Lifestyles
Texas Women's Foundation honors leaders and trains next generation
By media release
May 27, 2025
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Dallas, Texas -- As part of its ongoing investment in lifecycle leadership development for women and girls, Texas Women’s Foundation hosted a powerful day of leadership, learning and inspiration on May 8 at the Omni Dallas Hotel. From thought-provoking conversations to unforgettable moments honoring trailblazing women and rising young leaders, the day helped support the Foundation’s mission of building #StrongWomenBetterTexas

The day began with #BESTSELF, where nearly 200 students who came together for engaging workshops focused on making smart, informed decisions, navigating the physical and emotional changes of adolescence, and harnessing the power of their voices to create meaningful change. From the interactive learning sessions to networking, dancing, and connecting with peers, #BESTSELF inspired and delighted all in attendance. 

In the afternoon, TXWF hosted its annual Leadership Forum – a dynamic masterclass featuring microlearning sessions with the recipients of the 2025 Maura and Young Leader Awards. Author, speaker and 2025 Maura Award recipient Anne Chow kicked things off with a Ted Talk-style “ANNE Talk,” sharing insights from her book Lead Bigger. TXWF Board Director Deborah Hunter Johnson led a ”POWER Panel” discussion on advancing women and girls in STEM with 2025 Maura awardees Dr. Carine Feyten, Dr. Nuripama “Rupa” DeSilva, and Jennifer Bartkowski. Afterward, the crowd was treated to exciting “5 in 5” interviews in which two young students from Irma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School, a Young Women’s Preparatory Network School, asked five “rapid-fire questions in five minutes of TXWF’s 2025 Young Leader awardees Haleigh Jones and Cristal Retana Lule. The Forum wrapped up with some “REAL Talk” between Anne Chow and NBC5 Anchor Deborah Ferguson.

Dr. Carine Feyten, Haleigh Jones, Dr. Rupa DeSilva, Anne Chow, Jennifer Bartkowski, Cristal Retana Lule. As part of its ongoing investment in lifecycle leadership development for women and girls, Texas Women’s Foundation hosted a powerful day of leadership, learning and inspiration on May 8 at the Omni Dallas Hotel. photo credit: Kim Leeson and Guy Rogers/TXWF

At the Celebration Dinner following the Forum, event co-chairs Debbie Dennis, Chief Customer Officer and SVP Human Resources and Corporate Affairs at Oncor Electric Delivery, and Brooke Hopkins, Managing Director at Alvarez & Marsal, welcomed attendees and thanked key partners. ( (See list at the end of the release)*

Texas Women’s Foundation Board Chair Carrie Freeman Parsons greeted event guests, sharing, “With clarity of purpose and your support, we’ve continued to fulfill our mission and grow our impact year over year for the past 39 years.” Carrie also introduced the individuals who nominated the 2025 Young Leader awardees: 

  • Trey Crawford introduced Haleigh Jones, Crawford, Wishnew & Lang Attorney.
  • Maria Mendez introduced Cristal Retana Lule, Children’s Health Vice President of Community Relations.

The Foundation shared a compelling video on the barriers to women’s economic security, stability and success, after which Texas Women’s Foundation President and CEO Karen Hughes White shared, “On average, women make 83 cents on the dollar compared to their male counterparts. This number is much lower for Black and Hispanic women. Based on this, the average Texas woman stands to lose $750,000 in earnings across her lifetime. If this makes you mad, it should! We need to work together to create change.” She invited attendees to support the Foundation’s efforts to advance Texas women and girls and encouraged giving to maximize a $40,000 matching gift. More than $45,000 was raised in the room. 

Karen Hughes White, Cris Zertuche Wong, Carrie Freeman Parsons photo credit: Kim Leeson and Guy Rogers/TXWF

Awards Selection Committee Co-chair and previous Maura Award recipient Brenda Jackson introduced the 2025 Maura honorees and their presenters.

  • Kim Lyle introduced Jennifer Bartkowski, Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas CEO.
  • Mylinh Luong introduced Anne Chow, The Rewired CEO Founder.
  • Samantha Barakat introduced Dr. Rupa DeSilva, Parkland Health, UT Southwestern Medical Center Professor.
  • Christopher Johnson introduced Dr. Carine Feyten, Texas Woman’s University Chancellor and President.

Former TXWF Board Chairs Caren Lock and Shonn Brown introduced Cynt Marshall,Marshalling Resources Founder and The Dallas Mavericks (retired CEO), who was unable to attend the event.

Dia Wall, WFAA anchor and reporter, hosted a conversation with the 2025 Maura Award recipients who shared their insight on everything from healthcare, to education, the wage gap and increased representation of women and Women of Color in leadership.

Incoming TXWF Board Chair, Cris Zertuche Wong closed out the program by thanking all in attendance and sharing, “Texas Women's Foundation is investing in lifecycle leadership development for women – from the classroom to the boardroom – preparing them to lead in their workplaces, lives and communities. Because we know that when you invest in a woman, she invests in her family and her community! And because we believe that when a woman rises, she lifts everyone around her.”

