Communities In Schools of the Dallas Region announced it has received an unprecedented gift of $3,300,000 from MacKenzie Scott.
This gift is part of a transformative $133.5 million donation from the philanthropist to the Communities In Schools Network and National Office. In addition to the CIS National Office, 40 affiliates in the CIS Network were also direct recipients of the MacKenzie Scott donation, including Dallas, Tarrant County and North Texas.
“Ms. Scott’s investment is indeed transformational. It will enable us to serve more students on more campuses in our region,” said Adam Powell, President & CEO of Communities In Schools of the Dallas Region. “Most importantly, this will give us the critical resources we need to expand our clinical team and strengthen our ability to help students in mental health crisis. It is not a stretch to say that this gift will save lives.”
In a time when the global pandemic has created unparalleled challenges for students and families, including experiences of social isolation, economic crisis, stress, and trauma, this investment will help Communities In Schools of the Dallas Region carry out its cause to build sustainable systems of support for the students and families who would otherwise be left behind.
For over 30 years, Communities In Schools of the Dallas Region has demonstrated measurable success in student outcomes. By placing professionals on K-12 campuses daily, staff customize services for each child according to his or her needs – working with each student during the school day. Today, Communities In Schools of the Dallas Region operates on 148 campuses in 16 Independent School Districts, supporting an estimated 12,000 students. 85% of the students they serve improve in academics, behavior, and attendance, and 100% stay in school.
Ms. Scott’s gift will be part of the Safer Students, Stronger Schools campaign, an initiative launched in 2021 to raise money to fund site coordinators on new campuses, add site coordinators to high-need campuses, and allow for an expanded clinical team to help students with immediate mental health needs.
Other donors in the first year of the Safer Students, Stronger Schools campaign include Amanda and G. Brint Ryan, Ms. Nancy Best, the Rees-Jones Foundation, the Meadows Foundation, the George and Fay Young Foundation, the W.W. Caruth Fund at Communities Foundation of Texas, Ms. Margot Perot and the Harold Simmons Foundation.
