Three out of seven awards will go to Preston Hollow residents Sandra and Henry Estess (Outstanding Philanthropists), Julie and Ken Hersh (Outstanding Foundation -The Hersh Foundation), and Pagett Goslee (Outstanding Fundraising Executive) at the 32nd annual National Philanthropy Day Luncheon, “It’s Our Tomorrow,” on Friday, November 10, 2017, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Hyatt Regency Dallas, Landmark Ballroom. Hosted by The Greater Dallas Chapter of Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), this annual event brings together area nonprofits, volunteers, funders, foundations, business and community members to honor many of this city’s finest who give selflessly in support of numerous worthy causes.
For over 46 years, this year’s Outstanding Philanthropists Dr. Henry Estess and Sandra Estess, of Preston Hollow, nominated by Texas Health Resources Foundation, have played an integral role in supporting Texas Health hospitals. Focusing on health and education, the couple has shown exceptional generosity with their time, money, and leadership for the benefit of others. Dr. Estess served on the hospital’s medical staff for almost 30 years, is a founding member of the Presbyterian Healthcare Foundation and founding president of the medical staff at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano. From 2005-2008, he served on the executive committee of the Legacy of Care Campaign, raising over $89 million to advance patient care at Texas Health hospitals in Allen, Dallas, and Plano. This effort and the Estess’ significant contributions resulted in the 460,000 sq. foot Hamon Tower, the special care nursery, main chapel, and the expansion of emergency services as well as the neurology, heart, and vascular departments, all at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas. The couple also established the first endowment fund to Texas Health. Additionally, Dr. Estess has been president of the Dallas Zoological Society Board of Directors and a member of the Texas Environmental Defense Fund, Planned Parenthood North Texas and the Dallas Arboretum. Sandra served on the Texas Health Resources Foundation Board and is a lifetime member of Presby Partners, dedicated to nursing education. Passionate about improving healthcare for all children and an active board member for over 15 years, she is the recipient of Children’s Medical Center’s Distinguished Service to Children Award and also co-chaired the Children’s Medical Center Dallas $150 million wePromise Campaign. She is a founding board member of the Ronald McDonald House Dallas as well as Educational First Steps (EFS), a nonprofit transforming daycare centers in at-risk neighborhoods into nationally accredited preschools. With the Estess’ support, there are almost 100 child care centers and 77 home-based early education providers, and the organization exceeded its recent capital campaign goal. Presently Sandra serves on the boards of The Hillcrest Foundation and Southwestern Medical Foundation. The Estess’ most recent investment is an endowment to support the Children’s Medical Center Cancer Research Institute at UT Southwestern, fueling some of the brightest researchers changing the future of pediatric medicine.
Julie and Ken Hersh, of Preston Hollow, will receive the Outstanding Foundation award for The Hersh Foundation, nominated by Southwestern Medical Foundation and Resource Center of Dallas, Inc., is committed to enriching and improving the quality of life for all people by supporting initiatives in three categories: education and leadership; mental health research and mental illness prevention; and North Texas cultural organizations. Julie and Ken Hersh began the foundation in 1997 as a way to secure long-term financial commitments to nonprofits in their community. The foundation provided the lead gift to support the Center for Depression Research and Clinical Care at UTSW under the guidance of Dr. Madhukar Trivedi. Dr. Trivedi aims to improve mental health care by providing tools for physicians and individuals to identify depression and bipolar disease in their earliest stages when they are most treatable, discover biomarkers to scientifically direct the optimum treatment and the creation of a special center for treatment resistant depression. The Hersh Foundation supports the Youth First program at the Resource Center which addresses the challenges lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) youth face with family members and peers and provides a safe and accepting environment. In addition, the foundation helps Galaxy Counseling Center provide play therapy for children as young as 3. Focusing on leadership and education, the Hersh Foundation supports the George W. Bush Institute’s Presidential Leadership Scholars Program creates an environment of bipartisanship in young leaders throughout the nation. The foundation also supports the National Association of Urban Debate Leagues (NAUDL), which works with urban debate teams in 19 U.S. cities. Additionally, the Hersh Foundation is a strong supporter of area arts organizations including: the 2017 Tony Award winning Dallas Theater Center, Dallas Black Dance Theater, Dallas Children’s Theater, TACA and as the presenting sponsor of Dallas Museum of Art’s program Arts and Letters Live. Julie Hersh will be honored with the TACA Silver Cup Award in March 2018.
Outstanding Fundraising Executive Pagett Gosslee, CFRE, of Preston Hollow, nominated by John Roppolo, has over 30 years of fundraising experience. Since 2009 she has served as director of development and alumni relations at the University of Texas at Dallas,. She raised matching funds for the Meadows Foundation grant that established the Center for Children and Families (CCF) and continues to assist with gifts and grants and recruitment for the CCF Advisory Council. She and her husband Mike created an endowment at UT Dallas to support CCF to honor their parents, children, and grandchildren. She has secured annual gifts for fellowships, scholarships, and student travel totaling more than $2.5 MM. As regional development manager for Mercy Ships, she established the first DFW Development Council and raised over $5 MM for capital projects and programs. While serving as vice president of Baylor Health Care System Foundation, she exceeded multi-million dollar fundraising goals each year. She also served as the first development director of Hope Cottage, creating its first annual campaigns, estate giving program and the organization’s 80th anniversary celebrations. A member of Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) since 1986, she was awarded her CFRE in 1993, chaired the Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon in 1991 and the DFW Philanthropy Conference in 1999, and served as president of the Greater Dallas Chapter of AFP in 2005. On a personal level, she is passionate about the first years of a child’s life. While raising her young children, she was a foster parent for five years. She has been active in her church, the Junior League of Dallas held leadership positions at the schools her children attended.
