ARLINGTON, Texas – The Cotton Bowl Foundation announced the distribution of $285,000 in grants to a diverse collection of organizations striving to uplift the North Texas community and make major impacts for those who play, attend and support the game of college football.
 
The six organizations extended 2023-24 grants were Girls Inc. of Tarrant County ($100,000), Communities in Schools of Greater Tarrant County ($50,000), Communities in Schools of the Dallas Region ($50,000), Big Thought ($50,000), AT LAST! ($25,000) and HOPE Tutoring Center ($10,000).
 
"Supporting organizations that work tirelessly every day to make our community better is truly one of the best parts of what we do with via our Cotton Bowl Foundation," said Dave Brown, Chair, Cotton Bowl Foundation and Cotton Bowl Athletic Association. "The programs, services and support these organizations provide are so needed and so critical in helping give opportunities to kids to be successful in school and their families to be successful in life."   
 
Girls Inc. of Tarrant County
The $100,000 grant awarded to Girls Inc. of Tarrant County is being used to reinforce the organization's programs that encourage health, education, career readiness and independence and inspire girls to be strong, smart and bold.
 
"The partnership with the Cotton Bowl Foundation extends our mission and allows girls to see themselves as leaders and an important part of the workforce of the future," said Jennifer Limas, Girls Inc. of Tarrant County President & Chief Executive Officer. "This grant is going to elevate our STEM initiatives and our girls are going to have a makerspace in Tarrant County where they can build their self-assurance in STEM activities and participate in hands-on, minds-on experiments. Thank you for investing in our girls' futures!"
 
Communities in Schools of Greater Tarrant County
The $50,000 grant given to Communities in Schools of Greater Tarrant County is going to support its stay-in-school program that serves 65 schools across 11 school districts and gives students the resources needed to be successful in school and stay on the path to graduation.
"This generous support from the Cotton Bowl Foundation is helping more than 400 students address mental health issues that are barriers to success in the classroom," said Lindsey Garner, Communities In Schools of Greater Tarrant County President & Chief Executive Officer. "With clinical counseling support, these students will set goals, stay in school, graduate and thrive in our community."
 
Communities in Schools of the Dallas Region
The $50,000 grant extended to Communities in Schools of the Dallas Region is impacting a total of 130 elementary, middle school and high school campuses with four main components of service – academics, behavior/mental health, social services and attendance – delivered to students in coordinated, caring and individualized ways.
 
"We are incredibly thankful for the Cotton Bowl Foundation's support, as the funding and advocacy from the organization are supporting more than 10,000 PreK to 12th-grade public school students in our area," said Adam Powell, Communities In Schools of the Dallas Region President & Chief Executive Officer. "The funding is going to support our clinical team which provides mental health services to students in 14 Independent School Districts across North Texas. Without partners in this work, Communities In Schools would not be able to meet the growing need we face annually, so we thank the Cotton Bowl Foundation for this support."
 
Big Thought
The $50,000 grant provided to Big Thought is being put to close the opportunity gap for all youth in marginalized communities by preparing them for further education, work and life and giving them the skills and tools they need to imagine and create their best lives and a better world.
 
"We exist to facilitate a brighter future for youth who have historically been held back at the starting line," said Byron Sanders, Big Thought President & Chief Executive Officer. "From in-house programs, community partnerships, and consulting and design, Big Thought is all about youth agency, creativity and social-emotional development."
 
AT LAST!
The $25,000 grant awarded to AT LAST! is aiding with the upkeep of its 5,700 square-foot residence that houses up to 16 'Scholars-In-Residence' and provides these students from less prosperous families with academic support, technology resources, life skill instruction, meals and necessities to put them in position for better performance in the classroom.
 
"Intergenerational poverty is far too entrenched a crisis to be solved, on scale, by legacy solutions and light engagement," said Randy Bowman, AT LAST! Founder & Chief Executive Officer. "AT LAST! gets results because of our innovation and providing 17 hours per day in programs and services."
 
HOPE Tutoring Center
The $10,000 grant provided to the HOPE Tutoring Center is empowering students ranging from second to eighth grade in the Arlington community to reach their full academic potential through free, individualized tutoring.

"A solid academic foundation is vital for every person to succeed. A healthy connection to their larger community is also essential," said Kathy Mitchell, HOPE Tutoring Center Executive Director. "Individualized tutoring builds academic skill sets and connects students to a caring community that includes generous organizations like the Cotton Bowl Foundation. Together, we can change lives for the better."
 
As a part of the Cotton Bowl Foundation's philanthropic pursuits this year, the official foundation for the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic donated dollars beyond its grants initiative that will change lives for years to come in North Texas and across the country.
 
The Foundation presented a $75,000 endowed gift to Penn State to help fund the creation of the Wally Triplett-Cotton Bowl Football Player Development Program in honor of the 75th anniversary of Triplett and Dennie Hoggard being the first two Black players to play in the Cotton Bowl Classic. In addition, the Foundation extended donations of $20,000 ($10,000 each) to Tarrant Area Food Bank and North Texas Food Bank, raised a record $92,750 on North Texas Giving Day to support art teachers and programs and gave $200,000 in partnership with the College Football Playoff Foundation to Catch Up & Read, City Teaching Alliance, The Educator Collective and United to Learn.
 
This year alone, the Cotton Bowl Foundation has awarded nearly $575,000 in grants to deserving organizations that strive to make a difference for our region.
 
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About the Cotton Bowl Foundation
The Cotton Bowl Foundation, the official foundation of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, serves North Texas by supporting programs that improve opportunities for underserved youth with the vision of making an impact on those who play the game, attend the game and support the game. Since 2016, the Cotton Bowl Foundation has awarded more than $3 million in grants and financial support benefiting non-profit organizations in the surrounding communities.