When
November 05, 2025 | 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
What
The 9th Annual Women of Substance Luncheon will honor women who have impacted Houston with their tireless efforts to strengthen our community. This year, we are once again fortunate to have exceptional event Chairs! Marian McClendon and Stephanie Neilson lend great energy and experience to their roles; and we are certain this will be a banner year for our fabulous honorees as well as our beneficiary, LEAD!
Named after the global publishing phenomenon of Barbara Taylor Bradford’s novel, A Woman of Substance, this event was created by Paul-David Van Atta in 2016 and has honored more than 100 dynamic women who have positively impacted the city of Houston through their giving nature of volunteerism and philanthropy. Each year, 10 women are recognized as Women of Substance. Additionally, we recognize a Lifetime of Substance and Spirit of Substance Honoree. In 2023, we added the Youth of Substance Category to celebrate the spirit of giving and caring that exists among the youth of Houston. The commitment of this event is to celebrate the diversity and exquisite culture of volunteerism that sets Houston apart from anywhere else in the country! Houston is the most philanthropic city in the United States!
Women of Substance was designed to benefit multiple charitable organizations around the city and we are so pleased to lend our support to LEAD! Letting Everyone Achieve Dreams (LEAD) has been active in enhancing the lives of inner-city youth since 2004! LEAD now serves more than 500 adolescents each year by providing enriching experiences, basic life skills and unique opportunities that their contemporaries readily have access to. This program inspires vision, empathy and tenacity and believes that a zip code should not determine a child’s future.
LEAD works to break the cycle of isolation among the most profoundly disconnected youth. By connecting one kid at a time to caring adults, positive peers and a program that works, LEAD offers youth the opportunity to experience hopeful pathways.
IN SCHOOLS – Through weekly classes at partner middle schools, LEAD provides students with a skillset to overcome obstacles and to complete their goals in the face of adversity. The curriculum empowers students to define their values and pursue success.
ON SATURDAYS – Research shows that youth living in underserved communities do not have the same breadth of experiences and access to enriching activities as their counterparts. LEAD’s Saturday program provides opportunities for students to investigate, learn from, and expand their world view through activities, service projects and field trips.
DURING SUMMER- Summer programs develop lifelong skills, promote resiliency, and curb summer learning loss. Affording summer camp is a luxury. Only 10% of marginalized youth attend summer camp. LEAD hosts two camps that create connection with community and place through outdoor activities. Campers learn to work together, support and encourage each other, and face new challenges. Camp LEAD takes place in Huntsville, TX, and the capstone trip, The Summit Experience, is set amidst the great outdoors of Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Where
Hilton Houston Post Oak
2001 Post Oak Blvd, Houston, TX 77056