What: Texas Women’s Foundation 2023 Leadership Forum & Awards Celebration
Photo by Kim Leeson
Sharon Babick, Cris Zertuche Wong, Margie Aguiler
Where: Omni Dallas Hotel
The 411: Dallas native, former first daughter, and NBC Today co-host Jenna Bush Hager came home to Texas to help honor some of the state's most accomplished women on April 27. More than 650 attendees filled the Omni hotel downtown for the Texas Women's Foundation's annual forum and awards party.
Unlike many other nonprofit events, this was more than just a luncheon or a fancy soiree. The day started with a half-day empowerment program for 200 middle and high school girls dubbed #BESTSELF.
Then, Leadership Forums saw the 2023 Maura Women Helping Women and Young Leader award recipients discuss their journey.
Finally, the Awards Celebration and Dinner featured a presentation in which Hager interviewed the honorees in two different panel discussions on stage.
Also a fundraiser, the day's events and celebrations raised $572,000 to further the foundation's mission to advance economic security and leadership for Texas women and girls through groundbreaking research, advocacy, grants and programs.
Who: Brenda Jackson, selection co-chair, and Wendy Bridges of sponsor Comerica Bank presented awards to the following (with descriptions provided by the foundation):
Froswá Booker-Drew, Ph.D. (Dallas), the CEO of Soulstice Consultancy, LLC providing DEI, leadership training, community engagement strategies and philanthropic/partnership guidance for institutions.
Mary Pat Higgins (Dallas), President and CEO of the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum, where she leads its mission to teach the history of the Holocaust and advance human rights to combat prejudice, hatred, and indifference.
Jill Louis (Dallas), Managing Partner of Perkins Coie’s Dallas office, a member of the firm’s Corporate & Securities practice, and co-chair of the Infrastructure Development practice. She is also the host of "RelevantNow," an environmental, social and corporate governance-focused podcast.
Madeline Burillo-Hopkins, Ed.D. (Houston), Vice Chancellor Workforce Instruction for the Houston Community College System and College President, where she has been an advocate for workforce education, diversity, and equity.
Aimee Cunningham (Austin), President and CEO of The Boone Family Foundation and a highly experienced principal in the progressive movement.
The Young Leader Award (recognizing breakthrough leadership y a trailblazer under the age of 40) went to:
Ann Sheu (Dallas), the founder of Mpowered Families, a training and coaching company with a unique approach to empowering individuals with tools to have a family life filled with purpose, alignment and connection.
Professor “Bee” Nance (Katy), the COO of Generation Teach, a multi-million-dollar educational non-profit whose vision is to end racial injustice and inequity in education.
The luncheon took place in the lobby of the Meyerson.Photo courtesy of SAWA