Woman of Distinction Award Luncheon
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The Bridge Over Troubled Waters, Inc. Proudly Presents the 10th Annual Woman of Distinction Award Luncheon Thursday, July 26, 2007 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Hilton Houston Hobby Airport Program Welcome.................................................Deborah Moseley Executive Director, The Bridge Invocation...........................................................Bill Welch The 2007 Woman of Distinction..................Thecia Jenkins Human Resources Director, The Bridge Lunch Special Guest Speaker Presentation.............Jan Hargrave Famed Body Language Expert About the Woman of Distinction Award To work harder than you feel is possible, to risk feeling the pain of others, to do whatever it takes to make life better for a woman or child, is to be a “Woman of Distinction.” Thank you for joining us today as we come together to honor these special women whose commitment to bettering their community knows no bounds. The Bridge applauds these extraordinary women for answering the call of humanity and recognizes the special gifts that each woman brings to those in need. 2007 Woman of Distinction Honorees Dr. Deavra A. Daughtry Dr. Deavra A. Daughtry, president and CEO of one of the nation’s largest personal in-home care agencies, has received numerous awards for her successes in business, community development, and improving the quality of life in our community. She has a Doctorate of Divinity and Doctorate of Humanity and sits on several boards including the International 3rd World Leaders Association. Deavra started from humble beginnings. After seven years as a social worker, she decided to turn her passion for helping others into a business. In 1997, she started Excel-E-Care, a licensed personal home assistance services agency which now employs more than 500 people. Excellent Care Management was birthed out of this success and is currently building a senior citizen community on eight acres of land. One of her proudest accomplishments has been the formation of the Texas Women’s Empowerment Foundation, which seeks to serve the whole woman and bring a sense of completeness to the lives of African-American women. Deavra’s vision is to equip women to apply Godly principals while living a balanced life. Her autobiographical book, Purpose to Blessings, encourages others to find their purpose and pursue their dreams. Deborah Duncan Deborah Duncan got her degree in radio/TV/film from the University of Texas in Austin. She has had a distinguished career in radio and television as a reporter, news anchor, and talk show host. She has used her talents in several Texas cities, as well as in New York City. She currently anchors the morning show at KHOU-TV. During her time in communications, Deborah has remained community-minded. She touches lives through the stories she brings to light and goes the extra mile to help those in need. On Christmas Eve, Deborah shares love and encouragement and brings special gifts to the women residing at The Bridge. She is also a board member for Palmer Drug Abuse Program and gives of her time for charity events throughout the Houston area. Deborah talks about two events that greatly affected her community service and outlook on life. After a drunk driver killed her brother, she wanted to honor her brother by speaking out about the dangers of drunk driving. Her work has caused young people to consider their choices and has saved lives. During her time in New York, Deborah suffered a life-threatening brain aneurysm. “I learned so much during that fight for my life. … This whole experience reaffirmed my faith in God, in people and in myself. I love life! As long as I’m alive, there are no really bad days.” 2007 Woman of Distinction Honorees Shantha Raghuthaman Shantha Raghuthaman has always felt compelled to give back to her community. When her children were young, she volunteered at their school, but when they went to college, she felt a void. She began volunteering at Fort Bend County Women’s Center, served for six years on their board, and now sits on the advisory board—the Council of Resources. She is the former president of Daya, Inc. and a former board member of the American Heart Association. In 2001, she was one of four founders of Asians Against Domestic Abuse. As their current president, she has helped build AADA into a culturally-sensitive victim service organization providing counseling, financial support, referrals and interpretation services for the under-served community of Asian immigrants. She strives to raise awareness to end domestic violence in the Asian community while embracing its rich culture. Her heart is to provide support and advocacy to all individuals in need. Shantha is a true leader who is gifted in recognizing the diverse and distinct gifts of others. In addition to her work in social services, Shantha works with the Houston Museum of Fine Arts on their sub-committee for Friends of Asian Art. Jackie Welch Jackie Welch was