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Norah Meier-Maroulis is social media marketing and advertising coordinator for EARS. Photo by Danny Fulgencio.

EARS, the Education and Animal Rescue Society.  Norah Meier-Maroulis is a Kentucky girl who was shocked at the number of street dogs when she moved to Dallas. She started rescuing diseased and abused pups, sneaking them into her apartment, cleaning and vaccinating them. In 2006, she started a Facebook page called Dallas Strays and Rescues, which is packed with tips and help for lost or stolen pets. In addition to her day job selling commercial furniture, the Preston Hollow neighbor is social media marketing and advertising coordinator for EARS, the Education and Animal Rescue Society.

 

Tom Dooley volunteers for One Man’s Treasure. Photo by Danny Fulgencio.

One Man’s Treasure. When a man is released from prison, Tom Dooley or a fellow volunteer ambassador meets with him and provides four sets of clothes and shoes. Dooley is president of the board of One Man’s Treasure, a nonprofit faith-based ministry. Members collect, clean and sort clothing. Volunteers then meet with men exiting prison to provide clothes and help them transition. Dooley discovered the organization in 2014, when as a volunteer he helped develop a strategic plan. “When I retired, I had no reason to sit back,” he says. “I’ve jumped into One Man’s Treasure.”

Photo courtesy of the Dallas chapter of Women for Orphans Worldwide.

WOW: Women for Orphans Worldwide.  Thirteen neighborhood moms inspired 13 daughters at the age of 13 to participate in WOW, which stands for Women for Orphans Worldwide. The group of moms led their seventh-grade daughters on a mission trip to Guatemala then created a volunteer-led group for Orphan Outreach, which serves in eight countries, including Guatemala, Honduras and Russia. Since then, the daughters, who attended Parish Episcopal School and the Shelton School, have graduated college and taken jobs, but the group remains a force. Since December of 2009, the WOW Dallas chapter has raised money to help orphans and vulnerable children in Guatemala.

 

Photo courtesy of Jen Fahrenbruch, whose family volunteers for Family Gateway.

Family Gateway. For Preston Hollow neighbor Jen Fahrenbruch, volunteering is a way to spend time with her family. The mom of four boys and one girl is a board member for Family Gateway and was co-chair of the charity’s “Day to Play” event. Family Gateway, a nonprofit founded in 1986, provides support to homeless children and families. The organization works with churches and groups around Dallas to connect families with the resources and support they need. In 2018, the charity fielded 4,800 calls for help, according to its website. 

 

Greenhill graduate Reid Zlotky volunteered for Heroes for Children.

Heroes for Children. When Reid Zlotky was 4, he watched his 4-year-old friend Sam battle leukemia. Three years later, his mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. His mother and friend survived, but the experience inspired the former Greenhill School student to dedicate his young life to volunteering for Heroes for Children. The nonprofit provides financial and social support to families with children battling cancer. The organization has provided $5.5 million to nearly 6,000 families since 2004. In October 2018, he received the organization’s Heroes in Disguise award for his work on the Heroes for Children Teen Board.