As the founder of a nonprofit, I'm constantly asked what will move the needle on social issues. Everyday, my colleagues and I at Minnie's Food Pantry work to provide healthy food to the hungry in North Texas. While our work is huge, it is a part of a broader effort in DFW to solve social challenges. Organizations across the metroplex are helping to improve educational outcomes, reduce teen pregnancy rates, provide job training, and much more. I am so thankful for the role that Social Venture Partners Dallas plays in this broad effort to make the Dallas area a better place for everyone.
While I am constantly ask, What will move the needle on social issues, the real question is WHO will move the needle. When I think of a person that can make it happen, I immediately think of my colleague, Tony Fleo who helped me build the original Board of Directors Team for Minnie's Food Pantry and assisted me in the continuation of moving the organization further even after his tenure with our charity. Tony's bio speaks for itself. He is a proven leader in the area of organizational development with twenty five years experience in helping communities, organizations and individuals in leadership development, effective communication, and establishing mission within a company, community, or family environment. His training clients include several Fortune 500 companies. He is a respected community leader able to build coalitions, and has served as a lecturer, teacher, therapist, executive coach, and organizational consultant.
Tony serves as the CEO of Social Venture Partners Dallas (SVP) which seeks to "do good better" by evolving the traditional model of philanthropy. Specifically, in addition to providing a handful of grants, SVP equips local philanthropists to use their professional skills to increase the organizational effectiveness of social enterprises. Partners - who are accomplished professionals, executives, and entrepreneurs - provide pro bono services in marketing, strategy, finance, technology, and fundraising, to name a few. These projects are not as glamorous as chairing a benefit dinner, and don't have the immediate reward that volunteering at a local shelter or pantry would provide. But this type of work enables organizations to realize their mission by growing their internal capacity, thereby assisting more people in need.
Because all of our work is connected, I am thrilled to hear of success stories like NTARuPT. I am also looking forward to bring my skill set to SVP Dallas. Through trial and error over the years, we have grown Minnie's Food Pantry to meet the needs of hundreds of thousands of people. more As an SVP partner, I hope to help some new non-profits skip the error part and move straight to success! With a growing number of us committed to doing good better, we can accelerate the rate at which the needle is moving in our community.
As we celebrate the 8 year anniversary of Minnie's Food Pantry, I am honored to recognize Tony Fleo as a Person of Action and as a person you should get to know. For more information on SVP and Tony Fleo, please visit http://www.socialventurepartners.org/dallas/who-we-are/
Dr. Cheryl Action Jackson
www.MinniesFoodPantry.org
www.CherylActionJackson.com
Twitter: @CherylAction
Facebook: CherylActionJackson