On April 9 our friend Pat Holder of Pat Holder and Associates attended the Friends of Wednesday's Child Luncheon and shares her experience here with us! Enjoy:
The Grand Ballroom at Union Station was the setting for the Friends
of Wednesday’s Child 30th Anniversary Luncheon on Wednesday, April
9, 2014. Libby and David Hunt/The Nancy
and Herbert Hunt Family Foundation were the Presenting Sponsors.
A Champagne Reception was held in the Frisco Room before the
Luncheon in honor of the Friends of Wednesday’s Child Luncheon Underwriting
Sponsors.
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| Libby Hunt, honorary chair and her husband, David Hunt |
Cachet Weinberg, Luncheon Chair, welcomed the guests and
enthusiastically told of her success after being helped by Wednesday’s Child in
her youth. Libby Hunt, Honorary Chair,
commented on her and her family’s desire to promote the work of the
organization and to help close the educational gap for children in foster care.
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| Darlene Ellison, featured speaker |
The Keynote Speaker was Darlene Ellison, M.S., author of The Predator Next Door. She has appeared
on Oprah, 20/20, a special segment on Dateline
NBC, an interview with D Magazine and
more. Darlene told the Wednesday’s Child audience of her tragic life experience
and her fight for survival, for herself and her children. Her story was a reminder about how overcoming
hardships and challenges can ultimately strengthen a family.
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| Gloria Campos, emcee; Ke’Onte Cook |
The delightful Gloria Campos, recently retired Channel 8 Newscaster and a big supporter
of Wednesday’s Child, was the Mistress of Ceremony. Gloria received a Double T
Award for Excellence in Public Service by Texas Tech University College of Mass
Communications for her weekly “Wednesday’s Child Reports.
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| Sharon McGowan, Executive Director, Friends of Wednesday’s Child; Linda Crawford |
Friends of Wednesday’s Child, Executive Director, Sharon
McGowan, spoke about how the organization is transforming the lives of students
in foster care by improving their educational path. She said that without
educational success, foster children are ill-equipped to support themselves and
are 50% more likely to drop out of high school or not graduate on time compared
to their peers.
Wednesday’s Child Mission Manager, Alisha Robertson, was
presented along with the Board of Directors Chairman, Cindy D. Pagel; Vice-Chairman,
Ronald Taylor; Treasurer, Jason “Jay” Towne; Secretary, Delta Emerson; and
other members of the Board, including: Celia Barshop, Linda Crawford, Leigh
Harris, Clara Kippes, Timmy Newsome, Jennifer Pascal and G. Brint Ryan. Each
was thanked for their participation.
After a short film was presented, a delightful luncheon was
served, and then Wednesday’s Child Board Member, G. Brint Ryan, Chairman and
CEO of Ryan Innovative Solutions, made closing remarks.
Brint stated that the success of the Friends
of Wednesday’s Child is due to the combination of the Partnership and Resources
that transform the lives of children.
He
expressed appreciation to the philanthropic-minded Dallas community and thanked
them for the proceeds from the luncheon, which will benefit many children.
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| Bill and Cachet Weinberg, luncheon chair |
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| Nancy and Herbert Hunt, presenting sponsors |
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| Tavia Hunt, Lisa Troutt, Heather Washburne |
Contributed by Pat Holder of Pat Holder and Assoc.
Photographs by Dana Driensky
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