Atmos Energy Corp. has donated $1.5 million to the Salvation Army DFW Metroplex Command.

"The Salvation Army is a place of hope," said Atmos Energy board member and retired chairman Bob Best, who also serves on the Salvation Army DFW board.

"This great organization has a passion for the less fortunate: caring for the poor, feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless and befriending the friendless. People who serve in The Salvation Army go into places others would prefer not to: impoverished neighborhoods, jails and prisons, hospital rooms, nursing homes and natural disaster sites."

Salvation Army DFW branch commander Major Jon Rich said the funds would further the charity's community work.

"Each dollar will be stretched to help those battling addictions and poverty-related issues, the homeless, at-risk children and many others," Rich said.

Homeless center

Catholic Charities Dallas and the Catholic Housing Initiative cut the ribbon on Wednesday at St. Jude Center, a shelter providing services to homeless people age 55 and over that includes housing for 100.

St. Jude Center partners include CitySquare, Metrocare Services and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing.

Catholic Housing Initiative invested $750,000, and Mercer Construction provided services and fees valued at more than $350,000 for the $6 million project.

The city of Dallas supplied $2 million in federal affordable housing capital, and Dallas County provided $1.1 million as a fee for services. In addition, the Federal Home Loan Bank made a forgivable grant of $500,000.

Supporters included:

$100,000: Meadows Foundation.

$75,000: Better Together Fund.

$30,000: Simmons Foundation.

St. Jude Center still has naming opportunities. For information and to give, contact Kathy O'Neal at 469-801-8133 or koneal@ccdallas.org or visit ccdallas.org/need-help/st-jude-center.

Lawrence Wright appearance

Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Lawrence Wright will speak at the Friends of the Dallas Public Library annual dinner Oct. 25 at the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library.

Lawrence Wright, author of "God Save Texas." (Kenny Braun)

Wright's latest book is God Save Texas: A Journey Into the Soul of the Lone Star State.

In addition, the group will give Charlene Howell the May Dickson Exall Award for her decades of volunteer service to the Dallas library system.

"I think people may not have a full awareness of the major role that Charlene has played in the literary life of Dallas for many years," said Friends of the Dallas Public Library executive director Mary Wilonsky. "I'm delighted that the Exall Award can help rectify that."

Proceeds from the dinner support the library's 29 branches and educational programs.

Supporters include:

$10,000: Rolex Watch USA Inc.

$2,500: Karen Blumenthal and Scott McCartney, Diane and Hal Brierley, Annette and Jack Corman, Einstein Printing, Basheer Ghorayeb/Winston Strawn LLC, Ellen Jackofsky, McCool Law LLC, Margot and Ross Perot, and Dick Waters/Godfrey's Associates Inc.

For more information and to purchase tickets for $175, visit fodpl.org, call 214-670-1458 or email friends@fodpl.org.

Honoring the McRavens

The Center for Brain Health and Brain Performance Institute of the University of Texas at Dallas will honor retired Navy Adm. William H. McRaven and his wife, Georgeann Brady McRaven, for community service at a fundraising dinner Oct. 23.

The event will be held at the Brain Performance Institute on West Mockingbird Lane.

Patty Huffines is chair, and Jason Garrett is honorary chair.

To purchase seats for $1,000, contact Gail Cepak at 972-883-3408 or gail.cepak@utdallas.edu.

Follow our coverage of the North Texas philanthropic community.