Friends of the Fair:
I decided the topic for my second letter to you would discuss how the annual proceeds from the State Fair are utilized to the benefit of Fair Park and the Community.
First of all, the State Fair of Texas is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and does not receive any government funding or support. Its nonprofit purpose is funded through the proceeds from the annual State Fair of Texas event.
As it stands, the net proceeds from the Fair are:
- reinvested in Fair Park, in the form of capital improvements;
- given as scholarships to deserving youth throughout the state of Texas;
- used to support the Fair Park museum facilities and community outreach programs;
- and used to improve the State Fair’s operation.
Our goal has always been to be a good neighbor to the city of Dallas. I can share that since I have been at the Fair we have provided millions of dollars to Fair Park, hundreds of college scholarships to kids, a world-class event that Texans take a great deal of pride in, funded renovations to the Cotton Bowl to keep the TX vs.
Cotton Bowl Stadium® in Fair Park
OU and Grambling State vs. Prairie View A&M games in the city, and last year alone provided more than 6,000 seasonal jobs, supported our Fair Park campus partners, brought more than $600 million in annual economic impact to North Texas, provided more than 1.7 million free admission tickets to area students and teachers, and generated more than 300,000 pounds of canned food items for local food banks. Still, we recognize that the surrounding neighborhoods need help, and we want to be a part of the solution.
When I took over as president last year, we developed a new mission statement: The State Fair of Texas celebrates all things Texan by promoting agriculture, education, and community involvement through quality entertainment in a family-friendly environment.
Agriculture and education were obvious inclusions as that dates back to the very beginning of the State Fair of Texas. However, we made it a priority to include “community involvement” as one of these three pillars so that we could place an emphasis on working with the surrounding community to make an impact on the lives of the people living in the immediate neighborhoods surrounding Fair Park. This is a commitment the Fair is making and we look forward to working with community leaders to execute new initiatives.
We thank you for all of your support as we move forward in celebrating all things Texan in our beautiful and historic Fair Park home.
See you at the Fair!
Mitchell Glieber, President
State Fair of Texas