Celebrating Learning Together
On September 12, a joyful spirit filled Lorenzo De Zavala Elementary School as the Dallas community came together for the Learning Launch Pep Rally. This event celebrated students and educators and the unwavering support from generous supporters who contributed nearly $300,000 and numerous volunteer hours to make Learning Launch a success.
Student council members from second to fifth grade welcomed guests into the school, delighting Dallas ISD leaders, corporate sponsors, and community partners with their conversation skills and polite manners as they escorted them to the library.
Building Excitement for Back-to-School
United to Learn Director of Investor Relations, Alison Kreher, kicked off the program with a heartwarming story from her days as a classroom teacher. She shared a moment that resonated deeply: a shy girl’s transformation during a back-to-school night when she discovered her favorite book, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, on Alison’s shelf. The girl’s face lit up with excitement as she exclaimed to her mother, “She has Diary of a Wimpy Kid on her bookshelf. It’s going to be a good year!” This story perfectly illustrates how a single book or moment can reinvigorate a student’s passion for learning and help start the year off right.
As the event unfolded, Dallas ISD board member Joe Carreón addressed the audience, highlighting the importance of community support in education. He invited students to join him on stage. Principal Melissa Gonzalez followed with her heartfelt remarks, sharing her excitement for the day and gratitude for having the community visit her school. She invited the students to introduce themselves, and they did, demonstrating enthusiasm and pride in their school. One student said he wanted everyone to know that De Zavala is a ”really good school”.
Recognizing the Power of Uniting Schools and Community
The ceremony also included awards of recognition, with Director of Corporate Relations Chris McSwain, acknowledging key supporters in the room, including Presenting Sponsor Atmos Energy, Gateway Church, Goldman Sachs, College Football Playoff Foundation, Cotton Bowl Foundation, and Commit Partnership.
The celebration culminated in a ribbon-cutting with United to Learn CEO Abby Williams saying a few words before Principal Gonzalez made the ceremonial cut officially opening the new sensory path in the pre-k 3 and 4 hallway, a resource designed to enhance learning for our youngest learners and support their development through movement and sensory activities.
Through United to Learn’s Learning Launch presented by Atmos Energy, we proudly support 52,000 students and 5,000 educators across 103 Dallas ISD elementary schools. Learning Launch funding allows schools to order educator-requested supplies and create engaging campus experiences, playing a vital role in fostering a positive learning environment at the beginning of the school year. This initiative is just one of many programs that reflect our commitment to enriching the educational journey for students. Together, we demonstrate the power of uniting schools and community.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for this unforgettable celebration of learning!
We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to our Learning Launch sponsors:
Presenting Sponsor
Atmos Energy
Supporting Sponsors
LH Philanthropies, Niraj Bhatia, College Football Playoff Foundation, Cotton Bowl Foundation
Campus Sponsors
Avondale Dealerships, Linda and Joel Robuck, Robert S. Kaplan, Pauline and Austin Neuhoff, Altschuler and Company, CH Investments, Comerica Bank, Dallas Alumnae Club of Pi Beta Phi, Fossil Group, Gateway Church, Goldman Sachs, Haynes Boone, Jacobs, Northridge Presbyterian Church, Options Clearing Corporation, Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, The Commit Partnership, Truist, Vizient
Grade Level Sponsors
Anne and Rob Raymond, Renza Diaz, Christine Allison, Anne Johnson, Laura and Greg Koonsman, Nancy and Stephen Rogers, Lisa and Peter Kraus, Patrick Crow, Jack Wensinger, Lisa and Michael Anderson, Gillea Allison
Classroom Sponsors
Tolleson Wealth Management, Rachel and Paul Vogel, Linda and Chris Pullig, Carla and Dylan Bolden, Margaret and Brad Hirsch, Wendy Bateman, Abigail and Todd Williams, Emily and Alex Wilson, Catherine and Eric Kreher, Kathleen Donofrio, Beth Quint, Barrett Ramsey, Brad Jackson, Patty Langdale, Marea McMurray, Mark Moussa, Molly Donofrio, Angela Woodson, Sunie Solomon, Bruce Ware, Lilly Albritton and Chuck Briant, Renee and Gary Gadson, Frances Mitchell, Sandee Stallings, Ron Breaux, Heather and Ray Balestri, Doug Pauley and MT Helland