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  • MWCares Foundation and Partners Donate One Million Pounds of Food

    For the past four years, the MWCares Foundation has made the Thanksgiving Holiday a little brighter for more than 8,500 families in Dallas and Tarrant County by providing turkeys, chickens, and staples to enjoy the holiday without having to worry about not having enough to eat. The Foundation is headed by Mitchell Ward, CEO of MW Logistics and member of Frisco, (TX) Alumni Chapter (FAC). Accommodating an event of this magnitude requires an enormous amount of planning and coordination to make sure that the necessary food procurement and delivery, traffic coordination, volunteers, security, and other logistics come together seamlessly to ensure a stellar program for those families with a need. To that end, Ward, his wife Pamela, and his children work diligently along with their corporate partners to make sure an operation of this size runs smoothly year after year. This year, MWCares and its partners – American Airlines, Albertson’s, City of Arlington, Tarrant Area Foodbank, Cotton Bowl, AT&T Stadium, and the Big Good – donated one million pounds of food and facilities to area residents. A short video on this year’s event is available here: https://youtu.be/faDZGAwvfk8 Since 2019, it has been the mission of the MWCares Foundation to give back to the community in a way that helps the largest number of people possible, says Ward who along with his wife Pamela are the founders of the MWCares Foundation. “I know what it is to not always have and I never want to forget where I came from.” Mitchell and Pamela both believe that giving back to the community is imperative to ensure that individuals have an opportunity to reach their full potential. MWCares is the philanthropic arm of MW Logistics, LLC. Their mission is to support and uplift our communities by providing resources that strengthen them. These resources include areas such as food insecurity, housing, education, health, and economic development. The work that the MWCares Foundation is doing in the DFW Metroplex comes at a much-needed time as food insecurity in the area is on the rise. Research from Feeding America indicates that the food insecurity rate is 11.9 percent in North Texas (The national rate is 10.4 percent). This means there are approximately 638,340 food-insecure people (including 218,970 children or 15.8 percent) in the North Texas Food Bank 13-county service area. Year after year, Mitchell Ward, his family, and partners make sure that families in the North Texas area are not part of this statistic. Through both words and deeds, it’s abundantly clear that MW truly cares. Cedric Robinson Reporter, Frisco Alumni Chapter

  • Frisco (TX) Alumni Chapter Provides $14k in Scholarships | Kappa League 2023

    Frisco (TX) Alumni Chapter Provides $14k in Scholarships During 2023 Kappa League Closeout and National Signing Day Ceremony The newly chartered Frisco (TX) Alumni Chapter awarded $2000 scholarships to each member of its first Kappa League graduating class of seven High School seniors during the inaugural Kappa League Close Out Ceremony and National Signing Day Event held Saturday, May 6, 2023, at the Baylor Scott & White Physical Therapy Center, 3800 Gaylord Parkway in Frisco Texas. The Kappa League event was the culmination of FAC’s commitment to service in the Frisco community and the goals and ideals of Kappa League’s mission to help young men grow, receive, and develop their leadership talents in every phase of human endeavor. FAC Kappas Provide $2k Scholarships for Graduating Seniors Each of the graduating seniors in the program received a scholarship to be used to further their education at the college/university of their choosing along with the commitment of the FAC for continued guidance and moral support as they navigate the waters of college/university life. FAC Polemarch, Brother Keith Maddox provided the following summation on the progress made thus far, “I would say that our first year was outstanding! Proverbs 22:6 states, “train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” The Frisco (TX) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi, Incorporated, took this to heart by mentoring on average over 30 young men monthly. The young men were exposed [to] and interacted with men of varying professional skills and experience. More so, the young men were given the opportunity to engage and have in-depth discussions on topics and issues that were relevant to their lives today as well as what they may face as adult black men. The year culminated with the awarding of $2,000 scholarships to those Kappa Leaguers that were graduating high school. Photos of Kappa Leaguers and their Families Accepting Scholarships FAC Kappas Lend a Hand to Frisco Youth In addition to the graduating seniors, FAC also provided those students in the program that are not yet graduating with awards in the form of certificates as congratulations for their involvement in the program and sincere desire for their continued participation. Brother Aaron Pugh, Chairman of the FAC Kappa League Committee, is pleased with the progress so far and believes that the event will continue to evolve over time, “The 2022-2023 academic year concluded our inaugural year for our Kappa League Program. We had almost 50 students in total; of which, all seven high school seniors received scholarships. As a result, this provides motivation to continue serving and achieving success. I am humbled to have served as the 2022-2023 Kappa League Chairman for Frisco (TX) Alumni, and I look forward to serving this upcoming 2023-2024 academic and getting more engagement from the brothers and the community. We as a Chapter are truly blessed.” In all, there were more than 70 members of FAC, Kappa Leaguers, and their parents in attendance for the ceremony. Although off to an impressive start, Polemarch Keith Maddox is looking forward to even greater heights for the program moving forward, “Going forward, the Frisco (TX) Alumni Chapter plans to build on the first-year success of its Kappa League Program by expanding the opportunities offered, so that every field of Human Endeavor is made available to the young men participating in the program. In addition, Frisco (TX) Alumni Chapter plans to continue to work in the community to solicit and build support to generate recognition to make its Kappa League Program exemplary within Kappa and the North Texas region.” Cedric Robinson Reporter, Frisco Alumni Chapter

