Impacting communities where we live, work and play

Cooper Give For Good annual campaign has raised over $200,000 in five years to support the missions of three nonprofits - The Cooper Institute, American Heart Association and Communities Foundation of Texas.

“YOU MUST BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD.” Mahatma Gandhi

At Cooper, we want the world to be a better place and many of us strive to make it such by volunteering our time or by making a financial contribution to causes that matter to us. The Cooper Give For Good campaign allows us to make a difference where we live, work and play. In our hometown of Dallas, TX, we support organizations in our own backyard whose missions and values are closely aligned with our own.

“We are a mission-based organization with the goal of improving the quality and quantity of people’s lives. Our health is our responsibility but together we can make an even bigger impact,” said Dr. Tyler Cooper.

All seven Cooper business entities take part in this annual giving campaign. Each year in June, over 500 teammates all across campus make a commitment to support one of three organizations who are near and dear to us: The Cooper Institute, American Heart Association, or Communities Foundation of Texas.

Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper founded The Cooper Institute in 1970 when he set out to prove that exercise is the best preventive medicine.

Nearly 50 years later, scientific research from the nonprofit research institute continues to prove he was right all along.

Tyler C. Cooper, MD, MPH - President and Chief Executive Officer - Cooper Aerobics

“As public health continues to be a crisis in the United States, the importance of giving back to The Cooper Institute is more critical than ever. Our teammate giving campaign allows us the opportunity to provide fitness education and support research that directly impacts people to live longer and better,” said Dr. Tyler Cooper, President and CEO of Cooper Aerobics.

American Heart Association is another natural choice because of their long history of driving change with The Cooper Institute. After The Cooper Institute published its landmark study in 1989 proving that fitness leads to longevity, the AHA adopted physical inactivity as the fourth independent risk factor for heart disease. To combat this, the AHA started their annual Heart Walk event and Dr. Cooper served as their first event chairman. Together, the AHA and The Cooper Institute have made a powerful impact on heart health that continues today.

Communities Foundation of Texas is a unique choice that supports many local nonprofits through a robust offering of donor services and grant initiatives. This option allows teammates to support a broad range of organizations that they feel passionate about such as animals or the arts.

We are proud to celebrate five years of Cooper Give For Good, which has raised over $200,000 to make an impact in our community.

“We work for an organization that truly cares for its employees,” said Marie Thomas, Corporate Relations Coordinator for Cooper Clinic. “When the people around you are witness to the joy and satisfaction helping others can bring, that joy is contagious. I’m proud to work for an organization that cares about people and the community around us.”

We making giving fun. Fun, campus-wide engagement activities, prizes, and encouragement from team captains help boost everyone’s spirit. Teammates love racing against each other in the relay events or enjoying a cool popsicle on a hot day out on the lawn together.

Leaderboards around campus help spur on the drive to see which team can make the biggest impact. The competitive spirit comes alive during Cooper Give For Good, and it’s a win-win for our teammates and our community.

Campaign Chairs:

• 2015-2016: Brad Young - Membership Sales Manager, Cooper Fitness Center

• 2017-2018: Nathan Frischmann - Exercise Physiology Manager, Cooper Clinic

• 2019-2020: Rhett Sagui - CV Admin/Tech, Cooper Clinic

Executive Chairs:

• 2015: Dr. Cam Nelson

• 2016: Dr. Chris Abel

• 2017: Dr. Nina Radford

• 2018: Dr. Michele Kettles

• 2019: Dr. Riva Rahl

Rhett Sagui, Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper, and Dr. Rival Rahl celebrate during the 2019 Give for Good program.