Join us at the LFDM Woman of the Year Gala honoring Virginia Cook
Venise Stuart, Gala Chair | Alyce Heinrich, President
The gala is Wednesday, October 14, 2015 at the Dallas Country Club
The Ginsburg home set an elegant scene for the announcement party of Les Femmes du Monde’s Woman of the Year this past spring.
Alyce Heinrich, president of Les Femmes du Monde and Venise Stuart, chair of the Woman of the Year gala, welcomed guests and shared news about the upcoming black tie event on Wednesday, October 14, 2015 at the Dallas Country Club.
Guests enjoyed wine and sumptuous hors d’oeuvres as they mingled throughout the gardens and home filled with fresh flowers, accompanied by a pianist entertaining all with classic favorites.
Alyce paused the party and thanked the Ginsburgs for their hospitality, presenting Gina with a lovely hostess gift and noting that she is a former Woman of the Year honoree, followed by a round of appreciative applause.
The room fell silent as Venise shared that this year’s Woman of the Year is the consummate volunteer and a long-time business and civic leader. She has been a generous and tireless supporter of various nonprofits and children’s groups throughout her life.
A standing ovation filled the room as Virginia Cook was announced and welcomed as the 2015 Woman of the Year. Virginia accepted the honor with humbled grace and a promise to continue her hard work on behalf of nonprofits, saying she will do all she can to “… take it to the limit,” a work ethic she embraces and shared with Juanita Miller, a former Woman of the Year and a mentor.
The founder of Virginia Cook, Realtors, she served as president of one of the largest independently-owned real estate firms in the nation for 28 years, which is where she met and worked with Juanita Miller. During her tenure, she led the company’s expansion from one office in Dallas to 30 offices statewide with 1,000 agents.
In 1999, she founded Virginia Cook, Realtors, which quickly grew to be the second largest independently-owned firm in North Texas with 6 full-service offices with 425 agents. While building a reputation as an ethical, dedicated and successful businesswoman, Virginia has earned the accolades and respect of thousands, including many accomplishments, honors and titles.
Guests included Jim Falk, President and CEO, World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth; Kyra Barnett, Development Officer, Children’s Medical Center Foundation; Regina Bruce, last year’s Women of the Year luncheon chair; Yvonne Crum, a former Woman of the Year and last year’s honorary chair and Jan Ward, president-elect of Les Femmes du Monde.
Proceeds from the gala event benefit The Child Life Program at Children’s HealthSM Children’s Medical Center and the International Education Program of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. Les Femmes du Monde has donated more than $2 million to the World Affairs Council of Dallas Fort Worth, and more than $670,000 to Children’s Medical Center.
Membership in Les Femmes du Monde is open to the public and includes many benefits, such as invitations to events in private homes, the Woman of the Year celebration, New Member reception, Annual Meeting and Luncheon, and the opportunity to meet new friends and learn more about the world we live in.
Tickets for the October 14th gala begin at $350 each. Sponsorships and underwriting are available. Visit the website for details at www.lesfemmesdumonde.org
Past Woman of the Year Honorees (in chronological order): Doris S. Dixon; Ruth Collins Sharp Altshuler; Caroline Rose Hunt; Annette Strauss, Mayor of Dallas; Vivian Castleberry; Mary Kay Ash; Ebby Halliday; Catherine Crier; Kay Bailey Hutchison, U.S. Senator; Laura Bush, First Lady of Texas; Juanita Miller; Nancy Brinker; Gloria Campos; Florence Shapiro, Texas State Senator; Liz Minyard and Gretchen Minyard Williams; Karen Hughes, Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs; Billie Leigh Rippey; Dee Wyly; Anita Perry, First Lady of Texas; Yvonne Crum; Geraldine “Tincy” Miller; Dr. Gail Thomas, President and CEO, The Trinity Trust Foundation; Mary Lee Cox; Virginia Chandler Dykes, Gina Ginsburg, Lynn McBee, Margaret McDermott, Pat Smith, Nina Vaca.
