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Seasons on the Katy Trail

2023 HIGHLIGHTS

Complete the Trail Capital Campaign donor recognition blocks placed north of Cambrick Plaza

JAN

Greenscape Fund donor provides a second Katy Trail bicycle repair station at Victory Overlook

New safety signs placed along the Trail.

UT-Southwestern Fitness Center installed on the south end of the Trail

Katy Trail Art brings “twins,” the work of Nic Nicosia, to Thomsen Overlook area

Major Donor Party held at home of

and

Katy Trail Ice House donates $90,000 to Friends of the Katy Trail from its yearly charitable golf tournament

MAY

New Katy Trail Leaders Circle recognizes 134 $1,000+ supporting members of the Trail

Spring Support Campaign reaches over $140,000 in gifts vs the $100,000 goal JUN JUL AUG

FKT’s Major Gifts team recognized as a Finalist for a D CEO Nonprofit Team of the Year Award

Kathy

Harlan Crow

2023 HIGHLIGHTS

25th Anniversary Katy 5K welcomes 4,500 race participants and 80 sponsors and picnic partners, raising over $315,000

SEPT

North Texas Giving Day donations to the Katy Trail total over $47,000

Clay Cooley Auto Group sponsors Dallas Animal Services pet adoptions on the Trail

Katy Trail Community Partners grow from 17 partners in 2022 to 23 in 2023

Board member

Buddy Cramer receives the David Stocks Volunteer Service Award

DEC

Katy Trail Artist Will Boones Desert Eagle and Turkey Vulture sculptures appear on the Trail

Trail visits reach approximately 2 5 million by the end of 2023

2023 NUMBERS

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of Friends of the Katy Trail is to maintain, enhance, and advocate for the Katy Trail as the premier trail for recreation, wellness, and alternative transportation in the City of Dallas.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The Katy Trail is a constant in our lives. The oasis of green running through the urban core of Dallas is important to so many. Although the Trail is unchanging in most ways, it is also ever-changing. New visitors. New enhancements. New neighbors.

In 2023, the Katy Trail had more Trail visits than ever before, nearing 2.5 million. We saw new activations, like pet adoptions, art installations, and artist Trail talks. Friends of the Katy Trail enhanced the Trail with the UTSW Fitness Center, a new bicycle repair station, and many new plantings. Our donor list expanded, as did the number of corporate supporters, our Community Partners. The Katy 5K continued to grow and bring the community together for a night of wellness and fun.

We are proud to operate the Katy Trail for the benefit of Dallas, and we are proud that the Katy Trail brings joy to the lives of so many. Thank you for your continued support of FKT that allows us to carry out this important work.

The Katy Trail means so much to so many in Dallas, and they want to give to their cherished Trail. Here’s how to take action to support your Trail.

– Ann Whitley Wood Senior Director, Major Gifts and Membership

• Purchase an annual Membership available at many levels, from $75 to $5,000

• Give to the Spring Support Campaign to boost early-inthe-year operations funds

• Participate in North Texas Giving Day with a donation to Friends of the Katy Trail

• Walk, run, sponsor, or volunteer at the Katy 5K

• Become a Community Partner and enjoy recognition, Katy 5K, membership, and community involvement benefits

Sincerely,

Amy Bean Executive Director, Friends of the

Katy Trail

• Name a Trail aspect or amenity, such as a bench, along the Trail to honor a person, family, or organization and add to the Greenscape Fund

• Pay an event fee to “table” on the Trail to promote a business or service

• Maintain a stretch of the Trail and receive a light pole recognition sign

• Join the Katy Trail Art Society to bring world-class art installations to the Trail

• Fund a Major Trail feature: the Cambrick Plaza or the Fitzhugh Staircase

• Support the new City Bond projects: a Fairmount Trail entrance and landscape restoration on the Trail’s North end

2023 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

A MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT

As we reflect on the past year, I am filled with immense gratitude and pride for the remarkable progress and achievements of Friends of the Katy Trail Our collective efforts have once again demonstrated the power of community and dedication in enhancing one of our city’s most cherished greenspaces. This nonprofit’s commitment to maintaining and improving the Katy Trail remains steadfast. With ongoing support from community members like you, we can continue to ensure that the Trail remains a well-loved and well-maintained treasure for generations to come. Your contributions and volunteer efforts make a significant difference, and, together, we can keep the Katy Trail a beacon of natural beauty, health, and community in Dallas.

Thanks to the contributions of individual and corporate donors, event sponsors, and supporting members, 2023 was a year of notable Trail improvements and strong financial performance. We enhanced Trail landscaping and added new amenities and safety improvements, including an outdoor fitness center, bicycle station, more benches, and upgraded safety signs.

I am proud of the continued growth of our Community Partners program, an achievement that brought recognition to FKT as a finalist for a D CEO 2023 Nonprofit Team of the Year award. Corporate partnerships bridge gaps in our funding and enable us to undertake crucial projects to maintain and improve the Trail.

With regard to community engagement, the impact of FKT’s work continued to expand last year. The 25th annual Katy 5K run, which knits our Katy Trail community together, saw a record number of atively new Katy Trail Art program presented two Art does not just add visual beauty to our Trail; it e integration of art into this greenspace positions the irit and creativity of Dallas.

Blake Shipp President, Friends of the Katy Trail

t to our incredible staff, board members, volunteers, of the remarkable evolution of the Katy Trail, now one celebrate and cherish the Katy Trail, and let its vibrant city.

PRESIDENT

Blake Shipp*

MEMBERS

Bonner Allen

Robyn Bayne

Eric Bing

Brian Callahan*

Dan Chesnut*

Buddy Cramer*

Sam Dalton

Bess Dickson

Sarah Dodd

Ken Elmgren

Lara Francis

Michael Frantz

Cricket Griffin*

Faisal Halum

William Hartwell*

Wade Johns

Simon Little

Adam Mengacci

Preston Paine

Bina Patel

Eric Paulson*

Ben Ralston

Jill Rareshide

Gaby Rawlings

Ruthie Shor*

Baxter Underwood

Newt Walker

Ray Washburne

Peggy Zilbermann

*Executive

2023 DONORS

$100,000+

Katy Trail Ice House | Amanda & Charlie Shufeldt | Stream Realty Partners

$50,000 - $99,999

Anonymous | Ben E. Keith Company | Crowe LLP | Lindsay & Blake Shipp & Laurie Sands Harrison*

$25,000 - $49,999

$10,000 - $24,999

$5,000 - $9,999

*Gift includes in-kind donation

2023 DONORS

$2,500 - $4,999

Sylvie M. Legere & Todd Ricketts | Brian Russell | LeDee & Bill Sachs | Sally Pian & Ira

SWA Group/Chuck McDaniel | Tequila Social* | Trek Bicycle* | Ellet Veale | Jacklyn Dale & Dirk

$1,000 - $2,499

Protection Group |

| The

Foundation | Ann Hurley & Mitchel Wolff

Celebree School of Dallas Arts District | Charitable Aid Foundation of America | Asher Coe | Mary & Richard Covington | Dr. Cara East & Dr. Daniel De Marco

Silverman

Stonewall

Suffolk Construction

Wakeham

Weil