  • Featured Brother: William Ampofo II

    YEAR OF INITIATION: Spring 1999 CHAPTER OF INITIATION: Hartford (CT) Alumni PROVINCE OF INITIATION: Northeastern Province EDUCATION: Bachelor of Science, Finance | MBA, Finance & Corporate Strategy COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY: Adelphi University (B.S.) | The George Washington University School of Business (MBA) DEERFIELD, Ill. - 2023-06-29 Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX), a global MedTech leader, today announced it has appointed William A. Ampofo II, chair, Supply Chain Operations Council and vice president, Parts & Distribution Services and Supply Chain, Boeing Global Services, to its board of directors. Mr. Ampofo will serve on Baxter's Quality, Compliance & Technology Committee. His appointment is effective today and brings the total number of directors serving the company to 11. "William's deep operational expertise, track record as a supply chain leader, and distinguished career driving transformation at multinational companies will enrich and further differentiate our current board membership," said José (Joe) E. Almeida, chairman, president and chief executive officer. “We are excited to welcome William to Baxter’s board and look forward to his many contributions." Mr. Ampofo has worked for the Boeing Company since 2016 and currently serves as the leader of the Parts & Distribution Services business and the Global Services Supply Chain function for Boeing Global Services. In this capacity, he leads all aspects of the supply chain function, including a division with operations in over 70 countries and more than 300 locations around the world. Prior to joining Boeing, Mr. Ampofo spent 22 years at United Technologies Corporation (UTC) working in roles of increasing responsibility related to finance, information technology, corporate strategy, and operations. Mr. Ampofo earned a bachelor's degree in finance from Adelphi University and a Master of Business Administration from George Washington University. He is a member of The Executive Leadership Council and currently serves on the board of directors for the General Aviation Manufacturers Association and the Dallas Regional Chamber as well as the board of trustees for Cheshire Academy in Cheshire, Connecticut. In addition, he is a past advisory board member for Howard University’s Center of Excellence in Supply Chain Management. Let's congratulate our Brother on his achievements and connect with him right here on LinkedIn.

