The Meadows Foundation, is a private philanthropic institution established in 1948 by Algur H. and Virginia Meadows. Its mission is to assist the people and institutions of Texas improve the quality and circumstances of life for themselves and future generations. Since its inception, the Foundation has disbursed over $600 million in grants and direct charitable expenditures to over 2,900 Texas institutions and agencies. The foundation also has a particular philanthropic interest in public education, mental health, and the environment, and it seeks imaginative innovative solutions to community projects.

Ernst & Young, a global leader in professional services, commits significant resources to creating a culture that maximizes the contributions of their employees to the firm and to the community. Through its “Celebration of Diversity” and its ethnic affinity groups and professional development programs, differences are recognized while bridges are built among all people. Through its ‘Mentors Make it Happen’ program employees work with minority youth in Mi Escuelita, Boys and Girls Clubs and other organizations to make college access more accessible to underserved communities.

AT&T, has diversity and inclusion as top priorities. In 2006, 67 percent of the foundation's grants were given to help improve the lives of low-income residents. During the Katrina storm, AT&T organized a response team that provided free telephones, wireless phones, computers and internet access to both evacuees and relief agencies. They developed a donations program that raised $10 million for relief agencies, permitting evacuees to make 364,000 free long-distance calls in Texas that helped them find their loved ones.

North Texas Volunteers for the Aga Khan Foundation USA, Partnership Walk, raises public awareness and funds to help communities in some of the poorest areas of the world create long-term solutions to end poverty. The volunteers have raised over $26 million over the past decade with 100% of the funds raised going directly for programs. Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A., chaired by the Aga Khan, supports innovative grassroots programs that address hunger, disease and illiteracy in 18 countries in Africa and Asia.

AWARDEES FOR Spring 2007: 

ENTREPRENEUR – Ms. Anousheh Ansari , for exemplifying the American Dream by capturing headlines around the world as the first female private space explorer and the first astronaut of Iranian descent. Although she did not speak English when she immigrated to the US at the age of 18, Ms. Ansari was determined to pursue her passion for the sciences to the fullest extent. Subsequently she founded Telecom Technologies and currently is Chairman and co-founder of Prodea Systems Technology, headquartered in Plano.

ARTS and CULTURE – Mr. Raymond D. Nasher, for enabling and encouraging the growth of the major arts organizations in Dallas. Mr. Nasher established the Dallas Business Committee for the Arts and personally finances the highly acclaimed Nasher Sculpture Center. He serves on the boards of several artistic organizations, and his experience as a member of the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities provides him with a deep understanding of what constitutes humane and nurturing communities.

HEALTH - Mosaic Family Services, for creative and dedicated social services that support, educate and empower immigrants and refugees from Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Latin America. Founder Dr. Walter Nguyen has raised funds through grants for HIV education and outreach, human trafficking, immigrant civil services, medical services for the elderly, and recently opened the first and only shelter for battered immigrant women in the southwest USA.

AWARDEES FOR 2006: 

EDUCATION - Joe May (posthumously), DISD, for commitment to the underserved.    Minorities constitute 50% of the region’s public school enrollment,;  63% of DISD’s student population is Hispanic, 33% of the students having very limited English, and between half and 2/3 of the Hispanic students do not graduate from high school. Joe’s leadership as a trustee influenced his peers to look for non traditional solutions to our educational challenges.   DOWNLOAD BIO 


ARTS and CULTURE - Trammell S. Crow, Crow Collection of Asian Art - for linking the arts with life through free global educational programs for children and adults, and connecting with the Asian communities at the grass-roots level.  The Crow family is a pioneer in business, seeing the importance of global thinking as well as the significance of the arts to define the soul in a community.  DOWNLOAD BIO



PUBLIC SERVICE - Joe Chow, Town of Addison - a model of the American success story, Joe immigrated  from Taiwan as a young international student.  Now  a successful business man and entrepreneur, Joe decided that he needed to give back to his community and new country; he ran for City Council of The Town of Addison and eventually became its Mayor.  DOWNLOAD BIO 



COMMUNITY SERVICE - T. D. Jakes, Potters House Katrina Relief - innovation to meet the needs of minorities and New Texans during the Katrina crisis.  Voluntarism is the backbone and strength of the people of our country, and his leadership brought the city together to help our newest arrivals.   DOWNLOAD BIO 




HEALTH - Ron Anderson,  Parkland Hospital - for services to immigrants and minorities.  Nearly half of our immigrants lack health insurance, and the uninsured rate for Hispanic children is three times that of other children.  As 82% of the babies born in Parkland Hospital are Hispanic,  Ron Anderson has chosen the high moral road while setting the standard for patient-centered health care.   DOWNLOAD BIO