Editor’s note: While other outlets may have reported the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas‘ Volunteer Appreciation Lunch straight from a press release, here is what really happened:
At the VIP reception just before the start of the annual luncheon at the Hilton Anatole, Mary Frances Burleson, president and CEO of the giant Ebby Halliday Cos., was confiding something to Ruth Altshuler. “When I started with the company,” Burleson said softly, “there were three offices and 35 agents.” Altshuler, the philanthropist and civic leader, turned to tell someone about having spent the previous weekend with former First Lady Laura Bush. And, across the room, Roger Staubach, the JLL Americas executive chairman and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback, was saying that he’s “privileged” to be associated with the United Way.
“I was on the national board, and I saw in action how the organization makes sure the money raised goes directly to the source,” Staubach said. “I’m a big believer in the United Way and in Jennifer [Sampson, the Dallas president and chief executive]. She’s a dynamo. She gets things done, and she’s smart.”
Such top-drawer kudos—and such top-shelf leaders—seemed to be everywhere on Monday, June 8, when 550 people gathered at the Anatole’s Stemmons Ballroom for the local United Way’s annual luncheon honoring some of its 10,000 volunteers. The guests—100 more than attended last year’s thank-you event—were welcomed by CEO Sampson, who was fresh off attending a Rolling Stones concert at AT&T Stadium. “Teamwork and passion,” Sampson exclaimed. “We have it at United Way—just like the Rolling Stones have it!”
Presenting the first award—the so-called Decades of Distinction honor, to realty doyenne Ebby Halliday—Staubach and Altshuler displayed their own brand of teamwork … and the comic timing of the Burns and Allen comedy duo. Burleson accepted the award for Ebby, who, Mary Frances explained, “is 104, has retired, and couldn’t be here.” But “every year,” she wanted the audience to know, “every Ebby office has a United Way campaign, and they all try to outdo each other.”
A second Decades of Distinction award went to longtime United Way supporter Erle Nye, the former chairman and CEO of TXU. Introduced by John Young, president and CEO of the Energy Future Holdings Portfolio of Cos., Nye accepted the honor and promised the crowd wryly, “As Henry VIII said to his many wives, ‘Don’t worry. I won’t keep you long.’ ” And he didn’t.
The day’s big prize, the J. Erik Jonsson Award—the United Way’s highest volunteer honor—went to Charles “Chuck” Gummer, the retired president of Comerica bank’s Texas Market and a veteran chair of United Way annual and capital campaigns. Graciously acknowledging the honor presented by Liz Minyard, Gummer said, “My first inclination was to say no [to Sampson]. But when you’re retired, you don’t turn down much.”
In addition to the Big Three, a variety of other awards were handed out in a humorous, fast-paced video presentation starring “Prize Patrol” hosts Ricky Garcia and Clay Hervey. In one segment, for example, Traditional Media honoree JD Miles of KTVT CBS11 was interrupted by the prize patrollers in the middle of his standup shot for a “news report.” Others receiving honors included Brandi Simpson of JC Penney (the Ambassador award), the Texas Instruments Public Affairs Team (Collaborator award), State. Sen. Royce West, District 23 (Public Servant award), and Jason Downing of Deloitte (United Dallas award). WFAA Channel 8 anchor Shelly Slater served as the luncheon emcee.
* Photos provided by the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas