Joe Dingman Receives 2020 Catholic Foundation Award at 38th Annual Award Dinner
More than 1,000 guests gathered to honor affordable housing advocate Joe Dingman at The Catholic Foundation’s 38th Annual Award Dinner at the Hilton Anatole on Feb. 1. The annual dinner recognized the co-founder and treasurer of the Catholic Housing Initiative for his significant impact in the greater Dallas area affordable housing landscape over the past several decades.
Established in 1983, The Catholic Foundation Award is presented annually to exemplary Catholic leaders for their distinguished service and support in furthering local religious, charitable and educational needs throughout the local Catholic community.
“Joe’s commitment, vision and hard work has created homes for low-income seniors, families and the homeless, and reflects the essence of The Catholic Foundation Award,” said Matt Kramer, President and CEO of The Catholic Foundation. “Joe has played a critical role in strengthening our Catholic community by overseeing the planning and development of over 1,500 homes, serving as a valuable mentor for the next generation of leaders and advocating for those less fortunate in the Dallas area.”
Watch this video about Joe and the people he has impacted over the years.
In recognition of Dingman, The Catholic Foundation awarded a $10,000 grant to Metrocrest Services. During the program, the Foundation also presented the Hal Tehan Scholar Award to Yadira Compean, a junior at Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep.
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About Joe Dingman
Joe Dingman, a successful Dallas-based real estate investment manager, began his days near Fort Madison, Iowa in a German-Catholic community where his father and uncles farmed together. His maternal grandmother had a big impact on Joe during his childhood and far after. He credits her leadership and influence with motivating all of her 17 grandchildren to attend college.
A CPA, Joe earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Benedictine College in Kansas and a Master of Business Administration degree from Marquette University in Wisconsin. After college graduation, he worked in Milwaukee where he met the love of his life, Carol. The two married in 1968. His job soon took him to Bergen County, New Jersey then to Dallas in 1970 where they raised two daughters, Chris and Ann.
He took a different position in 1974 to remain in Dallas and joined a real estate advisory firm in 1982. Those positions gave him broad exposure to financial and investment management in entrepreneurial environments.
Joe founded Orion Realty Advisors in 1998, to provide advisory and property management services to German commercial real estate investors. He co-founded the Catholic Housing Initiative in 1991, and currently serves as treasurer with responsibility for development, refinancing and acquisitions.
Joe’s commitment, vision and hard work in this purely volunteer capacity has created 768 units of affordable housing for seniors and families at six sites in the Dallas community plus the 104-unit St. Jude Center for persons experiencing homelessness. Another new project is in the works to benefit the homeless. Joe was also a driving force in the creation of St. Joseph Village in Coppell (now CHRISTUS St. Joseph Village).
In addition to his work with the Catholic Housing Initiative, he has served as a board member for Catholic Charities Dallas, a budget committee member of the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, director of Uptown, Inc. and past finance committee chair for St. Rita Catholic Community in Dallas. Joe and Carol are members of Mary Immaculate Catholic Church.
Joe’s greatest success in life are his two daughters. Extremely humble about The Catholic Foundation Award, he says he hopes this recognition shines a light on the importance of helping those around you, especially those financially less fortunate.
