United Way of Metropolitan Dallas honored Chuck Gummer, Ebby Halliday Acers, Erle Nye and other outstanding community and corporate supporters during its annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon on Monday, June 8, at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas. Last year’s J. Erik Jonsson Award winner Roger Staubach presented this year’s award, United Way’s highest volunteer honor, to Charles L. (“Chuck”) Gummer, retired President of Comerica’s Texas Market, in recognition of his long-time support and dedication. The award is named after the president and co-founder of Texas Instruments, who also served four terms as mayor of Dallas and co-founded United Way of Metropolitan Dallas.
Gummer’s longtime support of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, both as a donor and volunteer, spans more than 40 years. He has served as United Way Annual Campaign Chair (1997-1998), Board Chair (2000-2001), Foundation Board Chair (2001-2003), and as Capital Campaign Chair (2001-2002), playing an instrumental role in securing funds for the current United Way office building in the West End. He and his wife Cindy also served as United Way Tocqueville Society Cabinet Co-Chairs in 2009-2010. Although retired from Comerica, Gummer continues to provide executive support to the Comerica campaign resulting in more than $4.8 million raised in the last 10 years.
The Decades of Distinction Award, a special recognition given in honor of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas’ 90th anniversary year, was presented to Ebby Halliday Acers and Erle Nye, honoring their longstanding commitment to changing lives in North Texas. Acers is a founding member of United Way’s Tocqueville Society and served as its chair in 2000. The Ebby Halliday Family of Companies has given more than $1.4 million to United Way. Nye is a longtime supporter of United Way, serving on the Foundation Board from 2007-2014. He retired in 2005 as chairman and CEO of TXU, where he championed several million-dollar United Way campaigns.
“These exceptional volunteer leaders have given their time, financial support, and collective heart power to forever change lives in North Texas,” said Jennifer Sampson, President and CEO of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. “During this 90th anniversary year, we're especially proud to celebrate the brilliant light of their leadership and legacies."
The most prestigious United Way corporate honor, the Spirit of Caring Award, was presented to Frito-Lay/PepsiCo, in honor of the company’s extraordinary leadership during United Way of Metropolitan Dallas’s 90th anniversary year. Unprecedented volunteer and fundraising efforts have resulted in record-breaking campaign totals and the largest-ever grant to expand United Way’s Healthy Zone Schools program, in partnership with The Cooper Institute.
In addition to Roger Staubach and Jennifer Sampson, guest speakers included United Way Board Chair John J. Stephens, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, AT&T, Inc.; John F. Young, President and CEO, Energy Future Holdings Portfolio of Companies; Chris Wyse, Senior Vice President, Communications, North America at PepsiCo; and Liz Minyard. WFAA Channel 8 Anchor Shelly Slater served as the event’s dynamic emcee.
Additional Volunteer Awards:
Advocate: Gerry Mecca, Dr Pepper Snapple Group
Ambassador: Brandi Simpson, JCPenney
Collaborator: Texas Instruments Public Affairs Team
Give: Cyndy Malone, AT&T
Groundwork (Education): Energy Future Holdings Energy in Action Volunteer Team
Heartbeat (Health): Le Ta, Mosaic Family Services
Innovator: Debra Brennan Tagg, Brennan Financial Services
Millennial Award: Unite Forever Gala Young Leader Host Committee
Pathway Provider (Income): Annie Lord, Citi
Public Servant: Senator Royce West, District 23
Social Media: Kim Aman, Healthy Zone School Teacher, Moss Haven Elementary School, Richardson ISD
Traditional Media: JD Miles, KTVT CBS 11
Unite Dallas: Jason Downing, Deloitte
Additional Campaign Awards:
Million Dollar Campaigns:
- AT&T/CWA 6215
- Bank of America
- Celanese Corporation
- Deloitte
- Energy Future Holdings Portfolio of Companies
- EY
- Frito-Lay/PepsiCo
- JCPenney
- PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
- Texas Instruments
- UPS
Community Impact Award: Texas Instruments
Outstanding Employee Campaign Coordinator: Connie Fung, Dr Pepper Snapple Group
Outstanding Leadership Campaign: Enterprise Holdings, Inc.
Outstanding New Campaign: Englander dZignPak, LLC
Outstanding Tocqueville Campaign: Texas Instruments
Total Campaign Increase: Frito-Lay /PepsiCo (Large), Amegy Bank N.A. (Small to Mid)
Unite Dallas Award (by industry):
- Consumer Goods: La Quinta Inns & Suites
- Energy/Chemical Manufacturing: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
- Finance: Bank of America
- Health Care and Insurance: Transamerica Corporation
- Law Firms: Locke Lord LLP
- New Business: Nebraska Furniture Mart
- Professionals I: KPMG
- Professionals II: TD Industries
- Services: Enterprise Holdings, Inc.
- Technology/Telecommunications: Texas Instruments