Turner 12, Inc.

Turner 12: Investing in Students, Strengthening Communities, Shaping Futures

Founded in the spring of 2000, Turner 12 is a 25-year-old nonprofit organization committed to transforming the lives of young people through education, mentorship, leadership development, and service. Every six years, Turner 12 selects 12 sixth-grade students from inner-city Dallas schools and provides them with consistent coaching, mentorship, academic support, and life-enrichment opportunities throughout their middle school, high school, and college years.

The program is designed to help students become first-generation college graduates, career-ready professionals, and productive, engaged members of their communities. Today, nine of the current Turner 12 students are sophomores at Lincoln High School, while three attend other schools throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

A Proven Record of Academic Excellence

Turner 12 has established an impressive legacy of student achievement. Across its first four graduating classes, the organization has produced two Valedictorians and three Salutatorians a remarkable testament to the academic excellence, determination, and leadership cultivated through the program.

Of the 48 students who have completed the full six-year Turner 12 experience, 44—92%—have gone on to college and/or trade school. Two alumni are proudly serving in the United States military, and 26 students—55%—have achieved the program’s goal of becoming first-generation college graduates. The accomplishments of Turner 12 alumni continue to grow: two have earned master’s degrees, one has become a lawyer, and another is pursuing a path toward medical school.

These achievements represent more than statistics—they represent lives changed, families transformed, and futures expanded.

Developing Leaders Through Service

Turner 12 believes true success extends beyond the classroom. Students are taught the importance of discipline, leadership, responsibility, character, and public service.

Throughout the year, students participate in experiences designed to broaden their horizons and prepare them for success, including annual Spring Break college visits and a holistic four-week Summer of Choice program. Students also participate in a summer mission trip to Mexico, where they serve families living in substandard housing by helping build homes.

Their commitment to service continues in their own community. Each year, Turner 12 students provide Thanksgiving meals to senior citizens in a local housing development and deliver personal Christmas gifts to residents of a local nursing home. Through these experiences, students learn firsthand that leadership is not simply about personal achievement—it is about using your success to make a difference in the lives of others.

An Investment That Goes Directly to Students

Turner 12 is supported by generous donors throughout the Dallas area. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of a local benefactor, 100% of contributions are dedicated to programming and meeting the needs of the students and families Turner 12 serves.

As the organization looks toward the future, Turner 12 is working to expand its base of supporters throughout North Texas and establish partnerships with additional corporate sponsors. With a growing network of community partners, Turner 12 can reach more students, create more opportunities, and continue building a pipeline of educated, engaged, and community-minded leaders.

Help Us Reach Our Goal

Our goal is to raise $12,000 by the North Texas Giving Day deadline of September 17th.

Your investment in Turner 12 is an investment in education, opportunity, leadership, and the future of our community. Every contribution helps provide students with the mentorship, experiences, resources, and support they need to reach their full potential.

Thank you for investing in our students—and in America’s future. Your generosity is more than a donation; it is an investment in young people who are working to change the trajectory of their lives, their families, and their communities.

Turner 12 is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.