For 48 years, Children First Counseling Center has provided hope and healing to survivors of abuse, neglect, and trauma — regardless of their ability to pay. In this special episode of United Voices of Grand Prairie, hosts Patti Brock and Jean Bondy from Grand Prairie United Charities are joined by guest host Jenna Pecor and Amber Alexander, CEO of Children First Counseling Center, to highlight the 30th annual Little Lunch of Hope and its powerful theme: 💜 Catch Them Before They Fall.

More than just a fundraiser, the Little Lunch of Hope is a lifeline for children and youth in crisis. Every dollar raised helps Children First provide trauma-informed counseling that prevents kids from falling — into depression, isolation, or generational cycles of pain.

Amber shares her inspiring journey of service and leadership, while Patti and Jean discuss how partnerships between Children First and Grand Prairie United Charities create real impact for local families. Together, they remind us that early, compassionate intervention doesn’t just change lives — it saves them.

Take a look at previous costume pictures from the Little Lunch of Hope, then purchase tickets for the event here! https://www.childrenfirstinc.org/event/little-lunch-of-hope/

If you can’t make the event, consider leaving a financial donation in lieu of attendance here https://www.childrenfirstinc.org/c/kbc/

Featured in this episode:

• Grand Prairie United Charities – a charity providing food and financial assistance to local families in crisis.

• Grand Prairie Host Lions Club – a civic organization serving through vision programs, youth initiatives, and community service projects.

• WellPoint Foundation – a corporate foundation supporting health, wellness, and community resilience through corporate philanthropy.

Together, they show how partnerships across sectors can truly strengthen the fabric of our city.

By the end of the night, the gala had raised an incredible $60,000 to help fund GPUC’s food pantry and financial assistance programs for families in need. Founded in 1955, GPUC is the oldest nonprofit in Grand Prairie and has helped countless families with food and financial assistance. Thanks to the generosity of the community, the gala was not just a night of fun, but a celebration of hope and support for families in need.

This week’s United Voices for Grand Prairie features Dr. Taylor Bunn, Executive Director of Hope for All. Her path from theater teacher to nonprofit leader blends creativity, strategy, and service, and her organization—founded with her stepfather, Corey Johnson—has become a force for good in Grand Prairie since 2019.

Originally envisioned as a volunteer hub, Hope for All pivoted during COVID into deeper listening and long-term impact. Today the group is leading projects like building attainable housing in the new Alice Court neighborhood and launching the Grand Prairie Equine Center, a facility for equine-assisted mental health and retired racehorse aftercare.

Bunn also shared candid insights on the challenges nonprofits face: limited resources, donor fatigue, and the tendency to compete instead of collaborate. Her call is clear—organizations must work together. That belief inspired the Community Changemakers Coffee Club, a monthly gathering where local nonprofits share needs, coordinate events, and build partnerships.

Hope for All is proof that meaningful change doesn’t just come from programs but from trust, collaboration, and community spirit.

In this episode of United Voices for Grand Prairie, hosts Patty Brock and Jean Bondy welcome Vivian Morris, Grand Prairie High School alumni and Executive Director of Lifeline for Families.

Vivian shares her inspiring journey from being a teenage mother to leading one of the city’s most impactful nonprofits. Rooted in her deep love for her hometown, Vivian reflects on how growing up in Grand Prairie shaped her perspective, fueled her empathy, and strengthened her commitment to families in need. She takes listeners through the history of Lifeline, its holistic approach to stabilizing families in crisis, and her vision for “Lifeline 2.0.” With her unique blend of professional expertise and personal understanding of the community, Vivian shows how being “from here” allows her to truly connect with and uplift Grand Prairie families

The History of Lifeline for Families

LifeLine began in September 2003 when founder Angela Giessner discovered a homeless boy living in a box behind a local grocery store. When she contacted GPISD to learn more, she found that more than 1,200 students in Grand Prairie were identified as homeless—living in cars, sheds, on couches, or in other unsafe conditions.

