Katy and Parker Brooks with children Paxton and Sophia welcomed more than 500 changemakers to NorthPark Center’s CenterPark Garden on October 5
(DALLAS, Texas) – Community Partners of Dallas (CPD) hosted the 19th annual Change is Good on Sunday, October 5, 2025 from 3:00–6:00 p.m. at the NorthPark Pumpkin Patch in NorthPark Center’s CenterPark Garden.
Change is Good 2025 chair family Katy and Parker Brooks with children Paxton and Sophia were joined by more than 500 changemakers in the CenterPark Garden for the annual fundraiser, which also served as the kick-off for the second annual NorthPark Pumpkin Patch, a vibrant autumn escape featuring thousands of pumpkins, colorful plantings, a whimsical gnome village, mythical maze, a charming wishing well, and more.
Partygoers arrived with their jars full of collected change and bills and proceeded to the Change is Good bank to turn in their jars for chance tickets to win exciting prizes. As they entered the rock ‘n’ roll themed-event, kids of all ages enjoyed activities throughout CenterPark, including LUSH-Make your own Bath Bombs; DryBar-Rocker Hair; the Rad HatterFun Hat Creations; balloon art sponsored by Advance ER, face painting sponsored by Friends of Katy Brooks, friendship bracelets sponsored by Riddell Plumbing, SkeePutt sponsored by Benchmark Bank, Dance Dance Revolution sponsored by the Clark Family, Guitar Hero and Pop A Shot basketball.
NorthPark Center eateriesserved up delicious fare, including cheese pizza from Pizza Leila, PF Chang's chicken lettuce wraps, veggie spring rolls and pork dumplings, Paciugo gelato, Shake Shack’s chocolate and vanilla custard; delicious cookies from Mrs. Fields and Great American Cookie; and refreshing beverages courtesy of Ben E. Keith, Coca-Cola and Freixenet Mionette.
Midway through the festivities, CPD president and CEO Joanna Clarke gathered the crowd tothank them for supporting the annual event that encourages kids to collect change in order to change the lives of abused and neglected children in Dallas County. She also extended her gratitude to NorthPark Center for their partnership again this year for not only Change is Good, but also through the second annual Pumpkin Patch, which will also benefit CPD through November 2, with change collected in its pumpkinpatch wishing well and Neiman Marcus Fountain insideNorthPark. As well she thanked the Brooks Family for all of their hard work as this year’s Change is Good chairs, along with this year’s honorary grandparents, Melissa and Steve Brooks, Sonya and Lawrence Mendelsohn and Mary Clare Finney and Stan Finney in memoriam.
Then the top change collectors were announced with each child recognized onstage with a medal:
Most Online Changed Raised: Molly Marak with $640
Most Quarters Raised: James Schmitz with 831 quarters
1st Place Change Raiser: Molly Marak with $1,201.62
2nd Place Change Raiser: Molly Losinger with $508
3rd Place Change Raiser: Margaret Ann Boehme with $425.44
Clarke also recognized the two t-shirt design contest winners, whose rock ‘n’ roll-inspired artwork was featured on this year’s commemorative t-shirt: Grace Hill and Molly Marak.
As the day came to an end, each child received a commemorative t-shirtas a thank you.
2025 Change is Good sponsors include: Katy and Parker Brooks, Paxton and Sophia; Melissa and Steve Brooks/Grand Homes; Kerrie and David Johnson; The Hopper Family; The Losinger Family; The Shufeldt Family; The Cecere Familyand The Canete Family; as well as Chance Prize Sponsor-Pacific Elm Properties; Wishing Fountain Sponsor-Sewell; Media Sponsor–MySweetCharity; and Fall Family Portraits in the Pumpkin Patch-Rudick Construction.
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About Community Partners of Dallas
Since 1989, Community Partners of Dallas has ensured safety and restored dignity and hope to abused and neglected children by providing crucial resources and support to the caseworkers of Dallas County Child Protective Services. Community Partners of Dallas provides items, such as winter coats, diapers and formula, holiday gifts, school uniforms, personal hygiene products, food and more, to send the abused children in our community the message that someone does care. Please visit www.communitypartnersdallas.org for more information.