Dallas Stars Partnership

When the Stars Align: National Partnership Helps National Life Group Reach More Communities

When Pantera’s Puck Off plays throughout the American Airlines Center, Dallas Stars hockey fans go wild. After every goal, a celebration erupts with chants of Dallas! Stars! Dallas! Stars! ringing out to the beat of the rock anthem. While scoring a goal may be the ultimate triumph, a goalie save in Dallas holds its own secret power.

Before we get to that, let’s take a step back. Since 2023, National Life Group has partnered with the Dallas Stars professional hockey team in a sponsorship that goes above and beyond marketing and advertising. The two organizations share similar values and a deep commitment to better their communities. The Dallas Stars Foundation has a mission to invest in their communities by creating unique programs that nurture and enrich the lives of those in need, while the National Life Group Foundation believes in listening to the needs of the community and offering help however they can. The crossover between the two creates a strong partnership that promotes National Life Group’s values: Do good. Be good. Make good.

“The Dallas Stars have values that fit well with ours,” said Christina D’Agostino, Community Relations Manager for National Life Group. “This is more than just a sponsorship. It’s a way for us to manifest our values and philanthropic message into the communities we serve.”

Over the past few years, the two foundations have worked closely together to support nonprofits in northern Texas communities near Dallas, home to National Life Group offices and obviously, the Dallas Stars.

One of the first initiatives created by the two foundations was the Stars Save Program—herein lies the secret power of the save. Every time the Dallas Stars’ goalie makes a save, National Life Group donates $5 into a pot up to a total of $20k annually. The two groups then choose a local organization as a recipient of the funds, who in turn bring events and new initiatives into their communities. So far, National Life Group has raised $40k and is working toward adding on another $20k this year.

Year One: MetroCrest

The first Stars Save program check presentation to MetroCrest.

In year one of the partnership, National Life Group donated $20k to MetroCrest Services, a Dallas-area organization that helps families and seniors going through a crisis situation stabilize their lives for a brighter future. The money donated helped support MetroCrest’s food pantry. Stars’ players volunteered to pack food boxes for the community as a part of the overall initiative.

Year Two: Tarrant Area Food Bank

Year two’s $20,000 was given to the Tarrant Area Food Bank, which provides a nutritious mix of fresh, frozen, and shelf-stable products to a network of hunger-relief charities and social services organizations in North Texas. This donation fit nicely with National Life Group’s corporate focus of helping combat childhood hunger in the communities closest to their two home offices. In addition to the Stars Save donation, the Tarrant Area Food Bank was also chosen as National Life Group’s Do Good Fest 2025 Texas recipient and received $100,000.

The Stars Save program is only one benefit of these two groups working together. Many other events to support families in the Dallas area have taken place as well.

Scholastic Book Fair

Happy readers with three new books each at their school’s Scholastic Book Fair.

A local Title One school was sponsored by the two foundations and received a Scholastic Book Fair where each student was allowed to choose three books to keep. A fun celebration took place at the same time to get the kids excited about reading.

Goods Drive

All kinds of items could be found at the Goods Drive held outside the American Airlines Center.

Diapers, clothing, and other necessities were collected at a Goods Drive held outside the Dallas Stars’ arena. All donations were sent to Denton County Friends of the Family, an organization dedicated to supporting victims of abuse and domestic violence. During the drive, the Stars raffled off a signed jersey for visitors.

Vogel Alcove Holiday Party

Dallas Stars’ mascot, Victor E. Green (yes, the same green as National Life Group!) in serious discussion with a little one.

Families at the Vogel Alcove enjoyed a holiday party where they were treated to a variety of fun activities, including a horse drawn carriage ride, a magic show, a meet and greet with Santa, and a holiday meal.

“The Dallas Stars have a wide reach,” said D’Agostino. “That gives National Life Group a great opportunity to leverage the good we do within our company and expand it to more communities.”

That’s truly this partnership’s ultimate goal (or save): Help as many people as possible live their best lives possible. To that we chant: Dallas! Stars!