Katherine Perot Reeves, of the Park Cities, will receive the Outstanding Philanthropist Award at the 29th Annual National Philanthropy Day Luncheon. Hosted by The Greater Dallas Chapter of Association of Fundraising Professionals, with presenting sponsor KERA, the luncheon will be held on November 14, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Hyatt Regency Dallas, 300 Reunion Blvd., Dallas, 75207, Landmark Ballroom. Themed “Imagine, Dream, Grow,” this annual event brings together the area’s nonprofits, volunteers, funders, foundations, business and community member to honor some of Dallas’ finest who give of their time, talent and treasure to support many worth causes.
Nominated by North Texas Food Bank/Colleen Brinkmann (NTFB) and sponsored by Clarkson Davis, Katherine Perot Reeves is a passionate advocate for hunger-relief causes, who personally donates to North Texas Food Bank’s programs and is an active board member, volunteer and tour guide who takes donors on tours of the food bank’s distribution center in South Dallas. She has twice served as chair of the organization’s letter-writing campaign, raising funds for the Food 4 Kids Backpack Program. This program provides weekend backpacks of food to more than 11,000 chronically hungry children who may otherwise have nothing to eat between their school-provided lunch on Friday and breakfast on Monday.
Reeves is proud to continue her family’s extensive legacy with the North Texas Food Bank. Her aunt, Bette Perot, helped NTFB founder Liz Minyard acquire warehouse space to launch the food bank’s operation in 1982. Recently, Katherine partnered with her four Perot siblings in collaboration to donate $2 million over two years in support of NTFB’s operations. This donation helped NTFB complete a three-year strategic plan, ReThink Hunger, which ended in June 2014. Some of these funds were used in the Crowley-Perot Challenge Match campaign resulting in a 19.5 percent increase in donations compared to last year.
Notable achievements from ReThink Hunger included: providing access to 62 million meals in North Texas in 2014; expanding the warehouse, adding a second facility for refrigeration of fresh produce; and establishing the Hunger Center of North Texas – a research arm conducting studies on factors that impact hunger – which benefits 262 partner agencies and 1,000 feeding locations.
Her fundraising creativity and ongoing work with NTFB is helping define the direction of the food bank for the next decade, enabling the organization to remain on the cutting-edge of hunger relief. Since she joined the board in 2011, her combined personal donations and the donations she has influenced have exceeded $6 million dollars.
Reeves also donates her time and resources to causes outside of NTFB including: along with her siblings, Founding Donor of Perot Museum of Nature and Science where she serves as an Advisory Board Member; former Dallas Museum of Art Junior Associates Board Chair and An Affair of the Art Ball Chair, Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas- Gertrude Shelburne Volunteer of the Year 2006; Turtle Creek Recovery Center, Board Member 2006-2011; Volunteer for the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Stars on the Rise scholarship program; Sweetheart Ball Member benefitting Southwestern Medical Center 2013 to present; Episcopal School of Dallas and da Vinci School parent volunteer.
Above all else, Katherine is a devoted and loving wife to Eric Reeves and mother of two children, Kate and Stuart and step-mother to Elizabeth. She loves spending time with her entire family and serving as a Director of Petrus Securities and a Director of the Perot Foundation with her siblings. Katherine credits her “service heart” to her parents, Margot and Ross Perot, whose business success and passion for service to others provided her with the opportunity to build upon the legacy they began.
The National Philanthropy Day Luncheon will also recognize five other recipients in five additional categories: Chris Kleinert, Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser; Milton Key, Outstanding Fundraising Executive; Charlsie Doan, Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy; Children’s Cancer Fund, Outstanding Foundation; and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, Outstanding Corporation. Luncheon Chair is Christina Moore-Salinas, CFRE, and Co-Chair is Sarah Elliott.
"We are proud to present and pay tribute to these outstanding individuals and organizations who make a real difference in our community through their leadership, vision and generosity,” emphasized this year's Dallas National Philanthropy Day Chair, Christina Moore-Salinas, CFRE. “Join us and be inspired by another amazing group of recipients doing exceptional work serving and supporting a wide range of charitable causes.”
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.
Additional sponsors include North Texas Food Bank, sponsors of the VIP Reception held prior to the luncheon. Luncheon tickets are $85, $850 for a table of 10, and $1,250 for a premium table of 10. For further information on tickets and sponsorships, visit afpdallas.orgorcontactMadeleine Crouch at 972-233-9107, ext. 204, afpchapteroffice@afpdallas.org.