Featured Ambassador: Dawn Neufeld
Dawn Neufeld, star of VH1’s Football Wives, is a multi-faceted woman with a heart for her family and children. A native Californian, Dawn was bitten by the acting bug at a young age. Her early training with the Al Fann Theatrical Ensemble and Kevin McDermott’s Center Stage L.A. helped her land roles in several television shows and plays.
Dawn Neufeld
Although Dawn took a break from the industry during junior high and high school to focus on academics and sports, her love for acting never went away. During college, Dawn balanced her academic pursuits with modeling and acting. She developed an interest in media and journalism and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies with a Women’s Studies minor from UCLA while working as a campus lifeguard. She went on to earn a law degree from the UC Davis School of Law and is licensed to practice in both California (2002) and Texas (2009). Dawn practiced law in Los Angeles for about a year before moving to Buffalo, New York where her husband Ryan played for the NFL’s Buffalo Bills. While in Buffalo, Dawn reconnected with her love for all things acting when she joined the Frank Rossi Studio and began taking acting lessons. When the Neufelds moved home to Frisco, Texas in 2008, Dawn dove head first into the local television waters while re-establishing her legal career.
During her time in Buffalo, Dawn visited the local children’s hospital with her husband. She can still remember how appreciative the families were to have people there to talk to. She also remembers the heartbreak that inspired her to start volunteering. “There was a baby boy about 19-months-old sitting in a high chair in his room all alone because his parents had to work to make sure their mortgage was paid and that the lights stayed on while their child was battling cancer,” Dawn says. “I realized in that moment that I had to spend as much time as I have to spare giving back and trying to help make a difference in other people’s lives.”
Like many others, Dawn became aware of Layla’s story through a post on a friend’s Facebook page. “I choked up as I tried to read the blog out loud to my husband,” Neufeld recalls. “As little Layla’s situation grew dire, I remember putting my own daughter to bed one night and I got in the shower and just sobbed. My little girl was only a few months younger than Layla was when she was diagnosed, and all I could think about was how much the Marsh family must be suffering.” Dawn reached out to Shanna shortly thereafter and asked how she could be involved.
Dawn is the host of D210 TV, a show featuring the latest in entertainment and sports. Dawn recently wrapped up a stint co-hosting The Bite, a weekly cutting-edge entertainment show being broadcast in high-volume restaurant chains nation-wide. She is also featured in a series of Smart Tips found on the Food Network. When not in front of the camera, Dawn is a corporate attorney with Graham, Bright & Smith in Dallas.
Dawn competed in the 2010 Mrs. Texas America pageant where she finished 4th runner-up. She championed autism awareness as her platform and was also awarded the coveted Best Interview Award.
During her spare time, Dawn enjoys spending time with her husband and children, Will and Bryn, and participating in her favorite charities – Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids Foundation and the Layla Grace Foundation. Dawn is also a provisional member of the Junior League of Dallas and is an active participant and former board member of Off the Field, the national football wives association. Wrapping up her philanthropic duties, Dawn is the current publicity chair for the Silver Dollar Ball benefitting the American Cancer Society.