Texas Women’s Foundation Celebrated 40th Anniversary with Award-Winning Actress Christine Baranski

On November 14 at the Omni Dallas Hotel, Texas Women’s Foundation (TXWF) celebrated its Ruby Anniversary Luncheon featuring Christine Baranski, an Emmy, two-time Tony, Screen Actors Guild, Drama Desk and American Comedy Award winner. The luncheon raised $840,000 in support of the Foundation’s mission, including more than $112,000 at the event itself. 

Sofia Diaz, Miss Dallas Nicole Hill, Karen Hughes White

TXWF Board Chair Cris Zertuche Wong welcomed more than 950 guests including seven of the organization’s 11 living Founders.  “We celebrate the nearly $90 million granted to women and girl-serving organizations in Texas and more than $25 million invested in research, advocacy and leadership programs for a total impact of $115 million on Texas women, their families, and their futures since the Foundation’s inception in 1985."

Debbie Branson, Cynthia Izaguirre, Madeline McClure

Wong thanked former Foundation leaders and Ruby Anniversary co-chairs: Gail Griswold and Brenda Jackson (1980s), Laura Estrada (1990s), Helen Frank (2000s), and Shonn Brown(2020s) and the sponsors. 

Texas Women’s Foundation President and CEO Karen Hughes White added, “Help us build on the legacy of our Founders as we prepare for the next 40 years. Because, unlike our Founders, the challenges facing Texas women have not aged well. And the solutions have become increasingly complex. It will take all of us to create meaningful, lasting, systemic change that levels playing field for women – and in turn, creates a strong and vibrant Texas for all.” 

Lynn Fisher, Renda Mathew, Laura Sands

Throughout the program, TXWF shared video clips of its Founders describing how a group of 19 dynamic and diverse women came together across varied backgrounds, beliefs and political ideologies to advance opportunities for Texas women and their families. 

Karen Hughes White, Shonn Brown, Gail Griswold, Christine Baranski, Laura Estrada, Cris Zertuche Wong, Caren Lock

Shonn Brown, former Texas Women’s Foundation board chair, thanked and honored the Foundation’s Founders, including the 11 living Founders who served as the event’s honorary co-chairs: 

·      Susan Shamburger Bagwell

·      The Honorable Harryette Ehrhardt

·      Catalina E. Garcia, M.D.

·      Frances Griffin-Brown

·      Helen LaKelly Hunt

·      The Honorable Kay Bailey Hutchison

·      Madeline Mandell

·      Patricia Meadows

·      Gwendolyn Oliver

·      CoYoTe PhoeNix

·      Rebecca Russell Sykes

Brown also paid tribute to the Founders who have passed: 

•       Geraldine D. Beer 

•       Vivian Anderson Castleberry

•       Maura Anderson McNiel

•       Joy Mankoff

•       Carmen Miller Michael

•       Louise Ballerstedt Raggio

•       Oeita Bottorff Theunissen 

•       Virginia Bulkley Whitehill

She announced that in honor of the 40th anniversary, interviews with several of the Funders will be included in a collection of 40 stories highlighting the passion, purpose and perseverance that have shaped TXWF’s impact. 

Target women

Sabrina Thomas, the Group Vice President of Target and Speaker Sponsor, introduced Christine Baranski and Caren Lock, TXWF former board chair who moderated the conversation.

Caren Lock, Christine Baranski

Special thank you to speaker sponsor Target and The Suzanne Ahn, M.D. Speaker Endowment Fund.

Texas Women’s Foundation Awards More Than $820,000 to support women and families across North Texas

Through its annual Community Grants Cycle, Texas Women’s Foundation (TXWF) has distributed $822,160 to 23 nonprofits improving the lives of more than 20,000 women, girls and families in North Texas. Among the grants, TXWF Board Alumnae awarded the Virginia B. Whitehill Board Alumnae Grant to Bonton Farms in the amount of $40,000; and TXWF’s Nineteen network provided a grant of $40,000 to Nexus Family Recovery Center.

TXWF Grantees

Grant recipients were recognized at a special reception on September 26 at Texas Women’s Foundation, which is celebrating its 40^th anniversary this year. This reception kicked off a year-long tribute honoring the rich history of TXWF’s founders and the four decades of impact the organization has made on the lives of women and girls across the state.

Karen Hughes White, Texas Women’s Foundation president and CEO, said, “These incredible nonprofit organizations are transforming public education, providing critical healthcare access and helping fill the increasing gap in basic needs such as food and housing. We are so thankful to our donors and philanthropic partners who make this support possible, allowing TXWF to remove barriers to women’s economic security, stability and success as we work to build a strong and vibrant Texas for all. 

