Open Mic

Cecilia Guthrie Boone personifies the spirit of women’s philanthropy: compassionate, determined, generous and focused on solutions. She has had an immeasurable impact on women and girls today and tomorrow through her work with the Dallas Women’s Foundation and other organizations. At its sold-out 25th Anniversary Luncheon Celebration on Friday, Oct. 29 at the Hilton Anatole, the Dallas Women’s Foundation will honor Boone with the Power of the Purse® Award.

Dallas Women’s Foundation presents The Power of the Purse Award annually to a woman who has made a significant difference in women’s lives through charitable contributions and has provided leadership and support of women’s issues.

Boone is a long-standing supporter of Dallas Women’s Foundation. She is a past board chair and is campaign chair of the Dallas Women’s Foundation comprehensive campaign that has more than doubled grantmaking annually, expanded gender based research and enhanced women’s philanthropy programming.

For many women, that would be enough to satisfy their drive to make a difference, but not Boone. Her determination and expansive heart for improving life for women, girls and the human race overall can be seen in her broad-ranging work with organizations from Girls Inc. of Metropolitan Dallas and Parkland Hospital Foundation to Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and the Women’s Funding Network. She is also the President of the Boone Family Foundation, a resource for social change and innovation.

An active volunteer and philanthropist, Boone is also past chair of Planned Parenthood of North Texas, Planned Parenthood of North Texas Action Fund and Annie’s List, a PAC that recruits, trains and funds progressive female candidates running for state-wide office in Texas. She is Chair-Elect of the national Planned Parenthood Federation of America board and a member of the Southwestern Medical Foundation board.  Additionally, she is an adjunct faculty member at the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University. 

She and her husband Garrett, co-founder of The Container Store, have three adult children who in their opinions are scattered too broadly around the country. The Boones live in the Oak Lawn area.

Ms. Boone will be joined at the luncheon by featured speaker Queen Latifah, a well-known actress, singer, author and philanthropist. Known for delivering a message of empowerment and self-acceptance, Latifah will discuss her new book targeted to girls, "Put on Your Crown: Life Changing Moments on the Path to Queendom."

The luncheon is sold out, but the Embrey Family Foundation has made a challenge grant of $250,000 to the Dallas Women’s Foundation 25th Anniversary Luncheon Celebration in honor of the anniversary and to encourage others to increase the impact of their philanthropy. To be matched by the Embrey Family Foundation Challenge Grant, gifts must be designated for the 25th Anniversary Luncheon or the Suzanne Ahn, M.D. Endowed Speaker Fund before December 31, 2010. These gifts enable the Dallas Women’s Foundation to strengthen the entire community by increasing the investment in women and girls and empowering women’s philanthropy.  Donations can be made online at www.dallaswomensfoundation.org or by calling (214) 965-9977.