What: Texas Women’s Foundation Luncheon
Where: Hilton Anatole Hotel
The 411: The most decorated American Track & Field Olympian of all time, Allyson Felix, raced into Dallas to help raise funds in support of women and girls.
Appropriately themed "Transforming Texas," the Texas Women’s Foundation 37th annual luncheon on October 6 was co-chaired by business leaders Laura Nieto and Rachel Vinson, with Hilda Galvan serving as Texas Women’s Foundation board chair, and Miki Woodard, the organization's president and chief executive officer.
After a high-spirited performance by Garland High School's award-winning step team and opening remarks and tributes, the main event of the afternoon was an on-stage conversation between Felix and Cynt Marshall, president and CEO of The Dallas Mavericks and author of the just-released memoir You’ve Been Chosen: Thriving Through the Unexpected.
Felix and Marshall talked their love of track (both ran track), sports, role models, motherhood, and transformation. Little-known fact: Felix started out as a basketball player before she decided to try track. “This is my thing that makes me feel alive. I found out I like to win,” she told the audience.
Off the track, the winner of 27 global medals has made it her mission to help women. Felix parted ways with her shoe sponsor, Nike, when they asked her to take a 70 percent pay cut when she got pregnant — so she started her own line, called Saysh, shoes designed for and by women. She's also advocated for better childcare, which, she expressed, is an ongoing struggle for women.
In a unique twist, more than 200 students live-streamed the luncheon program next door. They were from Young Women’s Preparatory Network, Sunset P-TECH, Early College High School – Carrollton, and Woodrow Wilson High School.
To them, Felix said, “We think we have to have a massive platform, but you don’t. Start where you’re at. Know your worth and know your value.”
At the conclusion of the luncheon, the co-chairs donned their sneakers onstage and left the crowd with an empowering message: “We can’t continue to stay where we are … we have to sprint towards a better Texas for all. Let’s cross this finish line together."
Fundraising totals were still being tallied as of press time. Luncheon proceeds support the foundation's work to advance women’s economic security, leadership, education, health and safety in Texas through research, advocacy, programs, and grantmaking.
Who: Clarissa Luckey, Catherine Helm, Ashley Slaughter, Ashley Harris, Jennifer Stimpson, Tricia Watson, Cousia Towns, Arnetta Harris, Favor Lee, Mylinh Luong, Charmaine Tang, Tracey Doi, Gowri Sharma, Radhika Zaveri, Neena Newberry, Jessica Robinson, Jennifer Bartlett, Rachel Sargent, Melissa Lynch, Lily Brown, Shonn Brown, Ryan Brown, Samantha Ward, Mike Ireland, Bonnie Clinton, Shrini Arole, Tiffanie Rice, Rebecca Bennett, Trenessia Smith, and Sophia Swalbach.
Photo by Kim Leeson for Texas Women’s Foundation
Rachel Vinson, Allyson Felix, Laura Nieto
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Laura Pierson (in Lela Rose), Francis Harrison (in St. John) Julianne Santarosa (in Terry John), Bailey Harrison (in Sue Gragg), Sharon Lee Clark (in Ese Azenabor), Caroline Harrison (in Sue Gragg) Photo by Ashley Gongora 