With no shelters in Grand Prairie, Angela rallied pastors, attorneys, business leaders, and nonprofit directors to create a solution. They launched LifeLine Shelter for Families, choosing to house families in local apartments instead of a traditional shelter. This approach protected families’ privacy, preserved dignity, and eliminated the overhead of maintaining a building.

Since then, over 7,000 people have been sheltered by Lifeline, with more than 90% of them being single-mom households.

How You Can Help

Lifeline for Families continues to fill the gap for children and parents in crisis. By donating, you directly help provide safe housing, resources, and support that lead families toward stability and self-sufficiency.

👉 Donate Here to Support Lifeline for Families

Every dollar makes a difference. Your gift ensures that no child in Grand Prairie has to worry about where they’ll sleep at night.

Lifeline also hosts a free Gospel concert every year as a fundraiser. No tickets necessary, just come and listen to some great music and donate some money to Lifeline! September 27 at First Baptist Church Grand Prairie.

This episode of Faces of Grand Prairie’s Nonprofit & Civic Organization channel features a live demonstration of ChatGPT with OpenAI Expert consultant Sascha Vetter. Co-hosts Jenna Pecor, Patti Brock and Jean Bondy explore how nonprofits can leverage AI to simplify marketing, improve grant writing, and save valuable time.

The discussion covers practical entry points, the difference between free and paid AI tools, best prompting techniques, and real-life use cases — from creating volunteer posts to refining grant proposals. With a focus on making AI less intimidating and more accessible, this episode offers actionable insights for small teams and community organizations looking to do more with limited resources.

For this Substack post, I asked ChatGPT to create:

• The new show name “United Voices for Grand Prairie”

• The logo

• The title

• The subtitle

• And I uploaded the transcript of the recording and asked it to summarize for a Substack post.

This entire post took me less than 15 minutes, including designing the logo!

Partner Spotlight: Atypical Insights

AI Solutions for Nonprofits and Small Businesses

Looking to make artificial intelligence simple — and actionable — for your team? Sascha Vetter of Atypical Insights helps organizations streamline workflows, improve marketing, and save valuable time using practical AI tools.

Connect with Sascha:
📧 sascha@atypicalinsights.ai
📞 (817) 345‑6421
🌐 AtypicalInsights.ai

Become a financial sponsor

This feature supports United Voices for Grand Prairie, part of the Faces of Grand Prairie podcast network. If you enjoy these conversations and want to help us keep amplifying local voices, consider supporting the show by making a financial donation of any size, or becoming a channel or show sponsor by emailing Jenna at facesofgrandprairie@gmail.com!

Grand Prairie, TX – The much-anticipated Community School Supplies Giveaway is set to take place on August 2nd at Lone Star Park, offering essential school supplies to students in need. Organized by local organizations including the YMCA and Unidos, the Hispanic community outreach group within the Grand Prairie Police Department, this event aims to serve over 5,000 students and their families.

The event will run from 9 AM to Noon, with supplies guaranteed for those who register in advance (you can register here). Each registered student will receive a set of school supplies, ensuring they are prepared for the upcoming school year.

Register for the event here

In addition to providing supplies, the event offers opportunities for vendors and volunteers. With a capacity for up to 50 vendors, the event is a prime opportunity for businesses and organizations to engage with the community. The deadline for vendor sign-up is July 31st, but early registration is encouraged due to limited space. Venders can register here.

The event promises a fun and engaging experience, featuring various vendors and possibly a mini horse, thanks to the generous support of community partners like Lone Star Park, Frost Bank, Palace Poker and Gateway Church.

For more information on how to register, volunteer, or become a vendor, email michael.garcia1989@gmail.com. Join us in making a difference in the lives of students and ensuring they have the tools they need to succeed!

