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Struggles with mental health impacts everyone – whether directly or through connection.
The Christopher Barkley Foundation was founded in 2022 in honor of its namesake, who passed away in January of that same year due to his own personal struggles with balancing mental health. We are a fundraising organization for non-profit service providers who help bring awareness and support to those impacted by the challenges of mental health and well-being in the Dallas-Fort Worth and North Texas region.
Our goal is to grant funds to the agencies and the people who need the support. In doing so, we plan to greatly lower the number of people who succumb to the challenges facing them through their obstacles with mental health and the stigma they fight on a daily basis. Their journey should not happen alone, but with the support of their friends, loved ones, and entire community.
Christopher “Chris” Michael Barkley was born on September 20, 1980, in Bellevue, Washington.
When Chris was 3, the family moved to Duncanville, Texas, where Chris attended Hastings Elementary and was in the gifted and talented program. Chris played several sports growing up but settled on soccer as his favorite. He attended Byrd Junior High where he played soccer and was in theater presentations and competitions. He was also in the Junior National Honor society.
Chris attended Duncanville High School, where he was chosen as starting goalie his freshman year for the high school soccer team. He not only excelled at sports (winning Goalie of the Year his senior year), but also academically, taking honors and AP classes and being selected to the National Honor Society.
Chris decided to play soccer in college and attended SMU in Dallas on a partial academic scholarship in engineering. Chris graduated cum laude from SMU in 2003 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and he went to work for Lockheed Martin as an engineering checker on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program.
Eventually, Chris attended law school at Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles, where he made the Southwestern Law Review after his first year and would later become an editor. Chris attracted the attention of the intellectual property law firm of Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper & Scinto in Costa Mesa, California and he was asked to complete an internship the summer between his second and third years. When he graduated from the Southwestern Law School in 2007 Chris was offered a job with that firm and he passed the California bar that summer.
Chris met his future wife, Theresa Nguyen, his second year at the law firm. The two of them enjoyed traveling the world, and always loved the beaches of Southern California and visiting Disneyland.
Chris eventually join the Dallas-based law firm McCathern, Shokouhi, Evans, Grinke as a Partner in their Los Angeles office. There, Chris led the firm’s intellectual property practice group, where he used his engineering background to focus on patent matters and other technology-related legal matters. He praised his fellow McCathern lawyers and the firm, enjoyed working there, and earned several notable successful outcomes for his clients.
Chris passed away unexpectedly on January 16th, 2022, but his life left an indelible impact on everyone who knew him. More than anything, Chris loved family, sports, children, and pets (especially dogs). His love for others, spirited manner, and hearty laugh drew others to him, and Chris was loved by many.
Each year, The Christopher Barkley Foundation collects applications from organizations that raise awareness and help fight the stigma of mental health challenges. Because of donations from our incredible sponsors and supporters, we have donated funding to eight organizations in 2023 and 2024.
The Board of Directors for The Christopher Barkley Foundation is comprised of family and friends of Chris Barkley who are leaders throughout DFW and North Texas. Their mission is to bring new ideas and partnerships on behalf of the beneficiaries of The Christopher Barkley Foundation.
Parents of Christopher Barkley
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
ClariFi Title
Partner
McCathern, Shokouhi, Evans, Grinke Law
Founder, President & CEO
Bellevue Living, a Nicholas Residential Portfolio Company
Founder & CEO, OMNI SCULPT MD Aesthetic & Anti-Aging Medicine | Double Board Certified Physician | Anesthesiology/Interventional Pain Medicine
Board Certified Foot & Ankle Surgeon | Board Certified Wound Care Physician
CEO, DFW Wound Care Center | CEO, Southwest Foot & Ankle Center
The Christopher Barkley Foundation honors the memory of those who provided outstanding leadership to the organization as members of the
Board of Directors.
In March 2023, Marsha Singer, a founding member of our Board of Directors, and aunt to Chris Barkley, passed away unexpectedly. Her contribution to The Christopher Barkley Foundation, Dallas Pride, the North Texas Irish Festival, and much more proved an immeasurable impact on our community.
Marsha will be greatly missed.
Thanks to our media & photography sponsors for providing photography of the evening!
(Inkling & Co. and Kristen Glass Photography)
