Dallas Cowboy Jason Witten receives award from Dallas women’s shelter

Star Dallas Cowboy tight end Jason Witten, who founded the SCORE Foundation to help abused children, has received an award from the Dallas-based women’s shelter The Family Place for making domestic violence a community issue and not just a women’s issue.

He received the “Man of Distinction” award last month at the shelter’s annual Trailblazer awards luncheon for launching the Jason Witten SCOREkeepers program, a unique initiative placing full-time, trained male mentors in battered women’s shelters throughout Texas.

According to the Foundation’s website:

“The mentors seek to demonstrate positive male behavior to the children living in these shelters in an effort to break the cycle of violence that plagues families affected by abuse. 

With the help of a generous $100,000 grant from the Allstate Foundation, Jason Witten’s SCORE Foundation has placed SCOREkeepers in six shelters across the Lone Star State – The Family Place (Dallas), SafeHaven (Fort Worth), Family Violence Prevention Services (San Antonio), New Beginning Center (Garland), Denton County Friends of the Family (Denton Co.) and Safe Place (Austin).

He also routinely hosts children from these shelters for special events like Christmas parties, bowling outings and trips to Cowboys training camp.”

He was also featured in a TV psa produced by the Allstate Foundation.

Other finalists for the award were Dallas County Family Violence Court Judge Roberto Canas and our own attorney and legal columnist John Browning, who is a board member of the Lillian Smith Family Violence Foundation.

Parkland Hospital CEO receives new award for a man from Family Place

The president and CEO of Parkland Hospital was the recipient of the very first “Man of Influence” award presented yesterday by The Family Place women’s shelter at their annual Trailblazers Awards luncheon.

Dr. Ron Anderson was selected from four finalists also nominated for the award, which was given to recognize a man who has helped make family violence a community issue, rather than solely a women’s issue.

Other nominated were Dallas County Family Violence Court Judge Roberto Canas, Club Corp. CEO Eric Affeldt and Lillian Smith Family Violence Foundation founder J.J. Smith.

The luncheon attracted over 200 people who paid $100 a plate as a donation to The shelter, which is the largest in DFW.

Executive Director Paige Flink announced that the shelter’s budget is about $8 million dollars this year, which is being used to assist victims of family violence.

Lillian Smith Foundation founder finalist for Dallas women’s shelter award

I’m humbled to announce that I have been selected as one of four finalists for the “Man of Influence” award being presented for the first time Aug. 20 by The Family Place women’s shelter in Dallas for the man “who is leading by example to make domestic violence a ‘community issue’ rather than a ‘women’s issue’.”

Honorary event chairs are Dallas Mayor Tom and Laura Leppert. Event chairs are media personality Scott and Carole Murray.

It’s quite an honor, and I’m shocked to have been selected, especially when I consider the other finalists, who are: Dr. Ron Anderson, President and CEO of Dallas County’s Parkland Health & Hospital System; the Honorable Roberto Canas, judge of Dallas County Criminal Court #10, one of the two family violence courts in Dallas County; plus Eric Affeldt, Chief Executive Officer of Club Corp, “the world leader in private clubs.”

The event will be held in conjunction with the Texas Trailblazer Awards luncheon at The Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas, Aug. 20, Noon-1:30 pm. Tickets are $100 each and a table sponsorship is $1,500.

The Trailblazer award recognizes a local woman who has achieved significant success despite the obstacles she has faced along the way. Pepsi will also be honored with the Advocacy Award for all the company has done to support the Family Place, having donated over $40,000 annually for the past 16 years.