About Us
Mission
Friends With Benefits (FWB) is a 501(c)(3) in Denton, Texas that benefits North Texas charitable organizations that better our local communities, schools and/or neighborhoods. Our goal is to organize fun events in Denton, Texas to raise funds and awareness to north Texas charitable organizations and causes.
Our First Friends
Friends With Benefits (FWB) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 2013 by three friends, Kiara Helgesen, Mindy Arendt and Charlie Hunter, in Denton, Texas.
In 2013 an F5 tornado devastated a part of the small town where Kiara went to high school. In an effort to use her skills as a veterinary technician, Kiara decided to volunteer her time to help any way she could. Unfortunately, she and other volunteers were being turned away on site. It wasn’t long after that she found out the town was not receiving government assistance to rebuild. So, Kiara reached out to her friends at Pan Ector Industries who designed a shirt she would sell to raise funds for the tornado victims and she sold the shirts at his bar Oak St. Drafthouse and Cocktail Parlor. But more needed to be done and in true Mindy fashion she said "Well, then let's do it." A few months later, with the help of Charlie Hunter and Dallas Guill, Friends with Benefits • Denton was born! The group’s first event was successful in raising $4,000 for Habitat for Humanity of Hood County! After the check presentation, the group stayed and helped build homes with the HFH volunteers.
Meet the Board
As of 01/29/2024
Mindy Arendt
President/Co-founder
Events Committee Chair
Desmond Moore
Treasurer
Finance & Development Committee Chair
Vikter Solis
Secretary
Volunteer Coordinator
Randi Skinner
Director of Awesomeness
Marketing Committee chair
Emily Francis (she/her)
Director of Awesomeness
Dallas Guill
Director of Awesomeness
Interested in serving on the Friends With Benefits board of directors or advisory board? Apply Today
Friend Zone Advisory Board
The Friend Zone Advisory Board’s purpose is to help FWB gain new insights and offer advice to meet community needs. The advisory board is a group of volunteers who support the FWB board of directors and are available to give them guidance and advice as needed.
George Ferrie • Alyson Bogus • Danielle Walker • Lou Delaney
Our Super Supportive Friends
Andy Folmer – Research & Logistics
Amber Tyler - Hospitality
Charlie Hunter - Marketing Committee/Co-founder
Danielle Longueville