Houston’s Holdsworth Center Recognizes a True Public Education Hero — Inspiring the Next Generation of Leaders

Charles Butt's Vision Takes Another Major Step

By Shelby Hodge // May 28, 2024

Photography Priscilla Dickson

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Dr. Lindsay Whorton, Dr. Ruth Simmons, Wallace B. Jefferson at the Holdsworth 'Champions of Hope' dinner (Photo by Priscilla Dickson)

What: The Holdsworth Center “Champions of Hope” gala

Where: The Corinthian Houston

PC Moment: Highlight of the evening was presenting Ruth J. Simmons, PhD, with the first Dr. Ruth J. Simmons Leadership in Public Education Award. The award was created in honor of her legacy as a groundbreaking leader in support of public education and a powerful advocate for students.

Leticia and Steve Trauber (Photo by Priscilla Dickson) — Leticia & Steve Trauber at the Holdsworth ‘Champions of Hope’ dinner (Photo by Priscilla Dickson)

“It is a privilege to shine a spotlight on leaders like Dr. Simmons, who has such an incredible legacy of lifting up others and championing young people,” The Holdsworth Center president Lindsay Whorton, PhD, told the gathering. “Her life and career are an example to all of us.

“We hope this award will not only honor her legacy but also inspire the next generation of leaders.”

Robert Gates, PhD, former US Secretary of Defense and Holdsworth board chair, gave the keynote address while Wallace Jefferson, former Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court and a Holdsworth board member, served as emcee.

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The Holdsworth Center was founded in 2017 by Charles Butt with mission of building stronger leaders for Texas public schools by providing world class leadership development programs and services with basic belief in the value of public education.

The evening was presented by Goldman Sachs Gives and H-E-B. With the emphasis on the importance of public education and a mission to improve it, the turnout for the dinner was quite impressive.

Dean Leonard Baynes, Regina Rogers, Virginia Blanton, Commissioner Rodney Ellis (Photo by Priscilla Dickson) — Dean Leonard Baynes, Regina Rogers, Virginia Blanton, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis at the Holdsworth ‘Champions of Hope’ dinner (Photo by Priscilla Dickson)

PC Seen: Houston Endowment president and CEO Ann Stern and Karl Stern, Y. Ping Sun and former Rice University president David Leebron, University of Houston Law Center Dean Leonard Baynes, Texas Business Hall of Fame member Memo Treviño and Tammy Treviño, Rice University Tapia Center for Excellence and Equity in Education vice chair Ronel Golden and Rob Kaplan, philanthropists Dorothy and Mickey Ables, philanthropists Leticia and Steve Trauber, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, philanthropists Kari Findley and Ken Sill, philanthropist Regina Rogers, and philanthropist Ginger Blanton.