Lyda Hill Philanthropies Donates Over $2.3 Million to Support Neighbors Facing Hunger

The foundation’s gift included support for NTFB and its partner agencies.

^{Families receive food during an NTFB-UNTD distribution.}

Lyda Hill Philanthropies donated a transformative $1.6 million to North Texas Food Bank plus $775,000 to our partner agencies as together we worked to meet the increased need during the government shutdown and the holidays.

“We are deeply grateful to Lyda Hill Philanthropies for their incredible generosity,” said Erin Fincher, Senior Director of Foundation Giving & Strategic Initiatives at NTFB. “This gift is making a powerful difference in the lives of our neighbors at a time when 1 in 6 North Texans face hunger. We could not do what we do in the fight against hunger without the strong and consistent support of Lyda Hill and Lyda Hill Philanthropies.”

This most recent grant helped equip NTFB to respond quickly and nimbly to the need seen during the government shutdown, which was the longest in history. It impacted not only an estimated 40,000 federal workers in North Texas but also as many as 460,000 people who depend on SNAP for access to nutritious food in our community.  The funding for partner agencies supported them in serving additional neighbors during the shutdown, and, in some cases, in hosting special distributions specifically for those who’d lost income or experienced a delay in SNAP benefits.

Along with grant funding for NTFB and its partners, Lyda Hill Philanthropies also provided direct support to neighbors facing hunger during the holidays by donating 2,500 Walmart gift cards each worth $200. Those were distributed to neighbors who attended a December food distribution hosted in partnership with University of North Texas at Dallas. The $1.6 million grant to NTFB went toward general operating funds.

“By strengthening our general operations, Lyda Hill Philanthropies is allowing us to continue meeting urgent needs with compassion and care,” Erin said.

Since 2008, Lyda Hill Philanthropies has given $6.8 million to NTFB to support the fight against hunger.

Said one neighbor who received food during a special government shutdown distribution, “If we didn’t come here, we wouldn’t be eating. This is a big blessing.”