Despite Tuesday’s cold, rainy day, Liza Collins‘ home was the perfect spot for a letter signing. Had it been a sunny day, the backyard pool, two-hole putting green and basketball half-court would have been a temptation to just scrap the day’s duties and lounge outside.
But there was a deadline to get the Can Do! Luncheon letters to the post office by Thursday.
After all, the Wilkinson Center fundraiser is taking place on Monday, April 3, at the Dallas Country Club, and time was a wasting to get the news out about the 2023 awardees.
It was just a year ago that Liza and her Pi Phi sorority sister Rachel Stephens had received the Can Do! Award for their continuing the late Ruth Collins Sharp Altshuler’s longstanding food drive benefiting Wilkinson Center. To ramp up their support of Wilkinson, they’ve signed up to co-chair the 2023 Can Do! Luncheon fundraiser for the organization that has “empowered families to reach self-sufficiency” for more than 40 years.
According to Liza, “Rachel and I are so passionate about the work the Wilkinson Center does year round to transform the lives of Dallas families. Wilkinson Center offers life-changing programs that provide its clients a pathway to success – from helping navigate challenges like food insecurity and unemployment all the way to education. Dallas families are so fortunate to have free access to all that the Center offers as they work to all that the Center offers, and we look forward to continuing to raise awareness and funds to help support these incredible programs.”
As Wilkinson volunteers and staffers gathered around the Collins dinner table to put their John Hancocks on letters early Tuesday morning, Rachel laughed that her husband had been surprised to see her looking so nice so early in the morning. She admitted that thanks to the pandemic she had gotten used to not getting up to gear until later in the morning.
Included in the letter was news about the 2023 Can Do! awardees that will include:
- Beth And Chuck Thoele for their continued generosity and unwavering support of Wilkinson Center and so many other nonprofits and organizations in Dallas. As well, Beth is a former chair of the Can Do! Luncheon.
- Celanese for its generosity and volunteer support of many Wilkinson programs, including food pantry service, senior lunch and learn, and adult education, as well as helping at events.
- Maricruz Lopez for her persistence and determination that enabled her to overcome barriers to achieve her goals and provide a better future for herself and her family.
Receiving the Kids Can Too! Award will be Ursuline Academy of Dallas for its commitment to serving the greater Dallas community. Students from Ursuline have supported Wilkinson Center’s Food Pantry through volunteering, donations, and intensive service-learning projects.
Wilkinson Center Executive Director Anne Reeder said, “We are so excited to honor these outstanding individuals and organizations at our 11th annual Can Do! Luncheon. Through their leadership, generosity, perseverance and service, they each exemplify the ‘can do’ spirit that inspires us all. We are also so grateful to our Co-Chairs Liza Collins and Rachel Stephens for their hard work and dedication in making this year’s luncheon such a success. Their efforts will help Wilkinson Center continue to put our clients on the path to self-sufficiency in 2023.”
Individual tickets and sponsorships are available here.
* Graphic courtesy of Wilkinson Center
😩Anne Reeder says
Thanks so much, Jeanne!