the chief histotechnologist for Pasadena Pathology Associates for 38 years and “retired to devote more time to community endeavors.” Jackie is Councilwoman for the City of Pasadena’s District B. An abridged summary of her stellar service includes a variety of activities. She is a charter member and twice president of Mu Alpha Epsilon Sigma Alpha and a past officer and board member of The Bridge. She currently takes an active role as a member or officer on many boards including Pasadena Philharmonic Society’s Mardi Gras Ball, Pasadena Pet adoption program, Pasadena Sister City Program, Pasadena Little Theater, San Jacinto Day Foundation, and San Jacinto College Foundation. She is a member of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, serves on the Taste of the Town Committee, and is vice president of the Cultural Arts Committee where she chairs the Theater Night fundraiser and the Christmas Tree Circle at Pasadena City Hall. She is also a Pasadena Diplomat, serving Pasadena by assisting visiting dignitaries. She is a member or honorary member of many organizations in the Pasadena area and assists countless others through her skill as a photographer. Her work has been recognized with awards from numerous organizations throughout the years. Sponsors The Bridge gratefully acknowledges the special businesses and individuals who have made this event possible. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the following: Diamond Sponsor Ruby Sponsor Emerald Sponsors Kimberly & Frank DeLape Pearl Sponsors Chevron-Phillips Chemical Co. City of Deer Park INEOS 1st Choice Bank Barry Beasley AT&T Shantha Raghuthaman Scott, Forrest, Adams and Co., PLLC Underwriters We are thankful to have the support of wonderful community partners. The following companies helped to make this luncheon possible: Baubles by Barb National CineMedia, LLC Beyond Beauté Day Spa North Channel Quilt Guild Beyond Latté Pasadena Little Theatre Burleson Florist Texas Road House Friendswood Ichi-Ban Trophy & Engraving Texas Wellcare Associates Past Woman of Distinction Honorees 2006 2002 Kimberly DeLape Jan Wheeler Terese Battalora Buess 2001 Fleceia Ann Comeaux Toby Myers 2005 2000 Dorothy Weston Gibbons Sandy Murphy 2004 1999 Diane Savage Autry Henry 2003 1998 Marinelle Timmons Dr. Dixie Melillo Tributes “Life is an opportunity to contribute love in your own way.” -Bernie Siegel Each of us has the ability to affect the life of another. We thank those who have generously given hope and help to others. $1,000 worth of shelter services received from: The Pasadena Kiwanis in memory of Mary Cowart A weekend of shelter for a woman or child received from: Gene and Amy Earnest in honor of Pennie McMahan Deborah Moseley in memory of Marie Norrell Valerie Ellis, Andrea Moore, and Casandra Begalla in honor of Diane Begalla A day of care and advocacy for a child received from: Melissa Cox in memory of Betty Jane Cox A day and night of shelter for a woman or child received from: Virginia Hobbs in memory of Alice Althea Sessions Virginia Hobbs in honor of Juanita Rae Emert Special Guest Speaker Jan Hargrave As a professional speaker, distinguished lecturer and author of Let Me See Your Body Talk, Freeway of Love, Judge the Jury and Strictly Business, Jan applies her amazing skills to show you how to take advantage of the vast world of nonverbal communication. She has been a popular guest on The Maury Povich Show, The Ricki Lake Show, The Gayle King Show, Talk Soup and The Learning Channel. Jan is a frequent guest of The Montel Williams Show and is often featured on the TV program Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus. The Cajun French, Ms. Hargrave received her Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree and Specialist degree in Business/Psychology from the University of Southwestern Louisiana in Lafayette, Louisiana and is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Houston. She is presently the CEO of Jan Hargrave and Associates, a Houston-based consulting firm, and continues to provide seminars and specialized training for many of today’s leading corporations such as Merrill Lynch, Rockwell, El Paso Energy, Exxon, Chase Manhattan Bank, and NASA. Mission Statement As an agent of change, The Bridge assists women and children in crisis, particularly survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and homelessness. To this end, we advocate for the oppressed; provide shelter, food and clothing to the needy; and care for and support the community and ourselves. Nearly 1/3 of American women report abuse by a husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives. 2007 Bridge Executive Board Brent Perry, Esq. President Stephen Foster, D.C. Vice President Paula Durrett Secretary Christina Gutierrez-Mondragon Treasurer Board Members Bill Bezdek Susan Brown, J.D. Stella Gustavson Thane Harrison Michael Joplin Christine Powell Calvin Powitzky The Bridge Over Troubled Waters, Inc. PO Box 3488 • Pasadena, TX 77501 • 713.472.0753 24-hour Crisis Hotline 713.473.2801 www.tbotw.org.