Since 1978, the Maura Women Helping Women Award has recognized more than 190 women (and some men!) for their leadership in improving lives for women and girls in North Texas. Three years ago, Dallas Women’s Foundation was proud to take over as the steward of these prestigious Awards and also created the Young Leader Award to recognize breakthrough leadership exhibited by women under the age of forty who are achieving success in a field, initiative or sector and are creating a path of opportunity for other women to follow.
This year’s Maura Award recipients have not only paved the way for their successors, they have set the standard of leadership for both genders in the Dallas area. Because of that, the Foundation is excited to present this year’s Maura Women Helping Women Awards to:
Kim J. Askew, partner at K&L Gates and philanthropic activist;
Julie Mamolen Bleicher, technological pioneer in education and non-profit leader;
Liz Cedillo-Pereira, founding partner of Cedillo-Pereira & Cedillo, PLLC and devout volunteer at Irma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School for Girls;
Valerie Freeman, founder of Imprimis Group, Inc. and Texas Women Ventures Fund as well as founding member of Dallas chapters of the Executive Women’s Roundtable, Women Corporate Directors and National Association of Women Business Owners;
Major General Mary Saunders, USAF, Retired,executive director for the Leadership Institute at Texas Woman’s University.
We are also proud to recognize the next generation of women with the Young Leader Award. This year’s recipients are:
Marissa E. Horne, executive at American Airlines and creator of The Dallas Chapter of the Links, Inc. STEM Academy
Christa Sanford, first partner of her caliber at Baker Botts and mentor of young professionals.
Join us on April 30 as we celebrate the courageous women who have catalyzed change for women and girls in North Texas when we present seven female leaders with the 2015 Maura Women Helping Women Award and the Young Leader Award at the Leadership Forum and Awards Dinner, presented by AT&T. The dinner is co-chaired by Ann Margolin, former Dallas City Council member and Pat J. Villareal, partner at Jones Day, and will feature keynote speaker Joyce Roché, former Girls Incorporated President and Chief Executive Officer.
