Wednesday, March 9, would have been the late Ebby Halliday’s 105th birthday. And while she won’t be present to celebrate, her spirit and name will continue to inspire other in helping others. That’s why the revealing of the announcement of the Ebby Award winners by Our Friends Place is so timely.
Event Co-Chairs Shanha Goodwyn and Diane M. Hawkins revealed that the Saturday, April 30th Auction And Casino Night at the Omni Dallas Hotel will present the Ebby Award to
- Leigh Richter, who is “the Senior Vice President of Investment and Retail Services at Bradford Commercial Real Estate Services in Dallas. She has been a champion for women in commercial real estate and the community for several decades. An active member of CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women), including being a past board President, Leigh is also a board alum of Dallas Women’s Foundation and Our Friends Place. She has worked at the grass roots level behind the scenes as well as in leadership roles for a number of organizations and continues to work diligently in many arenas on behalf of women.”
- National Council of Jewish Women Dallas Chapter, which “strives for social justice by improving the quality of life for women, children and families and by safeguarding individual rights and freedoms. In 2015, NCJW Dallas volunteers have been on the cutting edge of developing and delivering social service programs with over 9,000 volunteer hours to those most in need in Dallas. Ground-breaking programs NCJW Dallas has initiated over the years include funding of the first social worker in the Dallas County Jail system; HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters), a school readiness program for parents of preschool children; and Food + Fit = Fun, a bilingual program that helps low-income parents prepare their children for a healthy lifestyle.”
Created in 2005, the award “recognizes individuals who contribute significant achievements for the advancement of girls and women in North Texas.”
To support this effort that was in keeping with Ebby, the honorary co-chairs will be her longtime friend/President of Ebby Halliday Realtors Mary Frances Burleson and Search Real Fast owners/philanthropists Suzan and Peter Fenner.
Making up the host committee are Heather and Alex Bennett, Mary Burns, Audra and Terrence Chavis, Kimberly and Philip Cormier, Elizabeth Dacus, Scott Dennett, Suzane Erlanson, Baranda Fermin, Shanha and Jordan Goodwyn, Susybelle Gosslee, Carla Gourley, Sara and Robert Hallam, Diane and Curtis Hawkins, Sharon Jett, Laura and David Johnson, Barbara and Brad Kolle, Angela Martin and Sean Baxley, Charles M. Martin Sr., Margaret and David Montemayor, Brandy Patrick, Megan Pharis, Erin and Stephen Pope, Sharon and Jim Pope, Elizabeth Post, Micki and Aaron Seager, Leslie Simmons and Rick Johnson and Cindy Tonnessen.
As of this date, major sponsors include
- Diamond Sponsor — Ben E. Keith
- Ruby Sponsor — Search Real Fast/Suzan and Peter Fenner
- Emerald Sponsor — BDO USA LLP
- Jade Sponsors — HollyFrontier and The Fab Four
Our Friends Place “is committed to helping young women break the generational cycles of abuse, neglect, poverty and homelessness.”