From Unaware to Ardent Ambassador 

   “I had never heard of them in my life,” says Garland Mayor Scott LeMay, referring to Trusted World. How, in just months, he went from never hearing about the organization; to never wanting to see it leave the City.

   In November, Mayor LeMay and city council members toured Trusted World for the first time. The mayor says he couldn’t believe the organization’s efficiency and reach, supporting 800 organizations across seven North Texas counties, especially being crammed into a 23,000-square-foot warehouse. 

   LeMay says, “After the tour and hearing the problems at the current location, being out of room, it’s limiting our operations, and we’re going to have to move. And the idea of losing that kind of asset was unacceptable to us.”

   Trusted World Founder & CEO, Michael Garrett says, “When the City came out and saw our impact, and they saw that we were cramping for space, they did their best to figure out a way to help us.” 

   So, just seven months after the initial tour, Mayor LeMay and Michael Garrett signed a 50-year lease for a dollar a year for the organization to build its world headquarters on 14 acres in Garland.             

   The Mayor sees the organization’s promise and potential, saying, “I think that this will become a model. I know that this idea can work anywhere in the country, and it’s needed all over the country. And So, to have that come into here, have those people come into here and feature Garland, Texas? That is good for all of us.” 

   Michael says the City’s backing is affirming and shows leadership. “Other people saw the potential for Trusted World to be in every major metropolitan in the United States, let alone the world. And then for the City to come along and see our world vision and to want to help with that is the most amazing validation we can get.” 

   The Mayor says Trusted World embodies the spirit of Garland residents who are always there when someone needs help, and now it has a home-based organization that can help others around the world, “Trusted World can not just stay here but grow and expand from here.” 

   Details on the capital campaign to build the Trusted World World Headquarters are expected soon.   

                                                                       Awards & Recognition

  D CEO announces the finalists in their Nonprofit and Corporate Citizenship Awards for 2023. One Corporate Partner of the Year finalist is the Credit Union of Texas and Trusted World.

   The nomination comes as no surprise to Trusted World because the Credit Union of Texas recieved the Trusted World Corporate Social Responsibility Award earlier this month. 

   CUTX regularly demonstrates its commitment to the community by funding three Trusted World delivery routes for five years, ensuring quality resources get to partners within 48 hours and at no cost.

     CUTX’s Chief Marketing Officer, Eddie Army, says, “We’re very proud of our sponsorship with Trusted World, which goes far beyond simple sponsorship. Whether it’s donating vehicles or bringing volunteers to Trusted World, our partnership has been very meaningful and is making a difference in the communities we serve.” 

    CUTX also demonstrates its commitment by paying employees to volunteer to sort clothes at Trusted World.

Something employees say is a virtue that goes to the core of community and family values. 

   Employee Landon Rodrigues brought her young son to Volunteer, saying, “I wanted to have a place where I could bring him and kind of teach him what it means to put somebody back into the world, I guess. This is his first time volunteering, so it’s just really important for me for him to have these life lessons and values, so it’s cool he gets to experience that and with my CUTX family. I’m glad he gets to experience it.” 

   Finalists will be recognized in D CEO’s August issue and at an exclusive awards event in July, where the winners in each category will be revealed.

                                                                                Make a Difference

    If you’d like to help make a difference, you can go to TrustedWorld.org and click on volunteer experiences and sign up. If you’d like to help make a difference another way, you can go to the same website, and under the ways to give link, you can click on “Needs” to find food and clothing items the network most needs. 

    For clothing donations, one of our key sponsors, the Credit Union of Texas, has donation dropoff bins in every one of their North Texas branches. Next to the bin is a banner with a QR code if you want to donate money. You’ll find a complete list of dropoff bin locations on the Trusted World website. 

   Those are the headlines from around the Trusted World Network, where you can join us in helping people help people.