Donor Impact Stories

Each of our donors has a unique and inspirational story tied to their giving, and we're thrilled to share them.

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You can't take it with you!

Ford Lacy and Cece Smith Plan Their Community Legacy

"YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU!" is the first thing Ford Lacy said when we asked what spurred him and his wife, Cece Smith, to plan in advance how they would give to charity through their wills.

Racing Toward a Cure

Shelby family furthers pancreatic cancer treatment options

The Shelby Family has made meaningful investments in the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer by working with CFT staff and funding clinical trials through donor-advised funds at CFT.

What's Next?

John & Veletta Lill put plans in place to give back to the community

What's next? is the question former Dallas City Councilmember Veletta Forsythe-Lill and her husband John asked as they reviewed their financial goals. Approaching a milestone birthday and thankful to have accomplished some bigger goals like funding their son’s college education, Veletta started thinking about how she could sustain the legacy of the community she had helped build.

Norman Brinker Scholarship at CFT

Legendary restaurateur’s legacy of excellence continues to inspire

Norman Brinker’s integrity, entrepreneurship and competitive spirit made him a legend, but it was his generosity and the desire to help raise the skill of others that made him beloved by his family, peers, employees, and the countless lives he touched.

Getting Creative to Fund the Arts

Craig Hall Transforms Real Estate into Real Impact

Craig Hall, founder of Hall Group and fund holder at Communities Foundation of Texas, structured a complex donation of two premium restaurant spaces in the Dallas Arts District to his fund at CFT.

Your Guide to Simplified Complex Giving

Did you know Communities Foundation of Texas can accept a wide range of gifts, even real estate, art and antiques?

Did you know Communities Foundation of Texas can accept a wide range of gifts, even real estate, art and antiques?

The Art of Giving

Linda and Bob Buford donate art to CFT to use proceeds for charitable good

When Linda and Bob Buford purchased a contemporary painting in New York 27 years ago, little did they realize it would produce so many rewards. The large painting by abstract expressionist painter Joan Mitchell, with its active brush strokes and vibrant yellows and blues, captured the spirit of the bright, sunny landscapes of the South of France. Along with another work by the same artist, the painting hung in the Bufords’ guest bedroom where Bob often read and admired the two favorites from their art collection.

Pearl C. Anderson: Her Dream Lives On

The charitable fund Pearl C. Anderson created in 1955 still supports the community today

When CFT began 60 years ago in 1953, it was known as the Dallas Community Chest Trust Fund. The first major gift to the Dallas Community Chest Trust Fund was in 1955 from Pearl C. Anderson. She was an African- American grocer and widow of a local physician. Her gift was a future interest to the trust in a prime piece of land in downtown Dallas valued at $325,000.

Are you ready to leave your charitable legacy?

CFT's philanthropic experts are here to work with you to develop your personal, strategic charitable giving plan. Contact us today for a confidential consultation about a giving program to fit your needs.

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