TI employee Irma Annillo has mentored several students at the Trinity River Mission over the last nine years.

Ally Lopez, an eighth-grader in the Trinity River Mission (TRM)'s Believe and Achieve program in West Dallas, is a student who will succeed. And, because of the involvement of TI volunteers and new United Way funding for TRM this year, many other students will get the same chance.

Ally has set her sights on graduating from high school and college and becoming an engineer. This bright, articulate young woman exudes enthusiasm about her future and the program that's helping her get ready for college.

"In the program, we go out to different colleges, which is really beneficial for me and the other kids," Ally said. "TRM has pushed me toward my academic skills so I can do that one day."

TI and TRM have had a solid partnership for more than 15 years through TI's Hispanic initiative ¡Unidos!. Rich Templeton, TI chairman, president and CEO, recently toured the TRM learning center and talked with program participants and TI volunteers.

"Whenever you get a chance to visit one of the agencies, it always takes your breath away," Templeton said. "The needs are so great and it's really inspiring to see the work that's going on as well as the impact the mentors and tutors have in helping the kids achieve at a higher level."

The power of giving, volunteering
During this year's United Way campaign Templeton encouraged TI employees worldwide to get involved personally.

"You'll find it eye-opening and very rewarding," he said. "Let's get out ahead of some of these issues...work on education, work on income and health. That's how we'll build a stronger city and stronger community in the long term."

TI employees have been involved with TRM in a variety of ways, including board service and volunteerism. During this time, TI has also contributed more than $72,000 to the agency through ¡Unidos!'s Community Involvement Team budget.

Janie Reed, a TI volunteer, was elected to serve on TRM's Board of Directors and is now making sure the agency has the budget and sponsors needed to keep its programs running.

"United Way funding is very important because it means we can do more for the kids so they can see things that they can do in the future," Reed said. "If you're involved and invest in your community there is always time to give an hour here and there — it makes so much of a difference."

Another TI volunteer, Irma Annillo, has also seen the difference the program can make in the lives of low-income children firsthand.

As a nine-year program volunteer, she has mentored several students who are first generation U.S. immigrants. One of the students she mentored as a sixth-grader is now going to college to be a teacher, and another is in college studying to be a nurse. Yet another of her students is working toward a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering.

"This has impacted me as a mentor," Annillo said. "I have been able to make a huge difference in the lives of students and they have made a huge difference in mine because they show what a huge impact we can make on our community."

Making a difference
United Way of Metropolitan Dallas (UWMD) has identified education as one of the top community issues for strategic focus, with a goal of preparing 50 percent more students to succeed in education after high school.

The 2010 baseline was 48 percent of students in the local service area graduating college-ready in 2008. United Way has set similar education-focused goals in other communities across the U.S.

TRM is one of the UWMD agencies that are vital to the area's low-income youth.

Each year, this volunteer-based community program gives more than 150 students in grades six through 12 the chance to learn about the value of acquiring a good education and the opportunity to develop effective life skills.

And the results are tangible. Since 2004, the program's graduation rate of high school seniors has averaged 96 percent, much higher that the graduation rate for non-TRM students. In fall 2010, 92 percent of these graduates began college.

Achieving new milestones
In May 2011, TRM became one of 13 new agencies to receive a grant after requesting funds through the agency's competitive bidding process. The UWMD made the decision to provide $60,000 to TRM's Believe and Achieve program.

"We are so glad we passed the United Way's tough tests," said Dolores Sosa Green, TRM's executive director. "The process was tough, but only because we know United Way does a great job of being selective on which agencies it supports."

Green believes TRM fits right in with United Way's goal. TRM currently provides free kindergarten through 12th-grade educational programs to more than 350 students a year with the help of parents and volunteers.

In partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters, students are paired with mentors who work closely with them over several years to encourage academic success and improve self esteem.

Ally's mom has seen how the program at the Trinity River Mission has helped inspire Ally to succeed.

TRM's next milestone is to increase the number of participants to 550 students.

"United Way funding will help us increase the number of students who can participate in Believe and Achieve," Green said. "We'll also use the funding to provide more college trips and to have a staff person focused on helping the students achieve their goals."

Impacting lives
Ally has been coming to TRM since she was in kindergarten. Her mother, Maria Ortiz, said she has seen her daughter make a great deal of process at TRM.

"When she started, she didn't speak English at all," Ortiz said. "I am so proud of her because she has grown so much here."

Ally and her mother both smile as they talk about Ally's dream to build the first underwater roller coaster someday. "I know she can do it," Maria said.