The thermometers aren’t the only things heating up. Those folks over at The Family Place are hotter than the tarmac at DFW International. No sooner had they sent word about Rhonda Sargent Chambers being honorary chair for the Partners Card 2015, than Texas Trailblazer Luncheon Co-Chairs Michaela Dyer and Layne Pitzer and Honorary Chair Debbie Taylor shared news about the recipients of The Family Place’s 20th Anniversary Texas Trailblazer Awards. And if you don’t know these names, you’ve been in a coma for a few decades or have been held incommunicado by the “MiB.”
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The Texas Trailblazer will be presented to Nancy Nasher, who had carried on her parents’ legacy for community involvement via NorthPark Center and the Nasher Sculpture Center. This award “recognizes someone who has accomplished a ‘first’ and opened the doors of opportunity for other people and made significant contributions either in their community, business or profession. No matter what the accomplishments, however, the Trailblazer is someone who has blazed a trail for others to follow.” It is especially touching that the 20th anniversary of Texas Trailblazer is saluting Nancy as NorthPark celebrates its 50th
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And speaking of those who have bested the test of time, the Real-Life Hero Award will be presented to 91-year-young Robert “Bob” Miller for his lifetime of contributions to philanthropic and fundraising news during his 64 years at The Dallas Morning News. Having worked in all aspects of the paper’s news department including city editor, he took on the challenge of writing a business column when most people were retiring. Leave it to Bob. He turned the column into the “go-to” place to be for nonprofits and businesses to share their news and successes.
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Receiving the Advocacy Award will be The United Way of Metropolitan Dallas that has supported North Texas’ efforts “to create long-term change through investing in solutions that produce healthy, well-educated and financially stable individuals and families” for 90 years. Gee. Bob was one year old when the United Way kicked off. BTW, The Family Place has been a recipient of United Way support for the past 30 years.
- The final awards — The Family Place Youth Service Award and Scholarship — will be presented to Erin Baptiste and Julissa Figueroa for “their contribution and participation in The Family Place Be Project program, acting as mentors to educate their peers about healthy relationships in an effort to preventing bullying, teen dating violence and sexual assault.” Erin will use her scholarship to attend the University of Colorado at Boulder and Julissa will be going to The University of Texas at San Antonio.
Expect this luncheon to be easy sell-out with the recipients’ fan clubs and actress Marisa Tomei as the keynote speaker for the Thursday, October 1st event at the Hilton Anatole. Tickets and sponsorships are officially available now. You’ve been warned.
* Graphic and photo provided by The Family Place