Over 80 guests, including Juliette Fowler Communities Visionary Women Award recipients, board members, previous Visionary Women honorees, supporters and staff gathered on February 27 at the lakeside home of Barbara Bradfield to celebrate the upcoming Visionary Women Luncheon, which will feature keynote speaker Leeza Gibbons on May 1. Guests enjoyed panoramic views of White Rock Lake along with a garden-themed table of culinary delights provided by Deb Crabb of Grace Café.
Representatives from AWARE, the 2020 Visionary Women Award recipient, included AWARE’s president Jolie Humphrey and president elect, Barbara Glass, as well as Stacey Angel, Judy Jarmon Diamond, Holly Miori, and Carol Stabler. Representatives from Deloitte, the 2020 recipient of the Erika McKenzie Volunteer Award, included Nolen Cornett, Roslyn Gumbel, and April Patterson. The third award recipient who will be honored May 1 at the Visionary Women Luncheon, Miranda Sullivan, a junior at TCU and the recipient of the Juliette Fowler Faith and Service Award, was also in attendance.
Nicole Gann, president and CEO, Juliette Fowler Communities, began the program thanking hostess Barbara Bradfield, welcoming guests, and thanking Visionary Luncheon media sponsors CultureMap and NBC 5. She continued that the Visionary Women Luncheon is an important opportunity to honor the founders of organization and spread its mission of serving children and youth as well as elders, with a special focus on dementia services for the 2020 luncheon event. She recognized two past Visionary Women Award recipients in attendance, Patti Hardman and Marca Lee Bircher. Additionally, she highlighted the family of the late Erika McKenzie, Juliette Fowler Communities’ former and beloved volunteer coordinator, board member and namesake of the Erika McKenzie Volunteer Award. Her husband, The Rev. Dr. Don McKenzie, and family members Laurie Tipton, Don McKenzie, and Shelbie McKenzie were in attendance. Before turning the program over to Luncheon Chair Michelle Feavel, she also recognized Honorary Luncheon Chairs Mary and Roland Bandy.
Feavel highlighted the accomplishments of the three award recipients who will be honored at the luncheon: AWARE, Deloitte, and Miranda Sullivan. She also announced Leeza Gibbons as the guest speaker and shared that she is not only an Emmy Award-Winning TV/radio personality, philanthropist, and New York Times best-selling author, but also a tireless advocate for caregivers. After losing both her grandmother and mother to Alzheimer’s, she started the Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation as well as Leeza’s Care Connection to provide support for caregivers. Feavel encouraged attendees to spread the word and encourage others to sponsor tables for what will be one of the most incredible Visionary Women luncheons to date.
Tickets are $200, and sponsorships are available. Contact Jamie Rodgers, jamier@fowlercommunities.org, 214-818-0342. Visit https://fowlercommunities.org/visionary-women-luncheon/
Juliette Fowler Communities is a unique faith-based, intergenerational community of residents at various life-stages. Located on 25 picturesque acres, Juliette Fowler Communities provides independent and assisted living, a Five-Star Quality Rated skilled nursing and rehabilitation center, memory care and affordable senior housing. As the only certified I’m Still Here® Center for Excellence in Dementia Care in Dallas and one of only three in Texas, Fowler’s program employs evidence-based techniques to adapt experiences to an individual’s cognitive abilities and strengths. It has also been named a Great Place to Work in the Aging Services Industry in 2018 and 2019. Additionally, on the grounds is The Ebby House, a residence for young women, ages 18-24, at risk for homelessness due to neglect, abuse, and aging out of the foster care system. The Ebby House program instills life skills and provides mentoring, health care, education, career guidance and job training. Additional services of Juliette Fowler Communities include foster and adoption services. Visit fowlercommunities.org or call 214.827.0813.