National Life Group and Parkland Health Foundation recognized as finalist for DCEO Corporate Partner of the Year award

Dallas, TX - (July 18, 2025) National Life Group and Parkland Health Foundation have been recognized as a finalist for Corporate Partner of the Year in the 2025 DCEO Nonprofit and Corporate Citizenship Awards.

Since 2022, National Life Group and Parkland Health Foundation have worked together to expand access to mental health services for children and families in Dallas County. Their shared commitment to community wellness has strengthened Parkland’s Pediatric Behavioral Health Program, which delivers essential care to thousands of children each year.

At the heart of this partnership is a joint focus on impact and innovation. The annual National Life Group Do Good Fest®, founded upon the company’s values of “Do good, Be good, Make good,” has become a staple of National Life’s community engagement efforts. 2024 marked the third year of the festival at Levitt Pavilion Arlington, with almost a quarter of a million dollars raised to date for Parkland Health’s initiatives. Tickets were available for a minimum donation of $5, with additional contributions strongly encouraged to support North Texas children facing mental health challenges. This past year’s event raised $65,000 to help ensure children in Dallas County have access to pediatric health screenings and treatment options.

Emotional, mental and behavioral health disorders impact one in five Dallas children. Without access to proper care, these children are at risk to see their conditions worsen. Parkland is working toward making behavioral health screenings accessible for more children in Dallas County. Since launching the program in late 2021, Parkland has provided behavioral healthcare services to more than 6,100 children, conducted over 14,000 screenings, and delivered an additional 2,300 counseling sessions via telehealth.

“National Life Group’s commitment to our Pediatric Behavioral Health Program is more than generous—it’s visionary,” said Michael Horne, EdD, MPP, Parkland Health Foundation President & CEO. “This support is helping us close critical gaps in care and reach children who might otherwise go without the mental health services they need to thrive. Together, we are creating a healthier future for Dallas County’s youngest residents.”

Partnerships with organizations like National Life Group are allowing Parkland to set a new standard of care for children in Dallas County—a standard that prioritizes early intervention, erases the stigmas associated with mental health and serves the diverse needs of the community.

“At National Life, we believe doing good is more than a value—it is our responsibility,” said Mehran Assadi, Chairman, CEO, and President of National Life Group. “Our partnership with Parkland Health Foundation has empowered us to help create lasting, meaningful change for children and families across Dallas County. Being named a finalist for Corporate Partner of the Year is an honor—but the true reward is seeing more kids receive the mental health care they deserve. Together, we are helping to build stronger, healthier communities, one child at a time.”

About Parkland Health Foundation
Parkland Health Foundation is a 501(c)(3) dedicated to securing substantial financial resources that advance the goals of Parkland Health (Parkland). Parkland’s mission is to advance wellness, relieve suffering, develop and educate. Our vision is to advance health equity through excellence as a public health system. Parkland Health Foundation is dedicated to ensuring that our community has a medical home for a continuum of care from birth to end of life.

About National Life Group
National Life is here to bring you peace of mind. We’ve been keeping our promises since 1848. Believe in tomorrow, do good today. Learn more at NationalLife.com

Learn more here about National Life Group’s corporate philanthropy with programs that include LifeChanger of the Year, Do Good Heroes, a commitment to ending childhood hunger and supporting children’s mental health, among others.

Contact: Daphne Larkin, corporate communications, National Life Group, 802.229.3607.

National Life Group® is a trade name of National Life Insurance Company, founded in Montpelier, Vt., in 1848, Life Insurance Company of the Southwest, Addison, Texas, chartered in 1955, and their affiliates.  Each company of National Life Group is solely responsible for its own financial condition and contractual obligations.  Life Insurance Company of the Southwest is not an authorized insurer in New York and does not conduct insurance business in New York.