Celebrity Chefs Announced for The EmpowerHER Dinner

The buzz began as soon as the invitations went out for the Chefs Announcement Party for The EmpowerHER Dinner presented by Westwood Wealth Management benefiting the Young Women’s Preparatory Network (YWPN).

Slated for Thursday, November 13, 2025 and happening in a private home in the Park Cities for up to 125 attendees, The EmpowerHER Dinner begins at 6:00 p.m. with a cocktail reception including passed hors d’oeuvres, silent auction of some one-of-a-kind items, entertainment, announcements, and a few surprises followed by a multi-course seated gourmet dinner. Each chef will create her own featured item.

The celebrity chefs for this exclusive dinner are

Janice Provost, Chef/Proprietor, Parigi

Anastacia Quiñones, Culinary Director and Co-Owner of Eledi

Dunia Terselich Borga, Executive Pastry Chef, Co-Founder of La Duni Latin Café and La Duni Baking Studio

Leigh Hutchinson, Chef/Owner of Via Triozzi

Mollie Guerra, Chef Mollie G Custom Cuisine

Individual tickets start at $500. Patron tickets are $1,000 with different benefits. Sponsorships begin at $5,000 up to $25,000. Visit the website for more information: www.youngwomensprep.org/empowerher-dinner/

Young Women's Preparatory Network - The Empower Her Dinner

Lynn McBee, CEO of the Young Women’s Preparatory Network, announces a new fundraiser for the organization, The EmpowerHER Dinner, Empowered Women Empowering Young Girls presented by Westwood Wealth Management.

         Chaired by Regina Bruce and Dr. Carla Russo, the theme includes this inspirational tagline, “Like a monarch transforming from a caterpillar to a butterfly – Empowering young girls to soar on their journey into adulthood.”

         Signing on as honorary chairs are the women of the Lacerte family: Joyce Lacerte, Quincy Lacerte, Madison Lacerte, Monroe Lacerte, Megan Barrie-Schwarz and Harriet Lacerte.

         Slated for Thursday, November 13, 2025 and happening in a private home in the Park Cities for up to 125 attendees, this exclusive dinner will feature a top team of acclaimed and accomplished female chefs from local Dallas restaurants. The evening will begin with a cocktail reception including passed hors d’oeuvres, auction of some one-of-a-kind items, entertainment, announcements, and a few surprises followed by a multi-course seated gourmet dinner. Each chef will create her own featured item. 

“The EmpowerHER Dinner is more than a fundraiser—it’s a powerful investment in the future of our girls. I’m especially grateful to Regina Bruce and Dr. Carla Russo for their leadership, to the Lacerte family for their unwavering support, and to Westwood for making this event possible. Together, we’re opening doors to opportunity,” said Lynn McBee, Chief Executive Officer.

         Limited seating up to 125. Individual tickets start at $500. Patron tickets are $1,000 with different benefits. Sponsorships begin at $5,000 up to $25,000. 

Visit the website for more information: www.youngwomensprep.org/empowerher-dinner/ or contact Cindy Ryan, Chief Development Officer. Email: cryan@ywprep.org

Hispanic 100 Latina Giving Circle at Texas Women’s Foundation Delivers $115,000 to North Texas Nonprofits

The Hispanic 100 (H100) Latina Giving Circle at Texas Women’s Foundation has awarded $115,000 in grants to 30 North Texas area nonprofits serving the needs of Latina women and girls in low- and moderate-income communities. Since 2019, the group has contributed $506,000 to dozens of worthy nonprofit organizations.

Hispanic 100 Latina Giving Circle at Texas Women’s Foundation and grantees

The H100 Latina Giving Circle at Texas Women’s Foundation was established in 2019 by the Hispanic 100 Network to further engage Latinas in philanthropy, and to expand resources for local organizations whose mission is to empower, educate and support Latinas across North Texas.

Cris Zertuche Wong, Lucinda Rocha; Suzanne Cruz-Sewell; Maryanne Piña Frodsham

Linda Valdez Thompson, H100 Latina Giving Circle Co-Chair, said, “From education to family support, housing and health, these grants will have an immediate impact on these organizations during a difficult few years. We are honored to support them.”