Collin County: 

Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation Inc. – Economic Security 

The Samaritan Inn – Childcare

Dallas County:

Abide Women’s Health Services – Maternal Health 

After8toeducate – Maternal Health 

Bonton Farms – Economic Security

Brother Bill’s Helping Hand  – Workforce

Buckner Children and Family Services, Inc. – Workforce 

Dallas Leadership Foundation – Leadership 

Gateway of Grace – Economic Security 

Interfaith Family Services – Housing 

Junior Players  – Leadership Development 

LBU Community Clinic – Maternal Health 

Methodist Health System Foundation – Workforce 

Nexus Family Recovery Center – Women’s Health 

Poetic – Economic Security

Texas Woman’s University Foundation – Women’s Health  

Viola’s House – Housing 

Vogel Alcove – Child Care 

Young Women’s Preparatory Network – Balch Springs – Education

Denton County: 

Children’s Advocacy Center for North Texas Inc.  – Mental Health 

HSNT/Health Services of North Texas – Women’s Health

Ellis County:

The Heights Ellis County Family Resources Inc. – Mental Health

Tarrant County: 

Camp Fire First Texas – Workforce 

To learn more about Texas Women’s Foundation’s grants and for a complete grantee list, visit txwf.org/grants.

Texas Women’s Foundation Announces Award-Winning Actress Christine Baranski as Keynote Speaker for 40th Annual Luncheon on November 14

Texas Women’s Foundation (TXWF) announces Christine Baranski, an Emmy, two-time Tony, Screen Actors Guild, Drama Desk and American Comedy Award winner, as its featured speaker at its “Ruby Anniversary Luncheon” on Friday, November 14, 2025, (11:30-1:00 p.m.) at the Omni Dallas Hotel. She is best known for her performances in The Good Wife, The Good Fight, The Big Bang Theory, Mamma Mia, The Gilded Age and multiple theater roles. 

TXWF Board Chair Cris Zertuche Wong said, “Christine Baranski’s platform aligns perfectly with Texas Women’s Foundation, and we are excited to welcome her to Dallas. Her unapologetic advocacy for female empowerment and her drive for equal educational opportunities, equal pay and equal rights paint a transformative portrait of what it means to advocate for others.” 

 

To celebrate TXWF’s 40-year legacy of impact, this year’s Event Co-Chairs are leaders who represent the Foundation’s four decades: Gail Griswold and Brenda Jackson (1980s), Laura Estrada (1990s), Helen Frank (2000s), and Shonn Brown (2020s).

 

The Foundation’s 11 living Founders will serve as Honorary Co-Chairs for the Ruby Anniversary Luncheon: 

·      Susan Shamburger Bagwell

·      The Honorable Harryette Ehrhardt

·      Catalina E. Garcia, M.D.

·      Frances Griffin-Brown

·      Helen LaKelly Hunt

·      The Honorable Kay Bailey Hutchison

·      Madeline Mandell

·      Patricia Meadows

·      Gwendolyn Oliver

·      CoYoTe PheoNix

·      Rebecca R. Sykes

For those interested in supporting this year’s “Ruby Anniversary Luncheon,” as a partner or patron, please contact Joy Busch or Anne Leary at luncheon@txwf.org. Visit https://txwf.org/join-us/events/ for more details.

Texas Women’s Foundation Announces New Board Chair and New Board Members

Texas Women’s Foundation (TXWF) has announced that Cris Zertuche Wong has been named Chair of the Foundation’s Board of Directors beginning this month. Wong will serve a two-year term as Board Chair through June 30, 2027. She succeeds Carrie Freeman Parsons. 

In partnership with the TXWF President & CEO Karen Hughes White, Wong will lead the organization alongside Executive Committee:

Cris Zertuche Wong – Chair (Retired, Managing Director, Goldman Sachs)

Carrie Freeman Parsons – Immediate Past Chair (Chair of the Board, Freeman Company)

Jana Etheridge – Secretary (Senior Vice President, Chief of Staff, Capital One)

Lisette Mendez – Finance Committee Chair (Vice President Finance & Latin America Controller, AT&T)

Aracely Muñoz – Governance Committee Chair (Director, Corporate Partnerships, Children’s Health)

Hattie Hill – Member-At-Large (CEO, Hattie Hill Enterprises)

Holly Tucker – Member-At-Large (Partner, Deloitte Risk & Financial Advisory)

Karen Hughes White – President and CEO, Texas Women’s Foundation 

 

In addition, TXWF has added new board members: 

·      Vanessa Salinas Beckstrom, Partner, PwC

·      Patricia Rodriguez Christian, CEO, CRG Group Inc.

·      Katie Edwards, Chief Impact Officer & President, Mavs Foundation at Dallas Mavericks

·      Candice Hill, Southwest Segment Head, JPMorgan Chase & Co

·      Marty McDonald, Founder & CEO, Boss Women Media & CEO, Elle Olivia

 

For a complete list of Board Directors, visit here.

