The TouchDown Club of Dallas started with around thirty members. Today the club has over 450+ active members and alumni.

Rise fosters academic growth, independence, and empathy in all students.

Join Our Mission

Thank you for your interest in joining The TouchDown Club’s (“TDC”) Newman Class of 2026-2027. Our members are the driving force behind the operations of The Ashford Rise School. Through our collective efforts, the TDC raises over $1,000,000 annually. Since the club’s inception, our members have raised over $20,000,000, ensuring that the school can continue to provide elite educational services to families regardless of their financial ability. By becoming a member, you are directly improving the lives of children with disabilities and their families in the Dallas community.

Since the inception of TDC, each year a membership committee elects a Newman Class of eighteen (18) professional, like-minded gentlemen to join the club who are enthusiastically committed to students and families of The Rise School as well as the club’s mission:

Raise money for Rise!
Have fun doing it!

TDC is integral to the success of The Rise School. Each year the club makes a large contribution to the school and the TDC endowment fund dedicated to the sustainability of this incredible and unique program.

Our motto is and has always been: It’s all for the kids!

TDC Rise classroom
Active involvement supporting the Rise school and students.

Becoming A Member

Newman Year

The following criteria is expected during your Newman year. All donations raised through TDC will be allocated to the Rise School from July 2025 through June 2026.

  • Raise a minimum of $35,000 in charitable contributions and attend all events for the year. As a team, TDC will provide ample opportunities to assist in reaching your goal.
  • Required attendance and participation in the following events. The application outlines the mandatory events that you must be present for in order to complete the Newman year. Event dates are TBD and will be updated prior to the application deadline.

    Newman Dinner
    Newman Retreat
    Monthly Newman Meetings (Boiler Rooms)
    All five major fund raising events in both volunteer or attendance capacity.
  • Walk with your Newman Class through “graduation” by attending multiple events, both social (TDC StyroCup, Member-Member Party, Christmas Party, happy hours, etc.) and fundraising (Newman Boiler Rooms, Rise RoundUp, Rise Cup Classic, etc.)
  • The Rise School is a six-year program which helps children with disabilities learn basic educational and developmental skills so they might enter elementary school by the average age. You will join TDC just as a new class of students enters The Rise School. We expect you to stay actively involved with TDC until your class graduates.
  • Each Newman is encouraged to visit/tour the school (preferably during the application process). During the year you will be asked to go and read to the students. This is a very impactful experience for both the kids and YOU.
  • If selected to be a member of the TDC, you will be required to undergo a background check and motor vehicle record check. By submitting your application, you acknowledge your awareness of this requirement. A Consumer Report Disclosure form will be provided to you before the background check is conducted.
  • Each Newman is required to pay for their Annual Membership Dues of $1,250.
  • Have fun, socialize and make TDC better than you found it!
Continued involvement and expanding roles in organization events and activities.

Year Two

Second Year TDC members will have involvement in different event committees, and an annual fundraising requirement of $2,500. Two (2) members for each of the eight (8) total events, committees and roles listed below.

  1. Rise Round Up
  2. Rise Up Classic
  3. Big Texas BBQ
  4. Newman Coordinators
  5. Newman Membership
  6. Major Gifts
  7. Styro-Cup
  8. TDC Holiday Party

Year Three

Third Year TDC members will be expected to take increased roles and responsibilities within the event committees, and leadership roles in the club. Members can continue on the same committee, move to a new committee, or propose that a new committee be started if there is satisfactory board support for the plan behind such committee. President is in charge of annual reassignments. Stay involved with the school and your class.

Year Four+

Fourth Year TDC members will transition into leadership roles within the club, for those who have earned it. Stay involved with the school and your class.