Leon Bridges and Gary Patterson raise $1 million to support Tarrant County groups

Singer Leon Bridges and former TCU football coach Gary Patterson teamed to create a charity to support residents in Tarrant County. The Big Good recently raised over $1 million to support three community organizations focusing on poverty, education and employment

The Big Good brings together leaders in business, sports, philanthropy and music in order to raise funds for North Texas community organizations. The charity focuses on helping children and families.

Patterson didn’t know what to expect in The Big Good’s first year, he said.

“I am constantly humbled and amazed by the generosity in this community,” Patterson said in a statement. “Our supporters love their city and that is what makes this work. None of it would be possible without them.”

The Big Good brought together leaders in North Texas to raise money for organizations in Tarrant County. The charity held a fundraiser in April at the Fort Worth Stockyards. The event featured a live auction, a performance by Bridges, business pop-ups and guest appearances by former tennis player Andy Roddick, singer-songwriter Abraham Alexander and actor Eric Nelson.

The event raised money for the Tarrant To and Through Partnership, the Presbyterian Night Shelter’s UpSpire program, and United Community Centers.

Bridges said working with Tarrant To and Through, UpSpire and United Community Centers helps The Big Good reach many parts of the community.

“Growing up in Fort Worth and even being a kid in the UCC program was hugely impactful in deciding where to focus our efforts,” Bridges said in a statement. “Coming home and being able to give back to the place that raised me, well that is just the biggest privilege for me. I am just excited to continue this work.”

Supporting Tarrant County

The Tarrant To and Through Partnership is a group of educators, advocates and leaders focused on helping more students graduate high school and enter college and careers.

Only 39% of residents in Tarrant County have an associate’s degree or higher, according to Tarrant To and Through. The organization helps students and families understand how college and workforce opportunities can be an option through experiential learning, one-on-one advising, scholarships and financial aid.

The United Community Centers, affiliated with the United Methodist Church, helps residents living under the federal poverty line. The organization has three community centers that are located in Fort Worth’s Diamond Hill, Stop Six and Historic Southside neighborhoods.

The centers provide educational enrichment programs to children ages 3 to 13, and client assistance and advocacy to families and older adults.

The organization helps people facing food insecurity through a mobile food pantry, hot meals and holiday basket programs. The hot meals programs provides more than 70,000 meals to children each year.

The Presbyterian Night Shelter provides support to those experiencing homelessness. Its UpSpire program works to take away barriers preventing clients from employment. A client is able to learn job skills, have case-management and receive gainful employment while going through the program.

UpSpire clients are able to earn jobs through staffing contracts, a janitorial firm, a litter and grounds clean-up service, and a commercial landscaping program.

In November, The Big Good worked with the Tarrant Area Food Bank to distribute food to 10,000 families.