The Dallas Foundation announced the five finalists for its annual Good Works Under 40 Award (GWU40), which celebrates North Texas’ committed, skilled and passionate volunteers under the age of 40. Of the five finalists, a GWU40 winner will be selected to receive a $10,000 check to donate to his or her charity of choice. The program is now in its seventh year and is co-presented by The Dallas Morning News.
“Each of this year’s five finalists for The Dallas Foundation’s Good Works Under 40 Award has channeled their deep passion and very impressive skill set into benefitting the lives of others. We are so proud to recognize their contributions toward making our community better for the residents of Dallas,” said Mary Jalonick, president and CEO of The Dallas Foundation.
In alphabetical order, the finalists are:
- John Mungioli, who has served Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children for the past five years through participation in their evening volunteer program, camps for patients, the volunteer executive board, and the hospital’s special events. Mungioli also finds time to be a mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters and volunteer at Monarch Pavilion Rehabilitation Suites. He credits his family and his tenure at Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas with cultivating his passion for serving others. Mungioli attended Fordham University and, after a brief stint in New York, he returned home to Dallas, where he currently works for EDGE Realty Capital Markets.
- Andrew K. Nguyen, who launched the nonprofit organization Honor Courage Commitment, Inc., and later started the #22Kill campaign, whose push-up challenge went viral on the Internet and increased awareness of the number of veterans committing suicide. Nguyen is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and is dedicated to helping his veteran brothers and sisters find success after military service. Following his own military service, Nguyen earned a bachelor’s degree from The University of North Texas and a master’s degree from Southern Methodist University. Nguyen currently works for 03E, a marketing and technology development firm that he founded.
- Mandy Price, who spearheaded the initiative to organize and establish the Dallas office of the Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP), dramatically increasing the organization’s ability to serve and address the civil rights concerns of the residents of Dallas County and the entire North Texas region. She has established a successful and high-profile career at one of the world’s leading law firms, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, and has been recognized as a “Texas Rising Star” in corporate mergers and acquisitions. Price holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from The University of Texas at Austin and is a graduate of Harvard Law School, where she was a member of the Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review.
- Byron Sanders, who serves on the board of directors for both Big Thought and KIPP Dallas-Fort Worth, lends his time, talent and professional network to increase awareness and growth opportunities for both organizations. In addition to his service at Big Thought and KIPP, Sanders also volunteers with CitySquare, Children at Risk, Friends of Fair Park, the Mayor’s Star Council, and as the education co-chair of the WINS South Dallas Collective Impact initiative. Sanders is a graduate of The University of Tulsa and currently works as a vice president at U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management.
- Katie Schlieve, who co-founded One Wing Foundation, supports organizations that provide resources for the medical, physical and grief recovery of bereaved parents who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss. The One Wing Foundation donates to other nonprofits in Texas while also providing parents of loss the opportunity to hold a fundraising event in their child’s memory as a way to heal and channel their grief toward a greater good. Schlieve’s personal story of loss, combined with her passion and extensive experience in the nonprofit sector, has fueled the organization’s rapid success. She currently is employed by The University of Texas at Dallas’ Center for BrainHealth.
The GWU40 winner will be announced at a reception at Old Parkland on Nov. 10. In addition to the winner’s prize, the four remaining finalists will receive $3,500 checks for their respective agencies. GWU40 nomination applications were reviewed by a volunteer selection committee comprised of emerging civic leaders and led by Meg Boyd of Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children.