  • Frisco Alumni Chapter Hosts Political Candidate Forum

    The Frisco (TX) Alumni Chapter (FAC) of Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity, Incorporated sponsored a political candidate forum to help enlighten the citizenry of Frisco, Texas on the issues, viewpoints, and priorities of the candidates running for Mayor, City Council (places 5 & 6) and Frisco ISD School Board. The forum was held on Saturday, March 23, 2023, from 2 pm to 4 pm at Collin College 9700 Wade Boulevard in Frisco. The candidates, shown at the top of the picture above, participated in the forum. The list of candidates, in no particular order, is as follows: Mayoral Candidate Jeff Cheney City Council Candidates Laura Rummel, Place 5 Answer Azam, Place 5 Brian Livingston, Place 6 Frisco ISD Trustee Candidates Dynette Davis, Place 4 Mark Hill, Place 5 The forum, which was open to the public free of charge, was expertly moderated by Brother Sean Washington who managed the questions to the candidates and maintained an orderly process throughout. It also provided an opportunity for the residents of Frisco to ask questions and listen to answers directly from the people that will serve to shape their community. When asked what was gained by having that level of access to the candidates, FAC Chapter Polemarch Keith Maddox replied, “I believe the citizens of Frisco got an opportunity to interact with the candidates and present questions of their choosing. More importantly, I believe it gave the community an opportunity to recognize that we (FAC) are here in the community and willing to work to contribute to the well-being of the community, especially as Black men. Bottom line, it gave a positive image of the chapter and what we are capable of doing and the influence we will have in the community.” Also, in keeping with FAC’s commitment to service and education to the broader community, those in attendance were enlightened with a discussion on voter education and the importance of local elections. Brother William Langford, Political Committee Chairman stated, “The forum definitely supported FAC's commitment of service and education to the broader community as we were able to convene a forum that allowed our community to engage with key political figures and candidates in the Frisco community that have a direct impact on important issues that affect residents. I also believe that the forum educated residents on issues and opportunities that they otherwise would not have known and will help them make decisions on who they will support. The forum also educated the community on the importance of voting in local elections.” Thanks to the planning committee members for their efforts in pulling together to provide such a timely event to the Frisco community in advance of the impending elections: Keith Maddox, FAC Polemarch William Langford, Committee Chair Reggie Frazier Billy Fields Brandon Orr Chris Ziegler Alvin Benton In addition to the committee, a special thanks to the approximately 20 members of FAC for their attendance and assistance with logistics for the event. Cedric Robinson Reporter, Frisco Alumni Chapter

  • Frisco Alumni Chapter & The Divine Nine Featured on National News

    The members of the Divine Nine are a cornerstone of the Black community Black Greek fraternal societies work to guide young women and men throughout a lifetime of influence and legacy that provides leadership and association across the Black community. View the original story at: https://www.cbsnews.com/atlanta/video/the-members-of-the-divine-nine-are-a-cornerstone-of-the-black-community/

  • Featured Brother: Gregg Smallwood

    YEAR OF INITIATION: Spring 1987 CHAPTER OF INITIATION: Theta Theta (University of Maryland) PROVINCE OF INITIATION: Eastern Province EDUCATION: Bachelor of Arts Political Science & Govt. J.D. COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY: University of Maryland (B.A.); Seton Hall University School of Law (J.D.) Gregory Smallwood, a former associate GC at Bank of America, joins the mortgage lender, LoanDepot, as it restructures, cuts thousands of jobs and increases its focus on first-time and diverse homebuyers. Former Bank of America lawyer Gregory Smallwood officially began his new job Thursday as chief legal officer at loanDepot Inc., one of the largest, non-bank retail mortgage lenders in the country. Smallwood now reports to loanDepot CEO Frank Martell, who expects his new legal chief to support the company’s so-called “Vision 2025” strategic plan, which was unveiled in July and includes an increased focus on first-time and diverse homebuyers—and mass layoffs. Smallwood stated in his hiring announcement Wednesday that he was joining “loanDepot as the company advances the work of its Vision 2025 plan and navigates such a significant period of change in the mortgage finance industry.” He added, “I look forward to supporting Frank and working with the legal and broader loanDepot teams to make homeownership affordable, inclusive and sustainable for more American families.” Smallwood succeeds loanDepot legal boss Peter Macdonald, who is retiring this month after 13 years at the company, according to a company spokesman. Macdonald has overseen the company’s legal and compliance teams while managing outside counsel and working with borrowers, regulators and investors. A graduate of Seton Hall University School of Law, he was associate general counsel and senior vice president at the Bank of America Corp. for five years and general counsel at Saxon Mortgage for three years. He began his legal career at L'Oreal Cosmetics Corp. "The addition of a world-class legal talent like [Smallwood], who brings important skills and perspective to our already outstanding legal team, will help ensure we successfully execute on our plan and deliver best-in-class experiences for our customers," CEO Frank Martell said in a statement. Let's congratulate our Brother on his achievements and connect with him right here on LinkedIn.

