TCU alumni and former football players Terrence and Timothy Maiden never wanted to be held down by the circumstances of their South Dallas upbringing.

The Maiden twins created the Two-Wins foundation, a Dallas-based non-profit organization designed to help underserved and disenfranchised children.

“We started the foundation with the focus of giving back to the community by exposing kids to education and careers,” Terrence Maiden said.

Maiden says that the focus of Two-Wins is building community and changing lives.

Since its founding in 2005, the organization has grown from 600 participating students to more than 5,000 per year. The organization has created programs specific to inspiring students toward higher education, according to Two-Wins’ website.

They were driven to another end: Creating an organization designed to encourage other underserved Dallas youth to seek out success, as they had.

Terrence Maiden started his career as a managing partner for Corinth Properities and Timothy as an executive for First National Bank.

However, they were both driven to one another by starting their own business real estate development company called Nediam, which their last name spelled backwards. They opened the restaurant ‘Buttons’ in DeSoto.

Prior to their success, the 1996 Carter high school graduates began their success from some of the rough parts of Oak Cliff in South Dallas, according to Terrence Maiden.

With their financial success the Maidens grew into a passion of wanting to serve their community from their upbringing as children. The Maiden’s father Albert Maiden said that their passion for wanting to give back to the community was instilled in them since childhood.

Albert Maiden said he and his co-workers would collect money around the Christmas season for unfortunate families. Then, he would take his children with him for their experience.

“They saw the conditions the families were in and felt how blessed they were, but happy to see the children happy,” Maiden said.

Regardless, family and friends have said they would regularly be motivational speakers while in middle and high school.

As the Maidens entered TCU, they recognized that there was a difference in the lack of the amount of educational and career exposures between them and their peers from their backgrounds.

“It was a culture shock just giving the community we grew up, but over time we adjusted well.” Terrence said. “The relationship we built has continued to carry on in our careers.”

During their football careers at TCU as starting leaders, they said they took inspiration from their older brother Alton who played football for Notre Dame.

“I admire them because they listened as I told them the mistakes I made in college so that they will make less,” Alton said.

Both starting positions, Terrence was a linebacker and Timothy a wide receiver that had a huge impact on TCU transition into a winning season.

The twins’ entrance into TCU came with a different mindset than some other college athletes, said Associate Athletic Director Jack Hesselbrock. Hesslebrock says he remembers the strong lasting impression that their mother Bobbie Maiden left on him as they were recruited.

“It was pretty obvious in meeting with Mrs. Maiden that these men were raised in having a very broad outlook in life,” Hesslebrock said. “This wasn’t a football decision to come here.”

Hesslebrock said that Bobbie came in with a list of questions about academic requirement, majors, internships and graduation rates.

“We were taught that football was just a vehicle to get you from one place to another,” Alton Maiden said.

Childhood friend and former TCU teammate and TCU alumn Theo Anderson said that it was no surprise to him of how successful the twins have become.

“They were always pushing each other whether on the field or on the classroom,” Anderson said.

Despite the Maidens’ troubling environment, they credit their parents for providing a stable home to succeed as individuals.

“Having that parental involvement differentiate us from our peers,” Maiden said.

Some of their many activities provide kids with campus tours of universities and help them engage with prominent businesses for career exposures.

The Maiden twins has got the impression of some of the TCU alums by encouraging them to get involved with the alumni association.

“It was very inspirational what they are doing in their profession for the community and it’s important for kids to see that there are successful African-American men that are doing well,” Ashanti Williams said. “It’s a wonderful example of what our kids need to see.” 

Two-Wins programs:

A SoulFul Christmas: annual event to help buy Christmas gifts for under-privileged youth in South Dallas

ACTivate Dallas: provides communities with social, economic and environmental infrastructure to foster positive growth and support

All Pro Dads: inspires fathers in the Dallas area to be involved in their children’s lives

Back to School Fest: helps celebrate the start of the school year and gives backpacks to needy children

Big Hoops: helps mentor young boys in DFW through Big Brothers Big Sisters

Breakfast of Champions: generates financial support for Two-Wins programs and increases awareness

Cityville: presents educational and creative learning opportunities for struggling children

Frog for a Day: mentors high-risk middle and high school students, focuses on higher education planning

Mustangs for a Day: helps kids become immersed in the college experience

Nehemiah Project: assists and educates others with building projects

Road to Success: exposes inner city youth to historical Dallas landmarks and communities outside of their daily environment

iRISE: (starting in 2013) a movement meant to inspire young people to live with purpose and a commitment to serve others