Wong said, “I’m honored to build on the legacy of impact created by the Foundation’s founders nearly 40 years ago. In so many ways, Texas women and girls have never needed us more.” 

 Hughes White added, “The strength of Texas Women’s Foundation is a direct result of the tireless volunteers who give generously of their time, talent and treasure in support of our mission. We are so grateful for the leadership of Carrie Freeman Parsons, and look forward to the impact Cris Zertuche Wong will have on the Foundation as we celebrate 40 years of impact.” 

Texas Women’s Foundation Empowers Women & Girls at #BESTSELF and the Leadership Forum & Awards Celebration

As part of its ongoing investment in lifecycle leadership development for women and girls, Texas Women’s Foundation hosted a powerful day of leadership, learning and inspiration on May 8th at the Omni Dallas Hotel. From thought-provoking conversations to unforgettable moments honoring trailblazing women and rising young leaders, the day helped support the Foundation’s mission of building #StrongWomenBetterTexas

The day began with #BESTSELF, where nearly 200 students who came together for engaging workshops focused on making smart, informed decisions, navigating the physical and emotional changes of adolescence, and harnessing the power of their voices to create meaningful change.

Karen Hughes White, Cris Zertuche Wong, Carrie Freeman Parsons

In the afternoon, TXWF hosted its annual Leadership Forum – a dynamic masterclass featuring microlearning sessions with the recipients of the 2025 Maura and Young Leader Awards. Author, speaker and 2025 Maura Award recipient Anne Chow kicked things off with a Ted Talk-style “ANNE Talk,” sharing insights from her book Lead Bigger. TXWF Board Director Deborah Hunter Johnson led a ”POWER Panel” discussion on advancing women and girls in STEM with 2025 Maura awardees Dr. Carine Feyten, Dr. Nuripama “Rupa” DeSilva, and Jennifer Bartkowski. Afterward, the crowd was treated to exciting “5 in 5” interviews in which two young students from Irma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School, a Young Women’s Preparatory Network School, asked five “rapid-fire questions in five minutes of TXWF’s 2025 Young Leader awardees Haleigh Jones and Cristal Retana Lule. The Forum wrapped up with some “REAL Talk” between Anne Chow and NBC5 Anchor Deborah Ferguson. 

Theresa Flores, Liz Cedillo-Pereira, Linda Valdez Thompson

At the Celebration Dinner following the Forum, event co-chairs Debbie Dennis, Chief Customer Officer and SVP Human Resources and Corporate Affairs at Oncor Electric Delivery, and Brooke Hopkins, Managing Director at Alvarez & Marsal, welcomed attendees and thanked key partners.

Debbie Dennis, Brooke Hopkins (event co-chairs)

Texas Women’s Foundation Board Chair Carrie Freeman Parsons greeted event guests, sharing, “With clarity of purpose and your support, we’ve continued to fulfill our mission and grow our impact year over year for the past 39 years.” Carrie also introduced the individuals who nominated the 2025 Young Leader awardees:   

·      Trey Crawford introduced Haleigh Jones,  Crawford, Wishnew & Lang Attorney. 

·      Maria Mendez introduced Cristal Retana Lule, Children’s Health Vice President of Community Relations.

Dr. Carine Feyten, Haleigh Jones, Dr. Rupa DeSilva, Anne Chow, Jennifer Bartkowski, Cristal Retana Lule

Awards Selection Committee Co-chair and previous Maura Award recipient Brenda Jackson introduced the 2025 Maura honorees and their presenters. 

·      Kim Lyle introduced Jennifer Bartkowski, Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas CEO.

·      Mylinh Luong introduced Anne Chow, The Rewired CEO Founder. 

·      Samantha Barakat introduced Dr. Rupa DeSilva, Parkland Health, UT Southwestern Medical Center Professor. 

·      Christopher Johnson introduced Dr. Carine Feyten, Texas Woman’s University Chancellor and President. 

·      Former TXWF Board Chairs Caren Lock and Shonn Brown introduced Cynt Marshall, Marshalling Resources Founder and The Dallas Mavericks (retired CEO), who was unable to attend the event. 

Dianne Chipps Bailey, Dodee Frost Crockett, Jennifer Chandler, Alesia Coffman, Crissie Fortmeyer

Dia Wall, WFAA anchor and reporter, hosted a conversation with the 2025 Maura Award recipients who shared their insight on everything from healthcare, to education, the wage gap and increased representation of women and Women of Color in leadership.

Karen Hughes White, Effie Dennison, Kimberly Bizor Tolbert, Caren Lock

Incoming TXWF Board Chair, Cris Zertuche Wong closed out the program by thanking all in attendance and invited guests to attend TXWF’s upcoming 40th Annual Luncheon at the Omni Hotel on November 14.

For additional partners and patrons, visit https://txwf.org/join-us/events/lfac-event/

Photo credit: Kim Leeson and Guy Rogers/TXWF