Kim Cummings (H100 LGCboardmember), Mylinh Luong (Orchid Giving Circle co-founder), Lisa Montgomery (The Village Giving Circle co-founder)

Lucinda Rocha, H100 Latina Giving Circle Co-Chair, added, “There were so many worthy nonprofit organizations as there are many needs in our community. We appreciate the H100 members who have helped research and pare down the list to these amazing organizations addressing social issues and making a difference in their communities.” 

Grants were given to the following:

•      After-School All-Stars – Career Exploration program for Latina All-Stars

•      Aspire – Early Education and Family Literacy Program for Latinas and children

•      Bachman Lake Together – Community Action Network program to equip parents 

•      Bryan’s House – Family Support Services Program for children with special needs

•      Catch Up & Read – Bilingual support to help at-risk children read on grade level 

•      The Compelling Why – Seminars and leadership programs for Latina students 

•      The Concilio – Parents Advocating for Student Excellence program

•      Foundation Communities – Housing for homeless and low-income families

•      Friends of Solar Prep – Educational programs for girls at Solar Prep for Girls 

•      Genesis Women’s Shelter – Bilingual services for Spanish speaking families  

•      Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas – Membership access for Latina girls 

•      Girlstart – Afterschool programs and summer camps

•      HHM Health – Women and Children’s Health Center support 

•      Hispanic Women Network of Texas (Latinas in Progress) – Operational support 

•      Hope Clinic of McKinney – Support for a medical doctor to provide care

•      Human Rights Initiative of North Texas – Support of HRI’s Crime Victims Program

•      Jubilee Park Community Center – Housing and Workforce Program for low-income residents 

•      LiftFund – Technical Assistance integration of Latina Small Business Recovery Program

•      Metrocrest Services – Metrocrest Empowerment Initiative for Women 

•      Mommies in Need – Support for Annie's Place to provide healthcare access

•      Mosaic Family Services – Support salary of a bilingual case manager

•      Primos Dallas – Support for young people to become college, career and life ready 

•      Rainbow Days, Inc. – Community Connection program for at-risk children 

•      Readers 2 Leaders – Support reading skills of underserved Dallas children 

•      Rosa es Rojo – Salary and support for SuperVive-Comunidad Virtual platform  

•      SER Jobs for Progress National, Inc. – SER STEM funds for girls to learn and compete in robotics 

•      United to Learn – Program support for public elementary schools 

•      Viola’s House Inc. – Maternity outreach program for new and expectant teen moms 

•      Wesley-Rankin Community Center – Girls of Hope and Girls of Honor courses 

•      Young Women’s Preparatory Network – Program support for all female schools

Miki Woodard, Texas Women’s Foundation president and CEO, said, “Thank you to the H100 Latina Giving Circle for raising funds and supporting these incredible nonprofit organizations. When we lift up a woman and her family, the community also rises and benefits.”

Leadership includes Maryanne Piña Frodsham, H100 Board President; Lucinda Rocha, co-chair; Linda Valdez Thompson, co-chair; Maria Espinoza, grants chair; Kim Cummings, board member; and Rachel C. Ybarra, board member. Committee members include Elsa Grivas, Betty Manetta, Evelyn Molina, Rosa Navejar, Silvana Rosero, Erma Saracho, Jennifer Treviño and Dora Tovar.

Donating to the H100 Latina Giving Circle is open to anyone who has a desire to join a legacy of philanthropy that creates positive change by investing in the lives of Latinas. To learn more about joining the H100 Latina Giving Circle, visit https://www.txwf.org/h100latinagivingcircle/ or email H100latinagc@txwf.org.

The Honorable Kay Bailey Hutchison Speaks to Young Women’s Preparatory Network

Young Women’s Preparatory Network, the largest all girls’ college preparatory network in the nation, held its Leadership Summit on September 14 and 15 with its principals, key team members and staff. A highlight of the conference was hearing from The Honorable Kay Bailey Hutchison at Joyce and Larry Lacerte’s home on September 14.

