Join UWMD CEO, Jennifer Sampson and NFL Hall of Famer, Troy Aikman for a spin class on June 16th at SoulCycle in Dallas, TX!
Jennifer Hilton Sampson is the President & CEO of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, the largest non-governmental funder of programs to improve education, income and health in North Texas. Jennifer’s vision for United Way includes integrating emerging fundraising markets, strategically incorporating innovative uses of technology, and strengthening collaborative partnerships throughout the region. Since her appointment as CEO and president in September 2011, Jennifer has built community confidence in United Way’s mission and impact priorities, and achieved unprecedented results in resource development. This catalytic approach to philanthropy is yielding organizational capacity, strategic value and efficiency for the donor community, while creating lasting social change.
A committed community advocate, Jennifer has served in leadership roles for numerous organizations in the North Texas community throughout her career. She serves on the local boards of the Commit! Partnership, City Year Dallas, The Hockaday School and the Business and Community Advisory Council of the Dallas Federal Reserve Bank. She is a member of the Young President's Organization, the International Women's Forum Dallas, the Dallas Assembly, and the Dallas Charter 100. Jennifer is also a sustaining member of the Junior League of Dallas. Jennifer was named the Women’s Council of Dallas County’s Woman of the Year, Dallas Regional Chamber Leadership Dallas Distinguished Alumnus, and was recognized as one of the youngest recipients of the Baylor Distinguished Alumni Award.
Jennifer and her husband, Edward, have one son, Hilton.
Troy Aikman has harnessed the drive and dedication that formed the foundation of his Hall of Fame football career with the Dallas Cowboys in numerous successful business ventures since retiring from the game following the 2000 season. Through broadcasting, real estate, and The Troy Aikman Foundation, Aikman has quickly discovered numerous ways to keep himself occupied in “retirement”.
After leaving the playing field, Aikman joined the NFL on FOX full-time as a game analyst on the network’s No. 2 NFL team in 2001. He quickly displayed the accuracy and work ethic that marked his playing career and moved up to FOX’s No. 1 broadcast crew prior to the 2002 season. Teamed with Emmy Award-winning play-by-play announcer Joe Buck, the duo has impressed both critics and fans with the consistently entertaining and informative brand of coverage they provide. Highly skilled at succinctly illustrating action on the field, Aikman’s contemporary analysis offers keen insight into the skill and pressure associated with playing in today’s NFL. He has received three nominations for an Emmy for his broadcasting efforts and has broadcast three Super Bowls (XXXIX, XLII and XLV).
During Aikman’s 12-year playing career, he set 45 Cowboys’ passing records, including the club’s career record for completions (2,898), passing yards (32,942), touchdowns (165) and completion percentage (61.3). While leading one of sports’ most famous franchises, the Cowboys won six NFC East titles (1992-96 and 1998) and advanced to four NFC Championship Games (1992-1995). Aikman is one of only four quarterbacks to guide his team to victory in three Super Bowls (XXVII, XXVIII and XXX).
In February, 2006, Aikman was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. He became just the sixth player in Cowboys history to enter those hallowed halls.
Prior to joining the Cowboys, Aikman passed for 5,298 yards and 41 touchdowns in two years at UCLA. During that span, the All-American led the Bruins to a 20-4 record. In 1999, he was inducted into the UCLA Sports Hall of Fame. He transferred to UCLA after two seasons at the University of Oklahoma (1984-85). Selected by the Cowboys with the first overall selection in the 1989 NFL Draft, he became the first rookie quarterback to start a season opener for Dallas since Staubach in 1969.
Born November 21, 1966, he was raised in Cerritos, California. At the age of 12, his family moved to Henryetta, Oklahoma where he went on to earn All-State honors at Henryetta High School. He resides in Dallas, Texas with his two daughters, Jordan and Ally.