Joe Dingman named 2020 Catholic Foundation Award honoree / Affordable housing advocate honored during Feb. 1 dinner for his leadership and service to assist elderly and homeless
Joe Dingman, a successful Dallas-based real estate investment manager, was named the 38th Catholic Foundation Award honoree. Joe was recognized for his Christian example and significant impact made during the past three decades to provide access to affordable housing in the Dallas area.
On February 1, 2020, Joe was honored during The Catholic Foundation Award Dinner at the Hilton Anatole Hotel.
Sister Mary Anne Owens, School Sisters of Notre Dame, served as the 2019 Award Dinner chair. She previously served as executive director of Catholic Charities Dallas, and currently serves on the board of directors for the Catholic Housing Initiative and Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep.
The Catholic Foundation Award recognizes an individual’s distinguished service and support to further the religious, charitable and educational needs throughout the local Catholic community.
“Most people have no idea about the tremendous impact Joe has made through many housing initiatives. Joe co-founded and continues to be a leader at the Catholic Housing Initiative, and his faith and diligence has provided homes for so many of our families, senior citizens, and homeless,” said Matt Kramer, president and CEO of The Catholic Foundation. “Joe is a man of humility, strength, vision and service, and we are proud to recognize him with The Catholic Foundation Award.”
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 and moved to New Jersey before relocating to Dallas in 1970 where they raised two daughters, Chris and Ann.
From college to 1982, he worked in a series of progressively responsible corporate finance and planning roles and took a position with a real estate investment management firm that year.
Joe founded Orion Realty Advisors in 1998, providing advisory and property management services to German commercial real estate investors to this day. 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 affordable housing for seniors and families at six sites in the Dallas community with 768 apartment units, the 104-unit St. Jude Center for persons experiencing homelessness and another new project in the works to benefit the homeless. Joe was also an instrumental 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 Parish.
“I’m humbled and honored to be selected as The Catholic Foundation Award honoree, said Joe. “I hope this recognition shines a light on the importance of helping those around you, especially those less fortunate.”