Methodist Health System Foundation will present the 2010 Robert S. Folsom Leadership Award to Pat and Emmitt Smith during a dinner to be held at the Hilton Anatole Hotel on November 11 at 6:30 p.m. Established in 2005, the award recognizes individuals whose demonstrated commitment and excellence in community leadership emulates the achievements of former Dallas Mayor Robert S. Folsom.
Methodist Health System Foundation President and CEO April Box Chamberlain said, “Pat and Emmitt Smith are leaders who embody the Robert S. Folsom Leadership Award with their sports and business accomplishments, community leadership, and philanthropic ventures. We are proud to honor them.”
For major supporters, a special friends reception will be held on November 3 at the home of former President George W. and Laura Bush.
Chamberlain also announced the co-chairmen for the event. “We are pleased to announce that Troy Aikman and Daryl Johnston will co-chair the Folsom Leadership Award. Their team effort will make it a special evening for Pat and Emmitt, as well as help Methodist improve and save lives of the patients in our care.”
Past Folsom Leadership Award recipients include Robert S. Folsom (2005), Nancy Ann Hunt (2006), Troy Aikman (2007), Laura Bush (2008), and the late Norman Brinker (2009). As Methodist’s largest fundraiser, each event has raised more than $1 million to benefit Methodist Health System’s programs and services. The Smiths have requested that proceeds from the 2010 Folsom event benefit Methodist’s indigent care. “This is particularly meaningful as Methodist strives each day to ensure access to quality health care for an ever-increasing number of disadvantaged families in the diverse communities we serve, which included nearly $91 million in charity care last year,” Chamberlain added.
Methodist Health System is a nonprofit organization. If you are interested in supporting the Robert S. Folsom Award or other vital health care and community programs, please contact Methodist Health System Foundation Vice President of Development Joy Duncan at 214-947-4552 or joyduncan@mhd.com. More information is available at www.MethodistHealthSystem.org/Folsom.
Emmitt J. Smith
Emmitt J. Smith is best known for his NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys, where he won three Super Bowl championships and became the NFL’s all-time leading rusher. He is the only player in NFL history to win the Super Bowl, Super Bowl MVP award, and the NFL MVP award in the same season (1993). Smith also holds the NFL record for career rushing touchdowns (164) and was named to the Pro Bowl eight times. In August 2010, he was inducted as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Smith is the majority partner and co-chairman of ESmith Legacy, Inc., a Dallas-based commercial real estate company. His latest venture is EJ Smith Industries that includes contracting concrete as well as other construction services. He is also the co-chairman of the Emerging Business Action Team as part of the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee.
Having learned from his mother the importance of helping others, Smith and his wife, Pat, founded Pat and Emmitt Smith Charities to provide resources to underserved youth. Smith has also been involved with initiatives and organizations such as Children’s Defense Fund, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Salvation Army, Ronald McDonald House Charities, and United Way. The annual Emmitt Smith Celebrity Invitational is the foundation’s signature fundraising event. The golf and poker tournament held each spring supports a number of the programs that Pat and Emmitt Smith Charities fund each year.
Smith, along with his dancing partner, Cheryl Burke, was crowned the winner of the hit ABC reality show “Dancing with the Stars” in 2006. A graduate of the University of Florida, Smith set 58 school records in his three years playing football there, along with earning All-American honors and being named the 1989 SEC Player of the Year. He is married to Patricia, and together the couple has four children.
Patricia “Pat” Smith
Pat Smith is a wife, mother, former actress, broadcast journalist/TV host, and former beauty queen known for her dedication to church, civic, and community activities. She was the first African-American woman to win the title of Miss Virginia and was first runner-up at the Miss USA pageant in 1994. Her television career includes serving as host of “Keep the Faith” and recurring roles and guest appearances on such prime-time hits as “Beverly Hills 90210,” “Sunset Beach,” and “The Wayans Bros.” Pat is currently the host of “Treasure You” and is a member of the prestigious Vogue 100.
As president of Pat and Emmitt Smith Charities, Pat supports the charity’s vision to create unique experiences and opportunities for underserved children. As the founder/CEO of “Treasure You,” she is committed to inspiring young girls and women to discover their purpose and passion in life. Pat is the newest celebrity role model for the Dallas Elevators mentoring program, which reduces the drop-out rate for Dallas ISD high school students. Pat is also devoted to supporting battered-women’s shelters and breast cancer initiatives.
About Methodist Health System
Guided by the founding principles of life, learning, and compassion, Methodist Health System (Methodist) provides quality, integrated care to improve and save the lives of individuals and families throughout North Texas. Methodist Dallas Medical Center, Methodist Charlton Medical Center, Methodist Mansfield Medical Center, Methodist Midlothian Health Center, and Methodist Family Health Centers are part of the nonprofit Methodist Health System, which is affiliated by covenant with the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church. In 2009 Methodist Health System provided more than $90 million in unreimbursed charity care. Additional information is available at MethodistHealthSystem.org.
Methodist Health System is a nonprofit organization. For those interested in supporting the Robert S. Folsom Leadership Award or other vital health care and community programs, please contact the Methodist Health System Foundation at 214-947-4555 or visit online at www.MethodistHealthSytem.org/Foundation.