Shelby's Social Diary
Academy Award winner speaks up for teachers in Houston, raises $620,000 atdinner
With an acting career spanning decades, Academy Award-winner Richard Dreyfuss focuses today on education, working through his Dreyfuss Initiative to put civics education back in classrooms across the country. That was the focus of his straightforward talk at the Fund For Teachers dinner at Hotel ZaZa.
Perhaps his emphasis also on the importance of good teachers helped elevate the fundraising bar. Certainly, the impassioned remarks of teacher Patricia Greenleaf did. She received a standing ovation for her words on the challenges of public education. With $500,000 in the bank before the doors opened on the evening, the Fund for Teachers was enriched by another $120,000 through the live auction and the pledge.
Chairs Vicki and Steve Farris and Leticia and Steve Trauber oversaw the event that honored Mary Lou and Walt Smith, who were introduced via video by former Secretary of State James A. Baker III.
Among the 400 dinner guests supporting the cause were Connie and Roger Plank, Jo Lynn and Gregg Falgout, Andrea and Bill White, Alex and Astley Blair, Vera and Andy Baker, Cyndy Garza Roberts, Jo and Jim Furr, Sherry and Jim Smith and Kit and Bob Gwin.