United Way Honors Alexis de Tocqueville Society

From left: Bobby Tudor, Phoebe Tudor and Anna M. Babin

Co-chairs Alie Pruner, chief financial officer for Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co., LLC, and Jim Postl, retired president and CEO of Pennzoil Quaker State, welcomed more than 400 members of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society to a February 28 dinner in their honor. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston provided a striking backdrop for the annual event recognizing the leadership and generosity of this important group of donors.

Pruner and Postl thanked members for their support and announced several of the ADT Society’s record-breaking accomplishments this year:

• Giving of $13.9 million and projected final results to hit $14 million
• 24 families giving at the Benefactor and Visionary levels
• 197 ADT members in the Women’s Initiative, including 42 new members
• 112 Major Donors ($25,000 or more annually), a 29 percent increase

Other ADT Society accomplishments:

• 145 new members
• 156 ADT members belonging to United Way’s Law Firm Initiative

“We are so pleased to celebrate what this means for our community, and to acknowledge the endless possibilities you create for children, families, seniors, and individuals rebuilding their lives,” Pruner said.

Postl reiterated to the Society’s philanthropists, “Your gifts and your compassion make such a difference in our community. I am in awe of what you do.”

Pruner and Postl also recognized the Society's Visionaries and Benefactors, 24 extraordinary families who personally contribute $100,000 or more annually, including four new families at the Benefactor level and one new Visionary this year. The ADT Society's esteemed Visionaries, comprised of four families making personal gifts of $200,000 or more annually, continue to raise the bar in support of United Way.

2010-11 Alexis de Tocqueville Society Visionaries* and Benefactors:

Attendees heard from guest speakers Phoebe and Bobby Tudor, long-time United Way supporters, ADT Society members and Benefactors. Bobby Tudor, chairman and CEO of Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. and 2010-11 United Way Community Campaign Chair, shared an update on the progress of the campaign, and commended ADT Society members for exhibiting the philanthropic values and benevolent spirit Alexis de Tocqueville noticed in Americans generations ago.

Phoebe Tudor talked to guests about the reasons she and Bobby support United Way and how, in her experience, engaging in philanthropy and generous acts leads people to live happier, fuller lives.

United Way of Greater Houston President and CEO Anna M. Babin thanked Phoebe and Bobby Tudor for their steadfast commitment to United Way and the ADT Society. She also thanked co-chairs Alie Pruner and Jim Postl for their leadership and tireless efforts to grow the ADT Society.

Babin recognized Society members as the foundation of United Way's annual campaign and thanked them for their incredible generosity.

“Year after year, I am awestruck by your commitment to our great city,” Babin told guests. “You, the members of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society, never cease to amaze me with your generosity. You are the United Way.”

ADT Society members attending the dinner were: Dorothy and Mickey Ables; Bruce Abrams and Nannete Holmes; Dede and John Ale; Julie and Drew Alexander; Stanford Alexander; Sandy and Mike Ballases; Peggy and David Brenner; Jennifer and Chris Brown; Cindy Burns; Janet Clark; Pete Coneway; Peggy and Kevin Corbett; Patricia and Sig Cornelius; Susie and Sanford Criner; Molly and Jim Crownover; Nathalie and Bastiaan de Zeeuw; Ann Deaton; Susie and Joe Dilg; Charles Duncan; Linda and Joe Fowler; Val and Jerald Gibbs; Kathy and Marty Goossen; Merrill and Joe Hafner; Vicki and Bob Harvey; Ann and David Heikkinen; Wendy and Jeff Hines; Diana Hudson and Lee Kaplan; Jane and Rick Jones; Ann and Stephen Kaufman; Carole and Terry Koonce; Lynne Liberato and Judge David Hittner; Gina Luna; Lynn Mathre and Stewart O'Dell; Becky and David McClanahan; Judy and Wayne McConnell; Anna and Scott McLean; Bobbie Nau; Sharon Michael Owens; Sue Payne; Susan and Ward Pennebaker; Dan Pickering; Jim Postl; Alie and Dave Pruner; Pat Reddy; Becky Rush; Ellen and Steve Susman; Sharon and Randy Walker; Stephanie and Rick Weber; Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff; Ying and George Yang; and Marie and Lanny Yeates.

We salute the members of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society. You make it possible for United Way of Greater Houston to ignite hope, lend a hand and take a stand for our community. Thank you for doing something about it.

For more information about the Alexis de Tocqueville Society, contact Claire Williams at 713-685-2491.

View a photo gallery of this event.