Stephanie Giddens nominated for Good Works Under 40 Award

Stephanie Giddens

Lake Highlands resident Stephanie Giddens, founder of Vickery Trading Company, has been named one of 5 finalists for the Good Works Under 40 Award. The honor, co-sponsored by The Dallas Foundation and The Dallas Morning News, is designed to recognized volunteers under the age of 40 making a difference in the lives of North Texans, and the final winner will be chosen by online voting.

Giddens’ idea is simple but powerful – match volunteers with skills in sewing and marketing with refugee women recently arrived in Dallas’ Vickery Meadows from war-torn countries all over the world. The women sit down around tables at VTC’s bright little shop in the Northwest Community Center, located in the heart of Vickery, and swap tales of family and faith. Their children’s clothing creations – as beautiful as anything NorthPark has to offer – can be purchased online here or in their shop. Giddens and her crew will also be at the Forest Meadow Junior High PTA Market in the Meadow Oct. 21 and 22.

Other nominees are Dr. Lana Harder, UT Southwestern Medical Center professor and CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) volunteer; Robert Taylor, founder of The Educator Collective, a non-profit supporting early-career teachers; Dominic Lacy, the first-ever dear board president of Deaf Action Center; and Elizabeth Viney, an attorney who helps inner-city residents fight crime in their communities through ACT (Advocates for Community Transformation).

If you’d like to vote, you may click on this link. (Voting is permitted once per day until Nov. 3). The winner will receive a $10,000 check to donate to the charity of their choice.

Lake Highlands has a pretty good track record. Last year’s winner, Katie McKinley Schlieve, grew up in Lake Highlands and founded the One Wing Foundation after her son, Hudson, was stillborn at 33 weeks. One Wing helps bereaved families with support and education after stillborn loss.

Congratulations, Stephanie!