Tarrant County dropout prevention nonprofit receives $4 million donation
Lake Worth High School senior Nathaniel “Junior” Session knows that without the support system from Communities In Schools of Greater Tarrant County, he would be a completely different person than he is today, and may not be preparing to attend college on a full-ride scholarship.
Session first met his Communities In Schools social worker in the seventh grade, the year that his father left the family and they were evicted from their home.
The social worker, Kimeeka Brown, developed a relationship with him and his mom, and helped the family get on its feet and provided clothes for Session.
During his sophomore year of high school, Session’s mom died of cancer. Brown and his high school social worker, Morgan Eary, were at the hospital.
Throughout this time, Session wondered if he should work to provide financial help, and the option of dropping out became very real, he said.
But Session moved in with his brother, and the Communities In Schools social workers provided him with a space to navigate his journey and emotions.
Session is now months away from graduating with a 3.8 GPA and going to Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas.
“They impacted me to always stay positive and keep looking forward,” he said. “They made me who I am today. ... And I’m grateful for what they did and how long they stayed with me.”
Communities In Schools of Greater Tarrant County, a chapter of a national dropout prevention nonprofit, is set to receive a $4 million donation from philanthropist and author MacKenzie Scott, the organization announced Thursday. The donation is the largest for the organization in its 30-year history and is a part of a larger $133.5 million donation to the Communities In Schools network.
Lindsey Garner, president and chief executive officer of Communities In Schools of Greater Tarrant County, said the organization is honored and humbled by the donation, and was surprised by the announcement days before the holidays.
“It was a wonderful holiday gift,” she said. “We were shocked and overcome by the generosity.”
Matt Dufrene, board chair and vice president at Texas Health Resources, said the global pandemic has created unparalleled challenges for students and families — including experiences of social isolation, economic crisis, stress and trauma.
Garner said the need for services like mental health counseling for students has skyrocketed since the start of the pandemic. She hopes to use these funds to respond to the immediate demand as well as help the long-term growth of the program.
The organization provides help to more than 35,000 students in over 63 schools and 11 Tarrant County districts.
The program provides campuses with a full-time licensed social worker who provides services that are not available. The social worker builds relationships with case-managed students and their families, conducts home visits, assists families with basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter, safety and transportation and works to increase parent engagement in schools.
The program also assists with resources outside of the school year, such as providing meals during days that school is out.
With this donation, Garner said the organization is looking to see how they can provide additional case managers and clinicians to close the gap for students who need support.
“Imagine if our social workers were not there to surround Junior and his siblings with support when no one else was available. Sadly, that’s the reality of many local students,” Garner said.
For students like Session, the programs has been essential to his success. He hopes that the support system he found will now reach more students because of this donation.
“That’s what I would love to happen, for [students] to get the support system that I did,” he said.
This story was originally published February 3, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
