ARLINGTON, TX (October 23, 2025) |
The Downtown Arlington Management Corporation (DAMC) and Texas Trust Credit Union named Joe and Doreen Bruner as the 2025 Dream Builders. Now in its tenth year, Downtown Arlington’s premier award honors individuals who have made the greatest contributions to revitalizing Downtown Arlington and making Arlington the American Dream City.
This is the first time the award has been presented to a married couple — fitting recognition for two people whose leadership, philanthropy and vision have shaped downtown’s evolution for decades.
Doreen Bruner has long been a community advocate and philanthropist, serving on the Downtown Arlington Board of Directors and lending her time and heart to numerous local causes. When Downtown Arlington needed a champion to lead fundraising for the new Doggie Depot, she not only stepped forward to lead the campaign, but she and Joe also became the project’s largest individual donors. The pergola at the park is named in their honor.
Her passion for people and community extends beyond downtown. Doreen formerly served as director of Camp Esperanza, a nonprofit organization supporting children undergoing cancer treatment, where she also volunteered as a counselor — sharing joy, laughter and encouragement with kids and families in need.
Joe Bruner, a longtime entrepreneur, downtown small business owner and civic leader, has also played a significant role in Arlington’s growth and progress. As a member of the Arlington City Council during the founding years of the Downtown Arlington Management Corporation, he
was instrumental in supporting the district’s creation and early revitalization efforts. Together, the Bruners were among the first to see the potential for a Farmers Market in Downtown Arlington, operating an early version of the market in a Front Street building and helping lay the foundation for the thriving local culture that exists today. They are also investors in downtown property. They are truly visionaries ahead of their time.
“Their leadership, their dedication and their hearts are woven into the fabric of our downtown,” said Jim Minge, CEO of Texas Trust Credit Union.
The Dream Builder Award was presented to the Bruners on behalf of the DAMC and Texas Trust by Jim Minge, during the organization’s 2025 Annual Meeting and Luncheon. Texas Trust is actively involved in DAMC and conceived the Dream Builder Award in 2016 as a way to honor and recognize the visionaries that are making downtown Arlington a thriving destination.
