34 GoodLifeFamilyMag.com NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2017 GoodLifeFamilyMag.com NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2017 35 dor at the rink. But his other job as president of the C5 Youth Foundation of Texas allows him and Kelly to share their passion for helping local youth. C5 reaches out to children in 8th grade, who have great potential but live in under-resourced commu- nities, and follows them through high school with the mission to inspire them to “pursue personal success and prepare them for leadership roles.” To date the program has a 100% success rate, with every child graduating from high school or joining the military. Along the way, Kelly says they’ve tried to keep their children involved in as many opportunities to give back as possible. From having donations in lieu of gifts at their birthday parties to par- ticipating in fundraising events to serving meals at soup kitch- ens or running Bingo nights at a retirement center, the kids have been exposed to volunteerism from an early age. “Now they’re at the age where they’re bringing us opportunities,” Kelly says. This past summer, daughter Hailey asked if she could postpone her visit to the family’s lake house in Canada in order to help run a summer vacation Bible school program for underprivileged chil- dren. Kelly and Marty recognized how important it was to her and made accommodations for Marty to stay home with her and join the rest of the family later. “My parents have always empha- sized how you should put others above yourself,” Hailey shares. Marty shares a quote from local basketball star, Nancy Lieber- man, “When you’re young you learn; when you’re playing you earn; when you retire you return.” At the end of our meeting, I was most struck by a story Marty shared about a letter he re- ceived from a woman who had written to him to see if he could provide an autograph to her dying father. Rather than just send- ing a photo in the mail, Marty went in person to visit the man in his home and kept in contact until his death the day before our interview. That type of selfless giving, with no fanfare or rec- ognition, ultimately demonstrates what Lieberman was trying to say and shows a lot about a man who is more than just a sports legend. This holiday season, most folks will gather to celebrate with their friends and family. For many, the table will be bountiful; but for some, right here in our backyard, the holidays are far from merry.   For many of us, it’s hard to imagine having to face hunger— especially during this time of year. Yet, more than 800,000 of our neighbors fall into the food insecure category, meaning that they do not always know when they will be able to access nutritious foods. Fortunately, the North Texas Food Bank works to provide nutritious foods to hungry children, seniors and families across a 13-county service area. The food bank has supporters who work tirelessly to ensure that our neighbors in need obtain equitable access to healthy foods, but more help is always needed. There are so many ways for you and your family to get involved, such as:   DONATE HEALTHY FOODS- Consider hosting a canned food drive at your work or faith community. DONATE YOUR TIME- Roll up your sleeves, come and volunteer with us. You will be amazed at what you can accomplish with a few hours and an open heart. DONATE FUNDS- When you donate $1 to the North Texas Food Bank, you provide access to 3 nutritious meals! I can’t think of a better investment. DONATE YOUR VOICE- Be an advocate for our hungry neighbors. Tell your friends, family and colleagues about the work of the food bank. Help us reach our goal of closing the meal gap and providing 92 million meals by 2025.   Editor’s Note: Trisha Cunningham is President and CEO of the North Texas Food Bank. To learn more, visit ntfb.org. ByTrisha Cunningham / Contributor Helping Those Who Are Hungry Ways to Get Involved with the North Texas Food Bank More than 800,000 of our neighbors fall into the food insecure category, meaning that they do not always know when they will be able to access nutritious foods. Editor’s Note: C5 Youth Foundation of Texas reaches out to children in 8th grade, who have great potential but live in under-resourced communities, and follows them through high school with the mission to inspire them to “pursue personal success and prepare them for leadership roles.” To date the program has a 100% success rate, with every child graduating from high school or joining the military. For more informa- tion or to donate, go to C5texas.org. Limited sponsorship opportunities available. Contact events@thesamaritaninn.org for more information. 2.24.18 InterContinental Dallas