Jan Miller’s and Jeff Rich‘s palace was the location Wednesday for the announcement by Texas Woman’s University of its Thursday, February 16th Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award. It was hard to guess who was going to be named with all the heavy-hitters gathered.
Tincy Miller, who was honored with the award in 2004, had to slip out before the official announcement. Seems husband Vance was having his birthday party with his company at Prestonwood Country Club. It was also a Halloween party. What was Vance’s costume? The Pilgrim’s Pride apron that the late Bo Pilgrim once gave him.
Hostess Jan and sub-host Schumacher mentioned the Third Biannual Best Buddies Dallas Gala that she and Jeff were hosting at the Fairmont’s Venetian Room on Friday, November 4.
Plans call for Babyface to entertain and special guests including Bebe Winans and Anthony Shriver.
Ah, but you want to know who will be receiving the Dykes Award. None other than that mother-daughter team of Myrna Schlegel and her daughter Kimberly Schlegel Whitman! On hand for the announcement was Kimberly’s French mom-in-law Caroline Whitman.
“Texas Woman’s University is so pleased to honor two such dynamic individuals, businesswomen and community leaders,” said TWU Chancellor and President Dr. Ann Stuart. “This outstanding duo is known for their numerous leadership roles and ongoing support of nonprofit organizations and charitable causes, ensuring their continued excellence for years to come.”
If you would like to see just a smidgen of Myrna’s and Kimberly’s numerous accomplishments, following the jump!
Myrna serves as chairman of the Schlegel Horizon Foundation, established by the Schlegel family in 1994 to promote education and entrepreneurship. The many grants they have awarded include financial support to build a new high school for Trinity Christian Academy and major sponsorship of capital campaigns benefiting Southern Methodist University and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. They also established the Schlegel Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, where Myrna received an honorary Doctorate of Law. Additionally, Myrna Schlegel currently serves as director of Pavestone Company; president of pC Corporate Management Group, L.P.; and president of Health Care Financial Corporation. A registered nurse, Myrna is a graduate of specialized health administration programs at SMU and the University of Texas. She is also a published columnist, addressing topics of concern for the elderly. Her extensive community involvement includes serving on the George W. Bush Institute Women’s Initiative; AFI Dallas International Film Festival Board; Dallas CASA Children’s Council; Chief Executive Organization; and World Presidents’ Organization. Previously she has been actively involved with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra; United Way of Metro Dallas Board; Crystal Charity Ball; National Jewish Medical and Research Center; Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute Board; YPO; TACA; SMU; Girls Inc.; The Family Place; New Friends New Life; Wednesday’s Child; and National Alzheimer’s Association. In 1998, the Alzheimer’s A.W.A.R.E. (Alzheimer’s Women’s Auxiliary for Research & Education) established The Myrna D. Schlegel Scholarship, which is awarded to students in medicine.
Myrna has been honored with the Jewish Hospital Humanitarian Award; the Tom Landry Award for Excellence in Volunteerism; and has been named Outstanding Philanthropist by the Greater Dallas Chapter of Association of Fundraising Professionals. Myrna and her husband Bob reside in Dallas and have four children and one grandchild.
Kimberly Schlegel Whitman is a noted author, community leader and lifestyle entrepreneur who was recently named Editor-at-Large for Southern Living, the nation’s sixth-largest monthly consumer magazine, reaching nearly 16 million readers. Kimberly represents Southern Living as a lifestyle expert on national and local television.
An active community volunteer, Kimberly donates her time to many charitable organizations including The Tiffany Circle and the board of the American Red Cross, The President’s Council of the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts; Best Buddies; and the North Texas Food Bank. She has been honored with the Volunteer of the Year Award by the American Heart Association, The Little Flower Rose Award for Women Who Make a Difference; and the Women That Soar Award.
Kimberly has built an entrepreneurial empire around her flair for entertaining. She launched and sold her event company, RSVP Soiree Luxury Event Rentals; took RSVP Social Calendar online in 1999 and continues to maintain this comprehensive list of Dallas’ finest charitable events at www.RSVPcalendar.com. She has published five books: her newest is The Party Planner: An Expert Organizing Guide for Entertaining, Tablescapes: Setting the Table with Style, The Wedding Workbook: A Time Saving Guide for the Busy Bride, Dog Parties: Entertaining Your Party Animal and The Pleasure of Your Company: Entertaining in High Style.
Kimberly and her businesses have been featured in Vanity Fair, Vogue, Town & Country, Modern Bride, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and on The Early Show and HGTV to name a few. She was an event planner on the Style network’s hit show “Whose Wedding is it Anyway?” Kimberly currently has a daily radio segment on Dallas’ number one morning show, The Gene & Julie Show on KVIL 103.7 Lite FM.
A graduate of Southern Methodist University, Kimberly resides in Dallas with her husband, Justin, and their son.