Giving Tuesday Dallas falls on Dec. 1 this year, and before the holiday rush I want to thank the people who make our work possible. Because of the sponsors, partners and Hometown Heroes in this post, single-parent families across North Texas will have a warmer Thanksgiving and a brighter Christmas. On Giving Tuesday we're also welcoming our first Board of Trustees, and you're invited.
Earlier this year, a grandmother raising three children told us, "I absolutely appreciate it when someone remembers us and includes us because so many don't." I founded Single Parent Advocate in 2009 after raising my son on my own, losing my job in a merger and nearly losing our home. When I went looking for help, I was turned away. Her words are why we keep going.
Who Comes Alongside Single-Parent Families With Us?
This season's support comes from North Texas businesses, churches, schools and nonprofits. They're hosting meals, donating bikes and coats, giving books and sharing music. Some are giving for the first time, and others have been with us for years. Every one of them helps make the holidays better for families.
Volunteers and partners make every celebration possible.
At Thanksgiving, The Emerson on Harvest Hill is opening its doors to our families, and Cerulean Blue is helping with the meal. We're also glad to welcome Ricardo Leon and Baskets for Good this year.
For Christmas, Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD and the CFBISD Educational Foundation, with Victor Johnson, helped us find a new home at Barbara Bush Middle School. Thank you to Principal Lacey Ramirez-Gonzalez for such a warm welcome.
- Associa donated 100 new bikes and helmets. Expo Home Improvement is picking up, storing and delivering them.
- Life Time Fitness Flower Mound is bringing more bikes.
- Lovers Lane United Methodist Church, Gerry Montgomery and Carol Scribner made new JCPenney winter coats possible.
- Gateway Dallas Church, Lovers Lane UMC and iDrive1 Motorcars supported our fall programs.
- Dallas Children's Charities and Bingo Bingo are backing our holiday programs.
- Members of Global Women's Empire are giving hats and gloves.
- Book Drive for Kids is hosting a free book table, so every child goes home with a book.
- Melody of Hope and Sassafras Dance Co. are sharing music and dance.
How Do Families Come to Our Holiday Celebrations?
Families come to our holiday celebrations through nominations from community partners: churches, schools, nonprofits and business associations that already know and serve single-parent families. Nominations mean every family arrives with someone in their corner. Those partners also keep supporting the family after the holidays end.
If your organization serves single-parent families and would like to nominate families in the future, email smartin@singleparentadvocate.org. This year we're especially glad to partner with a new school community.
Who Are Our Hometown Heroes?
Our 2026 Hometown Heroes are Rob Bliss of The Meeting Place in Farmers Branch and Dink Davis of iDrive1 Motorcars in Carrollton. Modern Woodmen of America honored both men this fall, through our friend Rick Rea, for the way they give back to North Texas.
Rob Bliss and Dink Davis, Modern Woodmen Hometown Heroes.
Rob founded The Meeting Place, which has been our office home for about a year and a half. "I was a late bloomer when it came to volunteering," Rob said. "It's very important to me to spend time each day to help nonprofits and to help our community."
Dink runs iDrive1 Motorcars with his son, and he directed his award grant to Single Parent Advocate. "The Single Parent Advocate group does so much that, in our thought process, helps children because of the single mother that has to raise them," Dink said. Thank you, Rob and Dink.
What Is Giving Tuesday?
Giving Tuesday is a worldwide day of generosity held each year on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. It started in 2012 as a counterweight to Black Friday and Cyber Monday. In 2026 it falls on Dec. 1, and many donors use it to start their year-end giving.
Giving Tuesday 2025 drew an estimated 38.1 million participants in the U.S., who gave $4.0 billion, according to GivingTuesday. About 11.1 million people volunteered that day, AP News reported.
The need is close to home. About 2.5 million Texas children, or 35% of kids in our state, live in single-parent families, according to the 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
Join Our Giving Tuesday Dallas Gathering for New Trustees
Our first Board of Trustees Gathering is Tuesday, Dec. 1, from 6 to 8 p.m. at The Meeting Place, 13612 Midway Rd., Farmers Branch. It's free, with light bites and drinks. Please RSVP by Friday, Nov. 27, so we can plan. You're welcome even if you're just curious about becoming a trustee.
Board of Trustees Gathering, Dec. 1, 6 to 8 p.m.
A trustee is a one-year ambassador for single-parent families. Trustees have no fiscal responsibility, no votes and no board meetings. Each one picks a committee, such as golf, National Single Parent Day, Safe Socials, grants, family services or special events, and takes part in our annual campaign at a level that feels right. For some, it leads to a seat on our Board of Directors.
Thank you to Rick Rea of Modern Woodmen for helping launch this new board. If you can't come on Dec. 1, the RSVP page has an option to get trustee details by email.
How Can I Help Single-Parent Families Before Year-End?
You can help with a Giving Tuesday or year-end gift to Single Parent Advocate. A gift of $40 covers a Thanksgiving meal or one child's Christmas, and $100 to $300 sponsors a whole family. Giving levels start at $25 and go up to $5,000. Gifts made by Dec. 31 count toward your 2026 taxes.
New this year, people who don't itemize can deduct up to $1,000 in cash gifts to qualifying charities, or $2,000 for married couples filing jointly, according to IRS Topic 506. Gifts to donor-advised funds don't qualify for that deduction, so keep your receipt, as the IRS guidance on tracking donations explains. We send the written acknowledgment the IRS requires for every gift of $250 or more. Many employers match gifts, so ask your HR team. Single Parent Advocate is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 27-2308779. Please check with your tax advisor about your own situation.
You can also mail a check to 13612 Midway Rd. #608, Farmers Branch, TX 75244, choose a gift from our Walmart Christmas registry, or find a way to help on our volunteer page.
Giving Tuesday Dallas: Common Questions
When is Giving Tuesday 2026?
Giving Tuesday 2026 is Tuesday, Dec. 1, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Single Parent Advocate is marking it with its first Board of Trustees Gathering at The Meeting Place in Farmers Branch, from 6 to 8 p.m.
What does a Single Parent Advocate trustee do?
A trustee serves one year as an ambassador for single-parent families, picks one committee and takes part in the annual campaign. Trustees have no fiscal responsibility, no votes and no board meetings.
Is my gift to Single Parent Advocate tax-deductible?
Single Parent Advocate is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 27-2308779, so gifts are deductible as the law allows. Starting in 2026, people who don't itemize can deduct up to $1,000 in cash gifts, or $2,000 if married filing jointly. Check with your tax advisor.
How do families take part in Single Parent Advocate's holiday events?
Families are nominated by our community partners. These are churches, schools, nonprofits and business associations that already know and serve them.
Thank You for Remembering Families
When a community decides a single parent shouldn't have to go it alone, the kids notice and the parents can breathe a little easier. Thank you for being part of that.
Help. Hope. Healing.
Stacie Martin
Founder, Single Parent Advocate
About the author
Stacie Martin founded Single Parent Advocate in 2009. She raised her son on her own, and along the way she lost her job in a merger, nearly lost their home and was turned away when she asked for help. She started SPA so the next parent would hear a different answer. Stacie built her career in advertising and still owns Free Martin Marketing and Media. Under her leadership, SPA is hosting its 15th annual Christmas Outreach this year. In 2025, its Thanksgiving and Christmas outreaches each served about 125 North Texas families and 350 children. Reach her at smartin@singleparentadvocate.org or 214-534-4460.