The luncheon will feature Jason Lee, JD Esq., interim president and CEO, AFP International as the keynote speaker. Lee represents over 33,000 individuals and organizations that raise more than $115 billion in charitable contributions every year around the world for countless causes. He will speak about the impact of charity and philanthropy.
“With Americans giving nearly $400 billion to charity every year, and charities making up 10 percent of the workforce, the charitable sector is playing a bigger role than ever in our future,” said Jason Lee. “The future belongs to all of us as we come together under the banner of philanthropy to improve our communities, our country and our world.”
Lee previously served as general counsel for AFP, where he increased its public visibility and awareness by developing political initiatives regarding fundraising and philanthropic issues. He also chairs the Charitable Giving Coalition, a Washington, DC-based consortium of nonprofit leaders dedicated to raising awareness on Capitol Hill about the value of the charitable deduction and its impact in supporting essential community services. He has successfully coordinated AFP’s efforts to persuade Congress to pass several important giving incentives, including the IRA Rollover.
“National Philanthropy Day is a special day set aside each year to recognize the great work of those who are active in the philanthropic community and make an impact our world,” said Luncheon Chair Meagan Burton. “We are not only honoring some extraordinary award recipients, but we are also featuring an inspirational keynote speaker, whose presentation will serve as a powerful reminder of how each of us can make a difference.”
South Texas Money Management (STMM), Greater Dallas AFP’s first chapter sponsor, is premier sponsor of the luncheon.
“Dallas citizens are passionate, driven, and generous volunteers and philanthropists, but that’s not enough,” said Jeanie Wyatt, CFA, STMM’s founder and CEO. “We depend on our nonprofits to meet so many of our city’s most basic needs. With over 1,000 nonprofits throughout Dallas, it’s vital that we have a professional organization, like AFP, helping nonprofit fundraising professionals raise more money and do it in effective and ethical ways.”
Additional award recipients to be honored at the luncheon are as follows:
For more than 110 years, Outstanding Corporation Neiman Marcus, nominated by Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT), has been giving back to the community. Their philanthropic legacy began in 1907 through founder Herbert Marcus’ generosity to SMU and the Dallas Opera. Today, with a strategic focus on youth arts education, Neiman Marcus Group is dedicated to serving worthwhile causes within communities where their stores and distribution and operational facilities are located (over 100 across the U.S.).
Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser Lynn McBee, nominated by The Dallas Opera and Dallas Women’s Foundation, is widely known for committing time, talent and philanthropy to benefit worthy organizations throughout the community. McBee has served a wide array of organizations contributing to the arts, culture, and the overall civic profile of Dallas. She serves on multiple boards, has been the recipient of numerous honors, and is the CEO of the Young Women’s Preparatory Network, educating over 4,600 underserved young women in eight schools across the state of Texas.
Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy Micah Pinson, 13, nominated by Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, has conducted annual toy drives for six years resulting in more than 25,000 toys for children at the hospital. Born missing three fingers on his left hand, Pinson is grateful for the special care he received as a patient and wanted to give back. He learned that toys were an important part of the hospital’s therapeutic care plan for children and began organizing toy drives and engaging the help of other students, corporations, and volunteers with collection, storage and delivery. He inspires others with his kindness and positive outlook and encourages everyone to celebrate their differences.
This year, the AFP Greater Dallas Chapter is presenting a Special Recognition Award to Terry L. Simmons, posthumously. Simmons passed away this year at the age of 62. He was a leading advocate for philanthropy in Washington and across the nation with regard to legislative and regulatory issues affecting philanthropy. His crowning professional achievement was preserving for charities the gift annuity and other life income plans, through which billions of dollars have been contributed for public good. In late 1997, The NonProfit Times named Simmons, “Nonprofit Executive of the Year” in recognition of his work. He was also regularly named as one of The Best Lawyers in America, Top 100 Attorneys in America by Worth Magazine, and Texas’ Super Lawyers.
"We are excited to present and pay tribute to these outstanding individuals and organizations that have positively impacted our community through their leadership, vision and generosity,” emphasized Burton, Dallas National Philanthropy Day Chair. “Join us on November 10 for one of the most inspiring luncheons in Dallas!”
The Greater Dallas Chapter of AFP was among the first to begin celebrating National Philanthropy Day in 1981. Today, over 500 attend the luncheon which includes AFP members and community leaders. National Philanthropy Day celebrates the great contributions philanthropy, and those who work in the philanthropic process, make to our community. AFP Chapters involve more than 28,000 individuals in celebrating philanthropy each year.
“STMM is pleased to sponsor the Greater Dallas AFP for the third consecutive year,” said Stan Shipley, President and CEO, STMM’s Family Offices. “AFP upholds the highest ethical fundraising and, importantly, effective fundraising. We are pleased to support AFP chapters around Texas including Austin, Houston, Corpus Christi, San Antonio, and the Greater Plains Chapter."
The luncheon will be emceed by longtime supporter Scott Murray. Murray Media, presenting sponsor of the luncheon, produces the luncheon videos featuring the accomplishments of each award recipient.
Luncheon tickets are $85 ($95 after 11/1), $850 for a table of 10, and $1,250 for a premium table of 10. For tickets and sponsorships, visit afpdallas.org or contact Madeleine Crouch at 972-233-9107, ext. 204, afpchapteroffice@afpdallas.org.