We are excited to be embarking on our centenary year in 2019, marking 100 years since Thomas Lessels Dallas OBE, an enterprising Scotsman, established the TL Dallas business in Bradford.
To celebrate this landmark occasion, we are pleased to announce that we are partnering with four charities that are close to staffs’ hearts: British Heart Foundation, Candlelighters, Mind In Bradford and Alzheimer Scotland. Additional support will also be provided for local causes to our branches including Sedbergh Youth & Community Centre in Bradford.
The partners came together to mark the launch at Valley Parade, home of Bradford City. The stadium was chosen to kick-off the campaign given our longstanding sponsorship of the football club.
The charity initiative, which is backed by our employees across the UK, will see the team take on a series of challenges including skydiving, abseiling and concerts in order to reach the target. Additional centenary celebration milestones will also be held throughout the year.
Polly Staveley, Managing Director at TL Dallas, said: “This year marks an important anniversary for TL Dallas. Being able to celebrate 100 years since the business first opened its doors in 1919 is such an achievement.
“We are especially proud that myself and my brother, Mackenzie, as fourth generation members of the Dallas family, are now leading the business to its next phase. The success that has been seen over the last 100 years has laid the foundations for the business to continue growing and developing.
It’s fantastic that we can celebrate 100 years by helping others, which is why we are so passionate about our charity campaign. The initiative has seen TL Dallas staff voting for charities that they have personally been touched by so we’re really proud to be supporting these fantastic organisations.
Helen Davey, chief executive of Mind in Bradford, said: “We are delighted to have been chosen by TL Dallas which has such a long history in Bradford. The money raised will be spent on our services across the district to support people experiencing mental or emotional distress. It will make a difference to many lives. Thank you!”
Stephanie Jones, fundraising manager at British Heart Foundation, said: “It’s fantastic to be chosen as one of the beneficiary charities of TL Dallas as it celebrates its centenary.
“The money donated through this fabulous initiative will help towards research for heart and circulatory diseases and help the 670,000 people living with these conditions in Yorkshire.”
Arnold Butterfield, of Sedbergh Youth & Community Centre, said: “We are very grateful for TL Dallas’s ongoing support.
“We are a small Bradford-based charity serving the local community with a range of services and donations and support from brilliant businesses like TL Dallas help enormously.”