Local Lift, United Way of Tarrant County’s pitch competition supporting innovative community solutions, is officially underway. This week, eight finalists came together to begin a 12-week program designed to help them strengthen their work, refine their pitches and prepare to compete for a share of $75,000 in seed funding.
Meet the finalists:
Ondas Cultural and Movement Arts
Ondas Cultural and Movement Arts provides the community, particularly underserved populations, with opportunities to engage in cultural and movement arts.
Texas Breastfeeding Center
Texas Breastfeeding Center supports families through breastfeeding education, resources and services that promote healthy outcomes for parents and babies.
Open-Minded Wellness
Open-Minded Wellness provides counseling services designed to support individuals and families as they navigate challenges that affect their well-being.
Safe Rides with Natalie
Safe Rides with Natalie focuses on providing safe, reliable transportation solutions that help community members access the places and services they need.
Maroon 9 Community Enrichment Organization
Maroon 9 Community Enrichment Organization works to strengthen the community through programs and opportunities that support residents and promote positive community development.
AH HA Solutions
AH HA Solutions develops solutions designed to address community needs and create opportunities for individuals and families to thrive.
BPrep Services
BPrep Services provides resources and support designed to help individuals prepare for greater stability, opportunity and success.
Family of Five — Poker Empowerment Program
Family of Five’s Poker Empowerment Program uses poker as a tool for engagement, personal development and empowerment.
Over the next several weeks, finalists will participate in coaching, collaborate with their cohort and work with mentors as they prepare to share their work with a panel of judges. They’ll sharpen their pitches, articulate the impact of their programs and explore how additional investment could help them expand their work, reach more people or strengthen the solutions they’re already bringing to the community.
A special thank you to SCORE for providing mentors who are guiding and supporting this year’s finalists throughout the program, and to TechFW for providing the programming that is helping finalists prepare to take their ideas to the next level.
Local Lift will culminate on Thursday, Nov. 12, during Global Entrepreneurship Week, when finalists will take the stage to pitch their work and compete for a share of $75,000 in seed funding.
Local Lift is part of UWTC’s commitment to expanding innovation, research and nonprofit capacity building across North Texas. Through the United Way Institute, UWTC connects organizations to data, training, tools and partnerships that help community solutions grow and succeed.
Help Local Ideas Make a Greater Impact
Community investment helps UWTC create opportunities like Local Lift and provide the coaching, resources and funding needed to help promising ideas grow.
By supporting Local Lift through sponsorship or helping spread the word, you can play a role in investing in local innovation and building a stronger, more resilient Tarrant County.