United Way Celebrates Visionaries and Benefactors

From left: Paul Loyd, Penny Loyd and Scott McLean.

United Way of Greater Houston recognized the generosity of its Alexis de Tocqueville Society (ADT) Visionaries and Benefactors at a reception in their honor on January 5th. More than 215 Alexis de Tocqueville Society members gathered at the River Oaks Country Club to recognize this extraordinary group of donors.

Jim Postl, ADT Society Co-Chair and retired president and CEO of Pennzoil Quaker State, welcomed guests and thanked them for their outstanding support of United Way. "Tocqueville Society members are leaders who are paving the way for a better Houston,” he said. Postl updated guests on the progress of the annual campaign and lauded the pace-setting generosity of ADT members.

ADT Society Co-Chair Alie Pruner, chief financial officer for Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co., LLC joined Postl to recognize the 26 families whose support as Visionaries and Benefactors makes such a tremendous difference in our community.

Pruner announced that two new families contributed at the Benefactor level ($100,000 or more annually) this year: Jeanne and Peter Kinnear and Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff.

She also recognized Visionaries (those contributing $200,000 or more annually) Charles Butt, Jennifer and Chris Brown, Wendy and Jeff Hines, Janice and Robert McNair and Fayez Sarofim, for creating a lasting legacy for our community.

2011-12 Alexis de Tocqueville Society Visionaries and Benefactors:

 “This exceptional support at the Benefactor and Visionary level demonstrates that your desire to change Houston for the better through United Way is thriving,” said Pruner. “Tocqueville Society members should be proud that we provide leadership to this community when help is needed.”

United Way of Greater Houston President and CEO Anna M. Babin wrapped up the evening by announcing that the 2-1-1 Texas/United Way HELPLINE answered a record 922,700 calls in 2011, up 15 percent over 2010. She shared the story of one caller who was able to get employment assistance and become self-sufficient because he called 2-1-1. Babin thanked ADT members for their generous support, which helps ensure that a call specialist is there to help 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Members attending the reception included: Dorothy and Mickey Ables; Dede and John Ale; John Carrig; Merrill and Joe Hafner; Sandy Johnson; Jane and Rick Jones; Penny and Paul Loyd; Val Gibbs; Peter Kinnear; Lynn Mathre and Stewart O’Dell; Dore and Kevin Meyers; Scott McLean; Karen Kash Redden and Joe Redden; Phoebe and Bobby Tudor; and Randy Walker.

We salute the Alexis de Tocqueville Society's Visionaries and Benefactors for their outstanding commitment to our community. Thank you for doing something extraordinary for so many of our neighbors.

Our special thanks go to Bank of Texas, ExxonMobil, and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP for generously sponsoring this event.

View a photo gallery of this event.

For more information about the Alexis de Tocqueville Society, contact Diane Likeness at 713-685-2319.