She invited guests to attend TXWF’s upcoming 40th Annual Luncheon at the Omni Hotel on November 14. 

Partners:

Merrill, a Bank of America Company, and Crockett & Associates

Haynes Boone

Oncor

Media Sponsors: D CEO, Dallas Business Journal

#BESTSELF sponsor: Capital One

Additional partners:

Catherine M Coughlin Fund for Women's Leadership of TXWF

Maura McNiel Fund for Women's Leadership of Texas Women’s Foundation

TWU Jane Nelson Institute for Women's Leadership

The Rewired CEO

Marshalling Resources

Southwest Airlines;

and EY 

For additional partners and patrons, visit https://txwf.org/join-us/events/lfac-event/ 

About Texas Women’s Foundation:

One of the largest women’s foundations in the country, Texas Women’s Foundation (TXWF) knows that now more than ever is the time to create more equitable communities to build #StrongWomenBetterWorld. TXWF raises funds from a broad base of donors, including individuals, foundations and corporations. These resources support more than $6 million in investments each year that advance economic security and leadership for Texas women and girls through research, advocacy, grantmaking and strategic/educational initiatives. Since its inception in 1985, TXWF has invested nearly $85 million in Texas women and girls.

The Foundation’s statewide research on issues impacting Texas women and girls provides corporate, state and local decision-makers and lawmakers with critical data to inform policies, practices and programs across the state. Its advocacy, grantmaking and educational initiatives support solutions that help Texas women and girls survive and thrive. In addition, Texas Women’s Foundation is an acknowledged leader and advocate in the gender lens investing movement, deploying 100 percent of its invested assets – endowments, operating investments and donor-advised funds – in a gendered impact portfolio that yields strong financial returns and social benefits to women and girls. For more information, visit www.txwf.org, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram or donate now

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    You walk into the Credit Union of Texas, Don Toro or Studio 94 on the east side of the Bonham square, into Belle Rae's on the north, into Blessing & Butterflies or The Curiosity Shop on Main south of the Courthouse: do you look down? What do you see when you cross the threshold into these businesses? Do you see Bonham's past?
  • Bonham postcards on display at Fannin County Courthouse
    Bonham resident Kay Sisk has collected postcards of Bonham for many years, finding them at trade shows and estate sales. Some of the postcards were given away free by local businesses, and some were sold. The Fannin County Museum of History asked Kay to display some of her postcards in the display case on the 2nd floor of the courthouse.
  • Mabel Gilbert – Early Fannin County pioneer
    Please join us at the March meeting of the Fannin County Historical Commission on March 18 at 6:00 p.m. to learn about the contributions of Mabel Gilbert, a very early Fannin County pioneer, to Fannin County, Dallas and points west. Deborah Cornelius has written a historical novel about his remarkable life and times. Join us at 6:00 p.m. on March 18 at the Fannin County Historical Commission’s office at 1 Center Street in Bonham to meet Deborah and learn about Mabel Gilbert’s time in Fannin County.
  • 'A Time Before Texas' presentation attracts large crowd to Honey Grove
    A large crowd filled Lyday Hall at Honey Grove Library & Learning Center on Saturday, March 1, 2025, to hear what local archeologist Cody Davis and his cohorts discovered in the area that is now covered by Bois d'Arc Lake.
  • New residents find a new fight: sand and gravel mining in Fannin County
    When Kalin and Tricia moved their young family from the city to rural Fannin County, it was a dream they had worked and saved to make come true -- to escape the noise and chaos of the metroplex for a peaceful existence, surrounded by woodlands, wildlife and serenity. Then they heard bulldozers clearing trees.
  • Smithsonian highlights the experiences and impact of Japanese war brides in new traveling exhibition
    "Japanese War Brides: Across a Wide Divide" begins a national tour December 14 at Irving Archives and Museum in Irving, Texas. These young women left their homes to build lives within the complexities of postwar American society. Their experiences reshaped communities by challenging immigration laws and race relations. The arrival of these brides marked the largest women-only immigration event in U.S. history and, by 1960, had increased the population of Asian Americans in the U.S. by 10%.
  • Give a gift of Fannin County history
    The Fannin County Museum of History has several Fannin County history books for sale that might be just perfect for someone you know. The books are available for purchase at the Museum and are also available on Amazon.
  • Historic Christmas newspaper front pages from Fannin County
    Historic Fannin County newspapers often featured beautiful front pages for their Christmas editions. An exhibit of these newspapers is now on display on the 2nd Floor of the Fannin County Courthouse. Visit the courthouse during this season to view this display and beautiful decorations.
  • Lake Ralph Hall update: Five streams are springing to life
    Upper Trinity's contractors are finishing up construction on five new streams near future Lake Ralph Hall, which will flow into the North Sulphur River. The newly connected tributary streams are naturally beginning to flow with rainwater this fall, bringing life back to areas impacted for decades by severe erosion and loss of habitat. Restoring the tributaries of the river to their natural, curved paths helps mitigate the area's severe erosion and provide previously lost habitat.
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