  • Frisco Alumni Chapter Distributes Meals to Families in Need

    The Frisco (TX) Alumni Chapter (FAC) continued in its service of the Frisco community during the Thanksgiving holiday. The brothers of FAC distributed Thanksgiving meals to families in need with the Frisco Family Services Center staff and other volunteers on Saturday, November 19, 2022, at the Frisco Family Center in Frisco, TX. All told, the brothers of Frisco Alumni packed more than 30 vehicles during our three-hour shift with turkey and fixings, milk, eggs, and other staples to help meet the needs of each family and ensure a festive holiday could be enjoyed by all. Since 1994, Frisco Family Services has helped members of Frisco and Frisco ISD communities who are facing hunger, homelessness and other urgent needs improve their quality of life and achieve self-sufficiency through its outreach facilities. Last fiscal year (Jun.2021-Jul.2022), Frisco Family Services assisted more than 4,100 individuals, provided almost 730,000 meals to our neighbors in crisis, and provided more than $1.9 million in annual program support. In addition to its seasonal programs, Frisco Family Services provides year-round support to the community through outreach programs, counseling, and financial assistance. Written by Cedric Robinson Reporter, Frisco Alumni Chapter

  • Christmas Toy Drive: A Very Kappa Christmas

    The Frisco (TX) Alumni Chapter (FAC) of Kappa Alpha Psi, Incorporated along with the Omega Alpha Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated held a joint Christmas Toy Drive on Wednesday, December 14, 2022 at the Gidi Bar and Grill in Frisco, TX. The event was held to assist the Boys and Girls Club of Frisco. The Kappas and AKAs collected more than $3000 in toys, gift cards, and cash that the Boys and Girls Club will use to support the children and families of Frisco in need during the holiday season. The toy drive was such a successful event that it will potentially become an annual collaborative event between the two organizations. More than 60 Kappas and AKAs attended the event. Written by Cedric Robinson Reporter, Frisco, (TX) Alumni Chapter

  • Featured Brother: Oliver L. Sims III

    YEAR OF INITIATION: Spring 1981 CHAPTER OF INITIATION: Iota Tau (University of Arkansas) PROVINCE OF INITIATION: Midwestern Province EDUCATION: Bachelor of Science, MIS, MBA COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY: University of Arkansas Brother Oliver Sims III is the Americas Leader of Global Technical Sales for CA Technologies a division of Broadcom. He is the Founder of Hurdle Health, a Washington DC-based company focused on improving access and delivery of culturally competent mental health services for people of color. Oliver is also Managing Partner for Oliver Sims Business Advisors a business advisory and investment firm that focuses on early-stage businesses focusing on healthcare and technology. Oliver is a member of National Board for the University of Arkansas Alumni Association, Sam Walton College of Business Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and the Community Empowerment Council. He is an advisor for FitEco, Impact Ventures, Iconic Solutions, The Guilty Grape, etc. Oliver is also a graduate of the African American Board Leadership Institute and a member of the Private Directors Association. Oliver is an active member of St John’s Baptist Church where he is a Deacon, a leader in the Men’s Ministry and a founder of an investment ministry The Storehouse Ministry. Oliver and April, his wife of 30 years, love traveling, golfing, drinking wine, and collecting art. Oliver Sims IV is their one child and is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., Iota Tau Fall 2020. Giving back to their communities and universities is core to them with the University of Arkansas and Southern University being focused on benefactors. Let's congratulate our Brother on his achievements and connect with him right here on LinkedIn.

  • Featured Brother: Mitchell Ward

    YEAR OF INITIATION: Spring 1986 CHAPTER OF INITIATION: Lambda Theta PROVINCE OF INITIATION: Southwestern Province EDUCATION: BS, Computer Science; MS, Computer Science; MBA COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY: Southwest Texas State A Dallas company is doing something good to make sure families have a Thanksgiving meal. Mitchell Ward, the owner and CEO of MW Logistics, donated $50,000 to the Tarrant Area Food Bank to help buy turkeys for the Thanksgiving distributions in November. Ward owns a logistics company and in November 2020, he helped organize what was considered the biggest food giveaway in North Texas. He and his wife Pamela realized there was a larger need in the North Texas community and established the MW Cares Foundation. Their goal is to help individuals have an opportunity to reach their full potential. And in many families, it starts with fighting hunger. The nonprofit is working now with Tarrant Area Food Bank to give families turkey and all the trimmings for Thanksgiving. And they know it will cost more than previously. Two years ago, Ward says a turkey was $6. This year, the cost is up to $22. The Big Give Holiday Giveaway will be Thursday, November 17th, from 8 a.m. to noon at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Let's congratulate our brother on his achievements and his willingness to give back to the community.

