FY 2015 Popular Annual Financial Report FY 2015 Popular Annual Financial Report | Page 17

Charitable Foundation Awards Grants at Arlington Gives! Rally

More than a thousand people
celebrated North Texas Giving Day
at the Arlington Gives! Rally, where
the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation
awarded more than $50,000 in
grants to qualified Arlington-based
nonprofits.

North Texas Giving Day is
an annual online giving event,
coordinated by the Communities
Foundation of Texas, to encourage

North Texans to make charitable
contributions to the nonprofit
organizations of their choice. All
contributions made during Giving
Day were matched, in part, by the
Communities Foundation and
others like the Arlington Tomorrow
Foundation, to ensure contributors’
dollars were multiplied. The Arlington
Gives! Rally was held in September
2015 at the Levitt Pavilion.

Viridian Named ‘Certified Gold Signature Sanctuary’

Viridian, the 2,000-acre master
planned community in North
Arlington, was named “Certified
Gold Signature Sanctuary” by
Audubon International. The
Certification is awarded only to
new developments that are not
only designed and constructed,
but also maintained according to
Audubon International’s standards
for planning and environmental
stewardship. The gold level is the

highest level of certification and
is reserved for projects complying
with Audubon International’s exact
standards. Viridian’s certification
is an end result of innovative
development methods designed
to use flood control areas to
enhance and preserve wildlife
habitats. Fifty percent of Viridian
has been restored and set aside for
perpetuity as open space.

In early 2015, the City launched a new, digital TV studio to provide
enhanced communication tools to reach Arlington residents, businesses
and visitors with vital information about what’s happening in the
community.

The 1,316-square-foot facility, located at City Hall, features high-tech
equipment, a large studio space with three sets, a control room, edit and
graphics suites and green screen capabilities.

Arlington’s cable channel was also rebranded “MyArlingtonTV.” The
new studio space will enable the City to provide more original content for
the channel, which is devoted to providing programming that highlights
city services, event happenings in Arlington and other engaging stories.

‘Star of Texas’ Art Project
Unveiled

The Arlington Museum of Art
unveiled its new art project titled
“The Star of Texas.”

The exhibit will include 20
fiberglass stars designed by
local artist Chris Cunningham
and positioned throughout
Arlington. The
sculptures
are individual
pieces of art
celebrating
the city’s
brand,
Arlington:
The American
Dream City.
The $150,000
project was made possible by
donations, including $50,000
each by the Arlington Tomorrow
Foundation and Women Inspiring
Philanthropy.

Long-time Arlington Resident
Named ‘Who’s Who in
America’s Neighborhoods’

Shirley Patterson, a resident
of East Arlington for 50 years,
received the 2015 “Who’s Who in
America’s Neighborhoods” award
from the Board of Directors of
Neighborhoods, USA.

Concerned about dilapidated
properties, Patterson created the
Parkview neighborhood group
and worked with her neighbors
to devise a vision and plan to
revitalize their community. The
group’s achievements include
enhancing the Parkview entrance
sign, replacing a dilapidated fence
with an ornamental iron one,
installing benches at bus stops
that honor longtime residents, and
creating a butterfly and wildflower
garden.
Popular Annual Financial Report

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