Before the doors to the Dallas Country Club ballroom opened for Wilkinson Center’s Eighth Annual Can Do! Luncheon on Monday, March 2, the crowd had filled the entry hall.
Luncheon Chair Pam Busbee was reviewing her notes; Underwriting Chair Lisa Longino was back from her fundraising for Sweet Briar; 2020 CCB Tucker Enthoven was thrilled over the response to the addition of dogs and cats to the children’s book that had been announced the week before; and Di Johnston was telling pals Nancy Carter, Susan Farris and Susan Roberds that she had already signed up her pooch for the 2020 Crystal Charity Ball Children’s Book.
But the day was for Wilkinson Center heroes, supplies and staff. Before the program got underway Emcee/WFAA’s Cleo Greene told the crowd including Joan Eleazer, Layne Pitzer, Lisa Cooley, Claire Emanuelson, Laura Downing, Tiffany Divis, Patti Flowers, Meredith Bebee, Kathy and Larry Helm, Ashlee and Chris Kleinert, John McStay, Stacey Malcolmson, Jim Johnston and Bob White how the work of the Wilkinson Center had touched her personally.
Following a welcome by Busbee and the invocation by Bishop Lynch theology teacher Annette Butler, lunch got underway with a mixed green salad with grilled chicken breast, candied pistachios, marinated champagne strawberries, shaved manchego and picked onions topped with honey champagne vinaigrette followed by a chocolate tart and creme brulee.
Just past noon, Cleo introduced a video on the Wilkinson Center’s work in providing adult education and food and income support.
Wilkinson Center Executive Director Anne Reeder addressed the guests, telling them that Wilkinson Center’s mission “to transform the lives of Dallas families by providing pathways to self-sufficiency with dignity and respect help its clients” was focused on three areas after they get a job:
- Employment
- Income support
- Financial literacy
A major development was the invitation by the Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas to help get jobs. Running right on cue, videos were showing describing the recipients of the 2020 Can Do Awards including:
- Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas for helping Wilkinson clients become employed,
- Wilkinson client Celene Martinez for being a mother and holding a job and completing the Center’s Patient Care Technician program,
- Carolyn and David Miller for their countless philanthropic contributions to the city and
- Bishop Lynch High School for the students volunteering and being involved in the community and being part of Wilkinson Center.
David Miller, upon accepting the award for himself and Carolyn, recalled John Scovell‘s accepting the Junior Achievement Award saying, when receiving an award, “Stand up tall to be seen; speak up loudly to be heard and sit down quickly to be appreciated.”
To finish off the day, the Bishop Lynch Honors Ensemble sang a song specifically created for the occasion.