Dallas Women’s Foundation award recipients to be honored at Leadership Forum and Awards Dinner

Dallas Women’s Foundation announces the recipients of its 2016 Maura Women Helping Women Award and Young Leader Award recognizing leaders who have positively impacted the lives of women and girls in the North Texas area. Award recipients will be honored at the Leadership Forum and Awards Dinner, presented by AT&T, on April 21, 2016 at the Dallas Omni Hotel. 

 

The dinner, co-chaired by Margaret Jordan and Debbie Taylor, includes presentation of the Maura Award and presentation of the Young Leader Award by Capital One. The evening also features keynote speaker Anne-Marie Slaughter, president and CEO of New America. Slaughter’s recently released book, Unfinished Business: Women, Men, Work, Family, outlines a new vision for work-life balance, and an action plan for achieving true equality between men and women.

Anne-Marie Slaughter, Keynote Speaker

“The Leadership Forum recognizes outstanding leaders who blazed the trail for women in their industries and communities,” said Roslyn Dawson Thompson, Foundation president and chief executive officer. “These leaders have faced great challenges in their lives and careers, and yet dedicated themselves to creating more opportunities for women and girls to achieve and succeed.”  

 

For 37 years, the Maura Women Helping Women Award has honored courageous women and men who have catalyzed change for women and girls in North Texas. The 2016 Maura recipients will join the esteemed company of more than 190 previous honorees. This year’s recipients are:

Diana C. Dutton, Rabbi Nancy Kasten, Vicki Meek, Katie Pedigo, and Billie Bryant Schultz.

 

Dallas Women's Foundation's Young Leader Award was established in 2013 to recognize breakthrough leadership exhibited by a woman under the age of 40 who is achieving success in a field, initiative or sector, and creating a path of opportunity for other women to follow. This year’s recipients are:

Brittany K. Byrd and Lacy L. Durham.

 

 

 

Dallas Women’s Foundation Reaches $30 Million Granting Milestone In First 30 Years

Award-winning actress, producer, designer, philanthropist and ninth generation Texan Eva Longoria was the keynote speaker at Dallas Women’s Foundation’s 30th Annual Luncheon, on Friday, Oct. 30th at The Hilton Anatole. The organization announced it has granted $30 million in 30 years, driving research, programming, collaboration and innovation in North Texas to support women and girls. The sold-out luncheon, with 1,800 attendees, raised more than $1.2 million.

Keith Banks, President U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management; Eva Longoria and Roslyn Dawson Thompson, Dallas Women's Foundation President and CEO

The luncheon celebrated 30 years of the Foundation’s work to advance positive social and economic change for women and girls in North Texas.

 

“I’m excited to join Dallas Women’s Foundation as they lead the fight for women’s issues in Dallas and in my home state of Texas,” said Longoria. “Nothing is more impactful to a community than investment in women. When you improve the lives of women, that affects their families, and ultimately changes our communities. With men and women working together, we can, and we will, improve the lives of women and girls.”

Ashlee and Chris Kleinert, Nancy Ann Hunt

A stalwart supporter of women and diversity, Eva Longoria is the founder of “The Eva Longoria Foundation,” which is dedicated to helping Latinas build better futures for themselves through education and entrepreneurship. Named “Philanthropist of the Year” by The Hollywood Reporter and honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at Variety’s annual Power of Women Luncheon, Longoria was also selected as commissioner for the National Museum of the American Latino Commission.

Eva Longoria speaking at the Dallas Women's  Foundation 30th Annual Luncheon

Recently, Longoria joined Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn in the three-part PBS series, “A Path Appears,” which exposes the effects of gender inequality and poverty in Haiti, Kenya, Colombia and across the U.S. Longoria is also a Golden Globe-nominated, Screen Actors Guild Award- and ALMA Award-winning actress, who will star in and executive produce the highly anticipated series, “Telenovela,” premiering this fall on NBC.

The 30th Annual Luncheon co-chairs Jane and Michael Hurst; Stacey and John Relton; and Paula and Ron Parker

The 30th Annual Luncheon was led by a trifecta of couples, co-chairs Jane and Michael Hurst; Paula and Ron Parker; and Stacey and John Relton.

 

“Eva’s life’s work is a shining example of the generosity, grit and determination that is innate in all Texans – especially Texan women,” said Roslyn Dawson Thompson. “We know that when women are strong and secure, so are their families and their communities.”

