This month, I am excited to highlight an area of philanthropy that connects our club deeply with both the Harvard community and the broader North Texas region: the Summer Community Service Fellowship (SCSF) program. Co-managed by the Harvard Alumni Association and the Center for Public Service and Engaged Scholarship at Phillips Brooks House, the SCSF enables Harvard undergraduates to pursue public service projects over the summer. Many of you may recognize Phillips Brooks House as a cornerstone of Harvard's commitment to public service, and this fellowship continues that legacy. The Harvard Club of Dallas has proudly supported the SCSF for over 25 years, and Theresa Chung, our current Chairman and Past President, was a recipient herself in 1996. You can find more about the Fellowship, a list of past recipients and the organizations they worked with by clicking here.

One such story is our 2023 fellow, Brandon Pham, whom the Harvard Club of Dallas proudly sponsored. Brandon interned with My Possibilities (MP), a leading nonprofit in North Texas dedicated to empowering adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). During his time there, he played a crucial role in organizing data for MIP's Community Needs and Strengths Assessment (CNSA). This report - the first of its kind in North Texas - provides an in-depth analysis of the region's challenges and opportunities for adults with IDD. Brandon's work helped guide MP and its partners toward more impactful, sustainable solutions for this often-overlooked community. If you would like to learn more about MP please click here, or you would like to see the CNSA click here.

Brandon's contribution not only benefited My Possibilities but also strengthened the broader community we call home. The nonprofits our fellows choose to work with are based right here in  North Texas, so when we support the SCSF, we are not just empowering Harvard students to gain meaningful experience, we are actively supporting organizations that directly impact our local community.

What many may not realize is that the Harvard Club of Dallas supports this program by funding approximately $6,000 each year to sponsor a student. This year, we'd like to raise this amount from our members and readers of this letter. Every contribution, no matter the size, will directly support both our students and the critical nonprofits they work with in our community.

I encourage you to consider how your philanthropy can further this dual impact. By helping us raise $6,000 to fund next year's fellow, you will not only support a Harvard student like Brandon but also help strengthen nonprofits in North Texas that are doing vital work. Together, we can make a difference - one student, one nonprofit, one community at a time.

Please consider joining me in supporting the Summer Community Service Fellowship with a donation to the Betsey Bradley and Hal Urschel M.D. Community Service Fund.  You can do so by clicking here. With your help, we can continue to expand the positive ripple effects felt by both our students and the causes they champion.

In fellowship,

David Roosevelt
President, Harvard Club of Dallas