The Dallas Women’s Foundation has just announced the women of note for its annual luncheon “Global Women’s Voices” on Monday, October 24, at the Hilton Anatole.
In addition to the foundation’s annual Power of the Purse Philanthropist Award being presented to Dr. Catalina E. Garcia, a new award, Power of the Purse
Wealth Advisor Award, will be presented to Dodee Frost Crockett.
With the lunch’s focus on the crusade for women’s rights in the Middle East, former first lady Laura Bush will serve at the luncheon’s honorary chair. As you probably know, Laura has been highly involved in advocating for “the plight of women and children suffering under the Taliban.”
As mentioned earlier, Mavis Leno will be the keynote speaker for the luncheon.
Following the jump is the full press release. If you would like to be impressed by women of accomplishment, you might want to give it a look and get a ticket.
Photos provided by the Dallas Women's Foundation
Laura W. Bush to Serve as Honorary Chair of Dallas Women’s Foundation Annual Luncheon Featuring “Global Women’s Voices”
Philanthropist Dr. Catalina E. Garcia and Advisor Dodee Crockett Also to be Recognized with Power of the Purse® Awards at Oct. 24 Luncheon
Dallas Women’s Foundation is pleased to announce that Laura W. Bush, former First Lady and active advocate for women’s rights in the Middle East, will serve as honorary chair of its 26th annual luncheon. Chaired by Dawna Richter and Shawna D. Wilson, the luncheon on Oct. 24 at the Hilton Anatole Hotel will focus on “Global Women’s Voices: A Dialogue.” This discussion, featuring Mavis Leno, chair of the Campaign to Help Afghan Women & Girls and wife of talk show host Jay Leno, will highlight the issues that face women in the Middle East, in particular Afghanistan, which are also integral to Mrs. Bush’s work through the Bush Institute. The event’s moderator will be Maria Ebrahimji, CNN producer and co-editor of “I Speak for Myself,” a collection of personal essays by American Muslim Women under 40.
Mrs. Bush’s involvement in Afghanistan began in 2001, when she delivered the weekly presidential radio address to call attention to the plight of women and children suffering under the Taliban. In 2005 and 2008, the First Lady made two historic trips to Afghanistan where she witnessed firsthand the progress achieved by the Afghan people after the fall of the Taliban regime. She visited with women and girls participating in once forbidden activities like career training, classroom education and public elected office. She also met with President Hamid Karzai to express America’s continued support of the new Afghan democracy and equal rights for women. Today, as chair of the Women’s Initiative at the George W. Bush Institute, Mrs. Bush leads the effort to empower women to transform their native countries and has convened two conferences in Dallas focused on Afghan women.
During the luncheon, the Dallas Women’s Foundation will also recognize the contributions of two of the region’s leading investors in women and the mission of the Foundation. Dallas Women’s Foundation will present the annual Power of The Purse® Philanthropist Award to Catalina E. Garcia, M.D. and the inaugural Power Of The Purse® Wealth Advisor Award to Dodee Frost Crockett, CDFA, CAP.
The Power of the Purse® Philanthropist Award is given annually to a woman who has made a significant difference in women’s lives through charitable contributions and provided leadership and support of women’s issues. Former honorees have included Cecilia G. Boone, Serena Connelly, Helen LaKelly Hunt, Caren Prothro and Nancy Tartaglino Richards.
One of the founders of the Dallas Women’s Foundation and a donor for 26 years, Dr. Catalina E. Garcia is a member of the Dallas Women’s Foundation Board Alumnae and the Legacy Circle. She was the first Mexican American to graduate from The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and currently serves as principal of the Dallas Anesthesiology Group, P.A. She is an active board member of KERA, the National Hispana Leadership Institute and the National Hispanic Council on Aging, as well as an advisory committee member for Southern Methodist University’s Louise Raggio Lecture Series. Among Dr. Garcia’s many accolades are the Dallas Independent School System’s Volunteer of the Year Award; President and Mrs. Salinas of Mexico’s Encuentros Mujeres Award; and the Maura Women Helping Women Award.
The Power of the Purse® Wealth Advisor Award, inaugurated this year, will be an annual honor given to a wealth advisor who empowers individuals to make a meaningful impact on the community through philanthropic investments.
Dodee Frost Crockett, CDFA, CAP, is a managing director and wealth management advisor at Merrill Lynch, where she has worked for more than 30 years. She has been named every year since its inception to Barron’s annual list of the “Top 100 Women Financial Advisors in America.” She is also a chartered advisor in philanthropy and past chairman of the board of Dallas Social Venture Partners. In addition, she serves on the executive board of the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University and on the advisory boards of The Dallas Foundation, Metro Dallas Housing Alliance and the Shared Housing Center. The Dream Achievers Fund at Shared Housing Center was established in her honor by two clients who started the fund and wanted to recognize Crockett’s dedication and assistance. Additionally, she is the recipient of the Merrill Lynch David Brady Award, given in honor of helping clients to achieve their dreams, and The Spirit of Compassion Award, which was given to her by the Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse in Dallas.
The co-chairs of the 2011 Dallas Women’s Foundation luncheon are Dawna Richter, senior vice president of The Bank of Texas, Private Bank; and Shawna D. Wilson, vice president of global strategic risk management with PepsiCo.
Tables for the Dallas Women’s Foundation luncheon, to be held Oct. 24 from 12 to 1:30 p.m. at the Hilton Anatole, are available for $3,500 at www.dallaswomensfoundation.org or by calling (214) 965-9977 ext. 103.
About Dallas Women’s Foundation
The largest regional women’s fund in the world, Dallas Women’s Foundation strengthens the entire community by increasing the investment in women and girls and empowering women’s philanthropy. Over its 26-year history, Dallas Women’s Foundation has invested more than $16.5 million in programs benefiting the community. For information, visit www.DallasWomensFoundation.org.