Celebrating Purpose-Driven Progress: Parklife’s Fellows at The Pitch 2025
At Parklife, we’re proud to stand alongside the visionaries who are reshaping communities and building a better future. That’s why it was such an honor to cheer on three incredible fellows from United Way of Metropolitan Dallas’ Social Innovation Accelerator (SIA) as they took the stage at The Pitch 2025.
Held on April 9 at the Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving, TX, this high-profile event spotlights the region’s most promising changemakers—and this year, three out of five finalists were Parklife-supported entrepreneurs.
As a marketing partner for SIA, Parklife leads intensive bootcamp sessions on branding, messaging, and strategic communications. We help early-stage social entrepreneurs refine their voices, clarify their missions, and craft compelling narratives that resonate with funders, partners, and communities alike.
This year’s finalists included:
Saki Milton – The GEMS Camp
Through immersive summer experiences and long-term mentorship, The GEMS Camp uplifts middle and high school girls—particularly those from historically underrepresented communities—to thrive in STEM.
Laura Hayes – The Learning Bridge
Laura Hayes founded The Learning Bridge to make high-quality education and professional training more accessible and personalized. By delivering tailored solutions to schools, nonprofits, businesses, and individuals, The Learning Bridge equips learners of all backgrounds with the tools to succeed.
Jason Hernandez – La Tiendita
La Tiendita, led by Jason Hernandez, is transforming the traditional corner store model into a hub of community nourishment and economic opportunity. Offering fresh produce, healthy food options, and youth internships, La Tiendita is reimagining what neighborhood resources can look like.
We’ve had the pleasure of working closely with each of these founders throughout their SIA journey, supporting them in defining their brand identities, building dynamic pitch decks, and crafting mission-aligned marketing strategies. Their presence as finalists at The Pitch is a powerful reflection of their resilience, vision, and ability to tell their stories with heart and clarity.
Though none of the Parklife-supported fellows were named Social Innovator of the Year, their impact was undeniable—and the support they received was substantial. Together, they secured a combined $160,000 in funding. Hernandez took home the $30,000 Audience Choice Award and the $15,000 Presentation Prize. Milton took home a $20,000 Innovation Award, while Hayes earned the $20,000 Impact Award. All three secured an additional $25,000 for earning their places in the final five ventures participating in the Pitch.
These resources will go directly toward expanding their programs and deepening their work in communities across Texas.
“At its core, The Pitch is about more than competition,” said Parklife founder Brian Castle. “It’s about spotlighting bold ideas, celebrating equity-centered innovation, and fueling movements that make a difference. We’re incredibly proud of Saki, Laura, and Jason—not just for their performance on stage but for their daily commitment to building a better world. They are amazing business leaders, and even more amazing humans.”
As we continue our work with these trailblazers—through social content, pitch presentations, impact reports, and more—we remain inspired by what’s possible when purpose meets strategy. At Parklife, we don’t just market ideas. We help bring them to life.
