DALLAS CAN! ACADEMY HONORED OAK CLIFF LEADER
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Dallas Can! Academy, one of the ten Texans Can! Academy campuses, is a non-profit organization providing a second chance for at-risk youth and their families through relationship-based education, today announced they presented one of four Lifetime Achievement Awards to an Oak Cliff resident at their 15th Annual Dallas Motherhood event Tuesday, May 13, 2008. For the first time, they also honored a corporation for its involvement with our community’s youth. Carolyn Mentesana, vice president, Kimberly-Clark Foundation, received the Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of Kimberly-Clark Corporation. The benefit annually recognizes women who exemplify family and community leadership in Dallas.
Kimberly-Clark has been a corporate sponsor to DallasCan! Academy since 1992. They have donated more than $1 million in support of the school’s mission and students.
Oak Cliff resident and Dallas Park and Recreation Board vice president Delia Jasso was honored for her outstanding achievements and dedication to both family and community. The Dallas Motherhood event benefited the students at the DallasCan! Academies.
Also honored were Education advocate Sylvia Davila, State Representative Helen Giddings, and the Kimberly-Clark Foundation.
“These three women serve as consummate role models to our students. They have built lives as outstanding mothers while also giving back to their communities. They exemplify our mission to use education to achieve economic independence and hope for a better life. They have been providing opportunities to our community’s youth to do just that.” said Richard Marquez, president of Texans Can! Academy.
The luncheon was hosted by WFAA’s Gloria Campos who served as the Mistress of Ceremony and Mayor Pro Tem, the Honorable Dr. Elba Garcia, who was the Honorary Chair. Two DallasCan! students were also featured speakers.
About the Programs Benefitting The Lifetime Achievement Awards Luncheon began in 1993 as a tribute to strong civic-minded women who happened to be mothers. The proceeds from the annual fundraiser support students of the Can! Academies while they earn their high school diplomas. Texans Can! Academies believe helping these students is critical to breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty and illiteracy.
2008 Motherhood HonoreeDelia Jasso, a SkylineHigh School graduate and Oak Cliff resident, has written for The Dallas Morning News, and continues to serve the community through her English as a Second Language (ESL) school. She has also developed and implemented a Family Literacy Computer Class for adults for Head Start of Greater Dallas. A nature lover and environmentalist, Jasso is currently Vice President of the DallasPark and Recreation Board and Secretary of the Dallas Park Foundation.
“I am so excited about this event,” Jasso explained. “We raised money for a good cause and I am glad to have been a part of it.”
