Fifteen women who will be honored at SafeHaven’s 18^thLegacy of Women Awards luncheon, set for Oct. 29 at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel. 

The women selected represent diverse aspects of the arts, business, education, health and human services, and volunteerism. This year’s format was changed to include an honoree in each category from three geographic areas: northeast Tarrant County, greater Fort Worth and greater Arlington. 

The 15 chosen will be recognized at the October luncheon where Darren McGrady, former chef to Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth will serve as keynote speaker. The event serves as a fundraiser for SafeHaven of Tarrant County, a non-profit organization dedicated to ending family violence. SafeHaven of Tarrant County operates two emergency shelters that can accommodate 174 women and children in Tarrant County.

The 2010 honorees and their categories include:

Arts

Arlington: LeeAnn Chenoweth-Lawson, president, producer and violinist for Timeless concerts

Fort Worth: Rebecca Low, owner and sculptor at Rebecca Low Sculptural Metal Gallery and Studio.

Northeast Tarrant County:  DeeAnn Blair, executive producer at Artisan Center Theater.

 Business

Arlington: Taylor Gray, owner of The Shoppes at Brownstone Village.

Fort Worth: Shirlee Gandy, owner at RPM Commercial.

Northeast Tarrant County: Susan Clark, owner of Sweet Memories Cakes and Catering.

Education

Mansfield: Dee Lemser, retired teacher at Mansfield ISD.

Fort Worth: Mary Cinatl, director of the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth

Northeast Tarrant County: Janice Kane, executive director of the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Education Foundation.

Health & Human Services

Arlington: Donna Bertram, vice president and chief nursing officer at Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital.

Fort Worth: Susan Sward-Comunelli, president of the board and medical director of Mothers’ Milk Bank of North Texas.

Northeast Tarrant County: State Rep. Vicki Truitt, District 98.

Volunteerism

Arlington: Cristy Duke, volunteer for Junior League of Arlington, the Boys and Girls Club, The Oakridge School and Big Brothers and Big Sisters.

Fort Worth: Gail Landreth, volunteer for Historic Fort Worth, Inc., Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, Jewel Charity and The Junior League of Fort Worth.

Northeast Tarrant County: Shirley Schollmeyer, volunteer for the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD, The City of Colleyville, Colleyville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Colleyville Women’s Club and  the Colleyville Garden Club.

For more information, visit the website at www.safehaventc.org or call 817 535-6462.

Jeanie Luskey, 2009 Jewel Charity Ball President

What recession?

This year’s Jewel Charity Ball ignored leading economic indicators, raising in excess of $3.5 million.

Gail Landreth, 2008 president of Jewel Charity Ball Inc., (www.jewelcharity.org) announced at the Feb. 12 annual meeting and celebration that this year’s ball total was $3,544,655.65. Most of the proceeds will be designated for Cook Children’s Medical Center’s uncompensated fund, while portions also will go toward behavioral health and hematology/oncology programs.

The theme for this year’s black-tie gala was “Jewel of the Nile,” with live camels greeting ball guests as they arrived Jan 10th. Decorations included giant obelisks and statues of the Egypitan god Anubis. Eiseman Jewels, NorthPark Dallas provided the jewelry showcased for the evening.

New ball president Jeanie Luskey officially took office Feb. 23, although she already is working toward the 2010 event, having held her board orientation Jan. 20. The next ball is set for Jan. 9, 2010.

The first Jewel Charity Ball was held in 1954 when $9,000 was raised for what was then known as Fort Worth Children’s Hospital. Now the charity ball, held every January in Fort Worth, draws approximately 2,000 guests.

The cumulative amount over the 55 years of the gala’s history now totals more than $45 million.