Dallas Women's Foundation's Annual Luncheon Welcomes Tory Burch

29th Annual Luncheon

 

October 9, 2014
11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Hilton Anatole, Chantilly Ballroom

 

Presented by

 

featuring Keynote Speaker Tory Burch

 

Chairs

Jan Osborn and Robin Bagwell

 

Honorary Chair

Betty S. Regard

 

Dallas Women's Foundation's Annual Luncheon is the organization's principal fundraising event. With the luncheon as one of the top 10 largest luncheons in Dallas, both in dollars raised and size of audience, the goal is to raise funds to support the Foundation's work in gender-based research, its grants to organizations benefiting women and girls, and its philanthropy education that enables donors to link their values with their giving to gain greater impact.

 

This year's event features American fashion designer, business woman and philanthropist, Tory Burch, who will speak about her commitment to increasing economic security for American women, and her approach to the issue.

 

Register online: https://www.dallaswomensfdn.org/register-for-the-luncheon

Dallas Women's Foundation Raises Over $1 Million at Annual Luncheon

Just one week ago, a sell-out crowd of more than 1,500 people – community members, business leaders, elected officials, nonprofit leaders, advocates and philanthropists – filled the Chantilly Ballroom at the Hilton Anatole for Dallas Women’s Foundation’s 28th Annual Luncheon. Thanks to the amazing ‘dream team’ – Luncheon Chairs Lauren Embrey, Sarah Losinger and Lynn McBee, and Honorary Chair Caren Prothro – more than $1 million was raised to support Dallas Women’s Foundation’s efforts to create positive social and economic change for women and girls.



Lara Gaither, Jenny Callies, Kimberly Westphall
Photo by Kristina Bowman



The organizations is grateful to the generous partners for committing their resources and influence to raise awareness about the issue of human trafficking:

Presenting sponsor: U.S. Trust

Speaker Partners: Ruthie’s Rolling Café, Ashlee and Chris Kleinert, Heather L. Hunt

Crystal Partners: AT&T, Nancy Ann and Ray Hunt, Hunt Consolidated, Inc., Texas Instruments

Diamond Partners: Kimberly-Clark, Caren and Vin Prothro Foundation

Media Partner: KERA.

Ashlee Kleinert (Dallas Women's Foundation Board Chair), Roslyn Dawson Thompson (Dallas Women's Foundation President & CEO), Caren Prothro (Luncheon Honorary Chair)
Photo by Kristina Bowman

UN Ambassador, Academy Award® and Golden Globe® winner Mira Sorvino passionately detailed her work with the United Nations and her personal encounters with trafficking victims around the world, some as young as age four. With deep emotion, Mira said, “When you look in their eyes and see their pain, it changes you, and you cannot walk away unaffected.” 

Kalita Blessing (Power of the Purse Award Honoree), Mira Sorvino (Speaker & UN Goodwill Ambassador on Human Trafficking), Ed Blessing
Photo by Lisa Stewart

Mira also shared some startling statistics about human trafficking in the United States:

-100,000 American children are exploited in the commercial sex industry annually

-The average age a child is first exploited is 13

-70% of victims have experienced physical or sexual abuse in their home

Kimberly Schlegel Whitman, Amy Vanderoef, Jane Hurst, Heather Hays
Photo by Kristina Bowman

Human trafficking is a significant issue in Texas – 25% of all those trafficked for sex or labor come through the state. We can all be proud that Texas has passed nine new laws to protect victims, help survivors and prosecute traffickers during the last two legislative sessions. The Polaris Project ranks Texas as a tier one state for anti-trafficking legislation, however, our state still has the second highest number of calls to the National Human Trafficking Hotline.  

Bonnie Rainey, Wendy Messman
Photo by Kristina Bowman

Dallas Women’s Foundation is committed to being a leader in the efforts to end human trafficking and needs your support and involvement. We urge you to take an active role now:

-->Program the National Human Trafficking Hotline in your phone – 1-888-373-7888 – and report suspicious situations or circumstances.

-->Text the word HELP to BeFree (233733) if you suspect any form of human slavery or trafficking.

-->Go to Slaveryfootprint.org and take the online survey to determine your “slavery footprint”.

-->Mark January 11 – National Human Trafficking Day – on your calendar and participate in calls to action that day

-->Stay involved with Dallas Women’s Foundation. Donate, attend an event, volunteer or simply follow on Facebook, or Twitter.

Together, we will make the change we seek in our world - to end modern day slavery, to ensure women's economic stability and to open the paths to opportunity - because Strong Women make a Better World.