President’s Welcome

Welcome to the Dallas Chapter of the United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA)!

We are a grassroots movement of North Texans who support the vital work of the United Nations through advocacy campaigns, youth engagement, outreach programs, and public events. We invite you to explore our website, learn about the rich history of our chapter, and join us at one of our upcoming events.

In 1998, Ted Turner established the United Nations Foundation to manage his historic $1 billion gift to the United Nations. This gift was placed in a trust overseen by the Foundation, leveraging the energy and expertise of businesses and non-governmental organizations to help the UN address critical issues, including climate change, global health, peace and security, women’s empowerment, poverty eradication, energy access, and U.S.-UN relations.

UNA-USA Dallas members come from all over North Texas, reflecting the remarkable diversity of cultures and perspectives represented by the United Nations. This diversity is our powerful advantage, combining global insights with deep local knowledge.

"leveraging the energy and expertise of business and non-governmental organizations to help the UN tackle issues…"

Whether you are seeking a partnership, considering membership, or interested in making a financial gift to support Dallas UNA-USA, we invite you to get involved. Join us by becoming a member at https://unausa.org/join. Don’t forget to indicate that you wish to be a part of the Dallas Chapter.

Stay connected with us on social media, and be sure to check our website frequently for the latest news, updates, and opportunities. I look forward to meeting you there!

Sincerely,

Avalyn Pace
President
UNA-USA Dallas

UNA-USA’s History

UNA-USA collaborates closely with the United Nations Foundation and its sister organization, the Better World Campaign, to strengthen the U.S.-UN relationship. These partnerships continue a long tradition of UNA-USA's efforts to bolster American support for the UN.

The American Association for the United Nations, UNA-USA’s predecessor organization, emerged from the League of Nations Association in 1943. A group of prominent citizens, including the first executive director, Clark M. Eichelberger, established the association to promote acceptance of the Dumbarton Oaks proposals during the later years of World War II. Among the association’s early initiatives was a national tour by several U.S. representatives to raise awareness and garner support for American adherence to the Dumbarton proposals, which ultimately led to the creation of the UN.

When First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, a member of the association’s board of directors, completed her term as a U.S. representative to the UN General Assembly in late 1951, she walked into the association’s offices and asked for something to do. Her offer was gratefully accepted, and in early 1953, she established an office at the association’s headquarters.

This marked the quiet beginning of a major campaign in which Mrs. Roosevelt carried the message of the American Association for the United Nations across the country through personal appearances, recruitment speeches, and fundraising efforts that continued until her death in November 1962. She was elected chairwoman of the board in 1961.

In 1964, the association merged with the U.S. Committee for the United Nations, a coalition of 138 national organizations supporting the work of the UN, thereby creating the United Nations Association of the United States of America. Since then, several distinguished Americans have held leadership positions at UNA-USA, including Arthur J. Goldberg, former Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations; James S. McDonnell, former chairman of the McDonnell-Douglas Corporation; Elliot L. Richardson, former U.S. attorney general and U.S. representative to the Law of the Sea Conference; William Scranton, former governor of Pennsylvania and U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations; Cyrus Vance, former secretary of state; and John C. Whitehead, former deputy secretary of state.

In 2010, UNA-USA formed a strategic alliance with the UN Foundation. Under this new alliance, UNA-USA continued as a robust membership program of the Foundation. Together, UNA-USA and the UN Foundation are combining their efforts to enhance public education and advocacy regarding the work of the UN.