Lynn McBee, Young Women’s Prep CEO, introduced Hutchison. “Kay has done so much for public education. She is the one who championed the amendment making single-sex schools legal in public school district, and we now have the largest network in the country.”

Malinda Villalobos (Ysleta), Lynn McBee (YWPN CEO), Jeanne Goka-Dubose (Austin), Delia Montelongo-McLerran (San Antonio), The Honorable Kay Bailey Hutchison, Mia Hall (Fort Worth), Delesa O’Dell-Thomas (Houston), Jennifer Oliver (Grand Prairie), Berta Fogerson (Lubbock), Lisa Curry (Dallas)

Young Women's Prep was founded in 2002. This network is the result of Lee and Sally Posey’s vision: the Texas philanthropists were inspired by a 2001 visit to a new single-sex, college preparatory, public school in New York City: The Young Women’s Leadership School of East Harlem.

 

The first and largest of its kind in Texas, Young Women’s Prep formed the first public/private partnership with DISD in 2004, opening the Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School, the first all-girls public school in Texas. Since then, Young Women’s Prep has opened schools in Austin, Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, Houston, Lubbock and San Antonio. There are plans to open additional schools. 

Patty Leyendecker, Quincy Lacerte, Joyce Lacerte, Brent Christopher

An astounding 100% of the students graduate from high school and are accepted to a college or university. In 2014-2015, the network’s 247 graduates received more than $29 million in academic and merit scholarships and have matriculated to 87 different colleges and universities.

 

Young Women’s Prep network schools serve students in grades 6 through 12 on seven campuses across the state of Texas. Approximately 70 percent of all students come from economically disadvantaged homes, and 68 percent of the students in the Class of 2015 are first generation college students.

Michele Vobach, Elizabeth Jones, Margaret Kelliher, Laura Estrada

 

Young Women's Preparatory Network Announced (formerly FEYW)

To better align its mission with its name, the Foundation for the Education of Young Women announced a new name and a whole new look on Sept. 24 at a festive celebration on the lawn of the group’s East Dallas headquarters that included a gathering of board members, educators, donors and students. 

Gloria Campos, Evelyn Henry Miller, Laura Estrada--all three are Young Women's Preparatory Network board members; Sally Posey (who, along with her late husband, introduced this all-girls concept to Texas; left of sign); Gina Betts, Young Women’s Preparatory Network board chair (in back middle); Lynn McBee, Young Women’s Preparatory Network CEO

The newly-named Young Women’sPreparatory Network (Young Women’s Prep for short) provides private funding and other resources for the network of STEM-focused, all-girls preparatory public schools across Texas. Currently seven schools strong with plans to expand, the single gender campuses, which are primarily attended by disadvantaged and second-generation immigrant students, boast 100% graduation rates and high achievement in college admission exam performance and college scholarship awards.

 

The party’s agenda included after-school fare from Steel City Pops and Ruthie’s Rolling Café, as well as student performances by a girl-power cheerleading squad, an orchestra and a Ballet Folklorico troupe from the newest school in the network—the Young Women’s Leadership Academy at Arnold in Grand Prairie. 

Young Women's Leadership Principals Berta Fogerson (Lubbock), Vivian Taylor-Samudio (Dallas), Cheryl Horton (asst. principal, Grand Prairie), Mia Hall (Fort Worth), Delesa O'Dell Thomas (Houston), Jeanne Goka (Austin) (not pictured: San Antonio)

“As we headed into the second decade of operations, we looked back and saw that we’d become so much more than a granting organization for these programs,” explains Lynn McBee, Young Women’s Prep CEO, “and then we realized it was time for a new name and a new look. We’ve got big plans for the future, which means we need a strong brand image that will adequately convey our message to donors and community members.” 

 

Founded in 2004 as a partnership with the Dallas ISD, the Foundation for the Education of Young Women, now Young Women’s prep, has helped open schools in Dallas, Austin, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Lubbock, Houston, and Grand Prairie in the last decade – and talks are in place to launch a new program in Harlingen, TX.

Young women from two schools along with the leaders Sally Posey (left of sign); Lynn McBee, Young Women’s Preparatory Network CEO; Gina Betts, Young Women’s Preparatory Network board chair (both right of sign)