We know you are familiar with the big events The Exchange Club of Lake Highlands delivers to our community, but what you might not know is the multitude of charitable and selfless acts they do behind the scenes in Lake Highlands. When the need arises, these guys step up. They are our unsung heroes and your neighbors. 

Just this spring, they organized the LHHS Championship Parade which celebrated the 2022-2023 State Champion Wrestler (and Homecoming Queen), Fernanda Lopez and the State Champion Boys Varsity Basketball team. The ECLH put together a fabulous celebration for the community on the fly to showcase the amazing year in LHHS Athletics. 

Other events of note, that we don’t necessarily want to remember, but we know these occur and someone is always stepping in to help. The tornado and “bomb cyclone” that hit Dallas in recent years – the Exchange Club was in Hamilton Park delivering cleanup and recovery before the City of Dallas made its way to Lake Highlands. 

Countless students across Lake Highlands schools are honored at their Youth of the Month Awards, as well as recognition of Police & Firefighter of the Quarter.  In just the last few years, ECLH has given back well over half a million dollars in college scholarships and funds to Family Compass, Healing Hands Ministry and a host of other local charities. Capital projects, such as a STEM lab, a learning center or the Flag Pole Hill playground are a few examples of ECLH’s passion projects.

From looking ahead to the 2026 World Cup to acknowledging the daily achievements of our neighbors, the Exchange Club of Lake Highlands has its finger on the pulse of what matters most to our community. 

Annually, ECLH facilitates some of our most beloved Lake Highlands events: the 4th of July Parade at the high school and Oktoberfest at Flagpole Hill. They also host a Spring Benefit Concert and participate in the Annual LHHS Red/White Game in May. 

The Exchange Club of Lake Highlands Fourth of July Parade has become a wonderful tradition in the community, bringing together people of all ages to celebrate the spirit of Independence Day and the community's pride in their country.  The parade features floats, marching bands, drill teams, and other community groups. Spectators line Church Road and nearby streets to watch the procession, which starts at 9am. The parade is known for its patriotic theme and festive atmosphere and features a festival with food and entertainment as well!

The Exchange Club of Lake Highlands is an affiliate of the National Exchange Club. The original purpose of “Exchange” was to create grassroots organizations for the exchange of ideas leading to community involvement and enhancement. Locally, this objective has been refined over the years to specifically focus our efforts on community service to others, particularly support for our schools, public safety first responders, neighborhood non-profits and projects that improve the Lake Highlands community.

How long have you been involved? I joined the Exchange Club in 2011 and have held several board positions over the years. Some of the most rewarding jobs were serving as Vice President of Youth and Director of Scholarships. I enjoyed meeting many outstanding Lake Highland students and recognizing their achievements.

What types of tasks do you perform for this group? As incoming President, my job is to help coordinate the efforts of our Board of Directors and various committees. Fortunately, we have many dedicated and hard-working members, which enables us to have a far-reaching impact on the neighborhood and local schools. It's all about making Lake Highlands the best neighborhood it can be and helping folks from all walks of life.

How can others get involved in this organization? We would love for anyone interested in membership to join us at one of our Friday breakfast meetings at the KayCee Club at 7:00am. No formal invitation is needed - just show up anytime.

Anything else you would like to include? One of the things the Exchange Club is most proud of is our support of working students and first-generation college students through our Character Counts and ACE awards and the scholarships program. We recognize the important contribution these students make to our community, and we are so glad to have the opportunity to help them reach their educational goals.