  • Featured Brother: William Langford

    YEAR OF INITIATION: Spring 1988 CHAPTER OF INITIATION: Delta Pi (Michigan State University) PROVINCE OF INITIATION: Northern Province EDUCATION: Bachelor of Science in Food Systems Econ & Mgt | MBA COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY: Michigan State University (Undergrad) | University of Michigan (MBA) Recently, our brother, William Langford was recognized and promoted by his company, PepsiCo. Here's what they said: PepsiCO We are pleased to announce that William Langford has joined the Global Business Services team as Senior Vice President, GBS Sales...In the Commercial Sales Global Functional role, William will lead all GBS Commercial Sales activities globally. He will be accountable for service design & delivery, identifying and integrating aggregated activities that can be scaled and will benefit from standardization and automation, delivering services per SLAs, and building the functional Commercial Sales GBS capabilities of the future. In his role, William will co-create the vision and strategy with Global and Sector Commercial Sales leaders across GBS services and capabilities and will further develop the GBS COE Model to scale-up best practices and to build new horizontally-connected and upgraded Capabilities. William has been with PepsiCo for 22 years and is currently Vice President of National Accounts for Frito Lay. Throughout his career, he has built a strong track record of results as a general manager and a frontline leader with previous roles that include VP GM PopCornersIntegration, VP Sales, Warehouse, Ecommerce and New Business, Frito Lay, Sr. Director of Shopper Marketing, Sr. Director of Field Marketing Pepsi, and many more. William serves as the Executive sponsor of the Plano Mosaic chapter, PepsiCo’s ERG dedicated to supporting the growth of Black associates and is also the PepsiCo Executive Sponsor of the Michigan State University Recruiting team. He holds an MBA degree from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and a B.S. degree in Food Systems Economics and Management from Michigan State University. William is a native of Detroit MI, currently living in Frisco, TX where he will continue to reside. He and his wife Karen are proud parents to three children, Autumn, Julian and Tanner. As we are proud of our good brother's Achievements, let's send Will words of encouragement and congratulatory notes.

  • Featured Brother: Tony Scallion

    YEAR OF INITIATION: 1981 CHAPTER OF INITIATION: Epsilon Pi Tony Scallion has been building a brand since long before Redhouse Virtual Education was a glimmer in his eye. He began work on his mixed reality software for schools two years ago and committed to it full-time last year, but he’s always been a tactile learner. “My whole life has been project-based learning, from when I was a kid,” he recalls. In the army, he used those same skills to work as a mechanic and came up with inventions that made life deployed during Operation Desert Storm easier for him and the soldiers in the Middle East with him. He was even awarded a bronze star for his work figuring out how to clear engines of the sand that clogged them. His skills took him to a career in STEM education, teaching engineering. He has two master's degrees, in STEM education and educational leadership, and he's completing a Ph.D. in STEM at the University of Pittsburgh. Basically, he has lived his brand for decades. “Building a brand is about making sure that people first know who you are behind the brand, what you can bring to the table, the body of work you put together,” he explains. So when you read that he’s partnered with Microsoft after just two years in business, realize that Scallion is no overnight success. “I can be trusted because I have this body of work,” he reasons. And connections, like the one with Microsoft, as well as partnerships with Stanford University and Southern Methodist University, are key factors in building a brand, too, he says. “It’s about connecting to the right companies that make your brand valid,” he says. What’s the theory behind that statement? “Brands build other brands,” he explains. “As small businesses, we think we can do it all by ourselves. But as a partner developer I know that without those brands behind my brand, people wouldn’t truly listen.” So essentially, brand begets brand. But you’ve got to have a stellar product, too, and there’s no question that when his first MVP (minimum viable product) launches at the start of 2020 in five different school districts, it will be a winner. Redhouse’s software is mixed reality technology, a kind of hybrid virtual reality that allows students to learn from, say, a human cadaver in biology lab, but without putting them in a false environment as full virtual reality does. The uses span disciplines, from math to history, where they can actually visualize numbers in space, or interact with artifacts that they could otherwise only see in a museum. And this technology is not just for privileged students. When Scallion was getting his first master's degree, computers were just starting to filter into classrooms. But underserved schools weren't seeing them for four or five years after most other institutions. That's why it was important to Scallion to share his product with kids who wouldn't typically get such next-generation educational opportunities. Though Redhouse is a for-profit company, it's working with the Texas Education Agency, as well as companies like Sprint, AT&T, and Microsoft to fund getting the product into schools. That means more partnerships that will get more eyes on Redhouse, and consequently, more brand awareness. It's all part of a reputation Scallion has been building his entire life, and his well-curated brand is exactly what's getting his product noticed.

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