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of a brand-new podcast channel under the Faces of Grand Prairie Media Group, dedicated to spotlighting the heart of our city—its nonprofits and civic organizations.

In our very first episode, I sat down with three incredible community leaders: Patti Brock, Executive Director of Grand Prairie United Charities; Jean Bondy, Director of Development of Grand Prairie United Charities and a recent addition to their team; and Dr. Bill Skaar, Pastor of First Baptist Church and a longtime GPUC board member. Together, we kicked off a conversation around collaboration, community, and the future of nonprofit storytelling in Grand Prairie.

Patti and Jean will host two 30-minute episodes each month, released bi-monthly, featuring interviews, event previews, leadership tips, and more.

We’re building this as a community-powered platform, and there are several ways to participate:

✅ Be a Guest

Are you part of a nonprofit or civic organization that serves Grand Prairie?
We want to hear from directors, board members, volunteers, and anyone doing the work. Come on the show to talk about your mission, upcoming fundraisers, or how others can help.

📧 To apply, email us at facesofgrandprairie@gmail.com
(We’ll send you a form to share more about your organization.)

✅ Sponsor an Episode

Want to support this initiative and highlight your business?
You can sponsor individual episodes. Your business will be recognized in the recording and linked in our newsletter.

This helps cover the cost of production and keeps the podcast accessible to all.

✅ Become a Community Journalist

Want to attend local nonprofit events for free and build your influence in Grand Prairie? We’re looking for community members to attend and write quick recaps of events for our Substack.

🎟️ Many of these events have ticket costs—but as a community reporter, you get in free and help spread the word through storytelling.

✅ Support What You Hear

If an episode inspires you, don’t stop there—donate, volunteer, or share the organization’s story. Every listen, share, and action helps amplify their mission.

📰 Stay Connected

Visit facesofgrandprairie.org and subscribe to our Nonprofits & Civic Organizations Newsletter.

You’ll receive:

• New podcast episodes

• Event coverage from our community journalists

• Ways to volunteer, donate, or attend local fundraisers

• Links to featured guests and their organizations

Let’s celebrate service, spark connection, and strengthen Grand Prairie—one story at a time.

Local Stories. Local Businesses. YOUR Grand Prairie.

**Video correction: The graphics in the video say the hours are Monday - Friday, 9-1, but the hours are Monday - Thursday, 9-1.

The Faces of Grand Prairie Media Group has created a free marketing program for our amazing network of Grand Prairie nonprofits and civic organizations! Participating organizations will receive free advertising on the Faces platform and in exchange, they will provide one complimentary ticket for their fundraising event. A Faces reporter will attend the event and provide a summary of the event, including the financial outcome, for the monthly newsletter.

The goal of this partnership is to create more awareness to a larger Grand Prairie audience for each organization, as well as introduce a new group of Grand Prairie citizens to the events hosted by these organizations. Interested reporters will be compensated by attending these amazing events for free! Past and Upcoming Events have included:

• Golf tournaments

• Poker Tournaments

• Luncheons at Lone Star Park

• Entertaining Live Auctions

• A Sneaker Ball at the Ruthe Jackson Center

• Breakfasts with Dignitaries

• Luncheons at Asia Time Square

• Costume Event around Halloween

• Car Shows

• Whiskey and Wine Tastings

• 5k Runs

• Motorcycle Rides

• Toy and School Supply Drives

• Galas

• And more!

Reporter Applicant Requirements:

• Must reside in Grand Prairie

• Must be over 18 years of age

• Responsible for transportation to and from the event

• Will go through short training of the Substack platform for article submissions

• Must commit to a minimum of one event per month

• Must provide summary within 7 days after the event takes place

• Article must include a minimum of two photos from the event, including reporter and the Director or an Officer of the Board (can use phone camera, if there is reasonable photo quality)

To apply, please submit the following questionaire and we will be in touch with you about upcoming events! Direct any questions to facesofgrandprairie@gmail.com.