The heart of the foundation lies with the volunteer board and staff, who are unpaid and devoted to raising funds for the community’s needs.
“We work very, very hard to make sure that every dollar we raise stays in Parker County,” said Shane Cartwright, board member. “It’s touching people. It’s changing lives.”
Throughout the year, donors can contribute to the fundraising process through donations, but the biggest fundraiser the foundation holds is the annual Boots & Bling Gala. Falling on Feb. 21 at 6 p.m., an expected 500 people will attend the night of camaraderie.
Along with dinner and live music from Texas country music artist, Red Shahan, patrons will gather to hear testimonials of those impacted by the PCHF efforts and participate in the live and silent auctions to further support the cause. “It’s a magical night,” said Cartwright, “it’s definitely the community taking care of the community.”
The event is made possible through sponsors and volunteers, so that it is minimally costly to ensure more proceeds for the receiving organizations.
Last year, PCHF gave $417,000 to its partner nonprofits. “We gave more to every one of our partners than what they asked,” said Cartwright. Partner nonprofits include organizations like Parker County Center of Hope; Manna Storehouse; Freedom House; Children’s Advocacy Center of Parker County; Parker County Committee on Aging; Grace House Ministries; Sanctified Hope; Parker County Child Protective Services board; and Fifty Three Golf– all programs devoted to fulfilling the same goal.
PCHF prioritizes transparency with finances, so it is known exactly what the money is being used for. “It’s a very strongly vetted process” before the handing out of donations, said Penny Shelton, chairperson, “I think we’ve got some wonderful partners.” The funding goes to “people that don’t want the handout, they want the hand up,” said Cartwright.
The nonprofits apply online and then present their mission at the PCHF allocation meeting on April 7. Board members then decide “whether or not it aligns with what our foundation’s all about, which is health and wellness in Parker County,” said Cartwright, “if it does and we’re able to provide them some assistance then we jump in.”
Once the partnerships are chosen, PCHF board members present checks to the organizations on April 17, with the hope to equip the nonprofits with funds to fulfill the needs of their cause. “It’s just so rewarding…they were grateful for anything. So, to see their faces when we go around…it makes me cry,” said Shelton.
We see these efforts come to life in a woman who received assistance from a PCHF program. Cartwright, who has been in law enforcement for 26 years, arrested her many years ago. “She was a struggling addict at the time, and he had been a strong user of methamphetamine,” Cartwright said, a drug that causes severe damage to dental health.
Through the Parker County Center of Hope’s Kingdom of Smiles program, she got a whole new set of teeth. “She calls them her Jesus teeth,” said Shelton. She turned her life around, “she got sober, she was rehabilitated, mentally, physically, spiritually, and became gainfully employed,” said Cartwright
Now, she is a non-profit volunteer and shares her life-changing, full-circle experience.
Stories like hers are what keep non-profits like the PCHF devoted to its work – community helping community – measuring success through lives restored.
Cartwright hopes the PCHF continues to grow because “the county’s growing, the needs of some folks are growing... and we just want to be able to continue to address the needs of the folks that we help and so our money needs to grow,” he said, “We have to continue to grow if we want to be able to provide the level of assistance [we aspire to].”
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