIZE + LARGE + MEGA)

Catch Up & Read

Equest

KIPP Texas Public Schools, Dallas-Fort Worth

Paul Quinn College

United to Learn

Uplift Education 

INNOVATION IN EDUCATION (MICRO + SMALL)

C5 Texas

The Dallas (TX) Chapter of The Links, Inc.

Spin the Spectrum

To Be Like Me

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

Mark Bishop, American Red Cross, North Texas Region

Robert Phillips, Ferguson Road Initiative

William Braskamp, Paper for Water

Source: https://www.dmagazine.com/philanthropy-nonprofits/2025/05/finalists-announced-d-ceos-nonprofit-and-corporate-citizenship-awards-2025/