Introducing our 2020 Each Moment Matters Luncheon Honorees – Part 1

Every year the Each Moment Matters Luncheon honors individuals in our community who are making an extraordinary difference in the lives of others. They exemplify what it means to make each moment matter and inspire us to do the same. Below are this years’ honorees. Please read why they inspire us to make each moment matter.

Lyn Berman – As founder of Attitudes & Attire, Berman’s nonprofit organization assists women with their personal growth, offering hope and a new direction in self-sufficiency. Starting the organization with $500 in 1996, it has since served more than 24,000 women.

LaNell and John Boaz – Former owners of an assisted living community and a home health and hospice company, the Boazes created an app that records the life stories of seniors. When John Boaz’s father died, he realized they had no recordings about his father’s life, which inspired the OneDay app. Used in 3,800 assisted living communities across the country, families record about 25,000 stories a month.

Dr. Froswá Booker-Drew – As the vice president of community affairs for the State Fair of Texas, Booker-Drew oversees the philanthropic, educational and signature events for the South Dallas area. Froswa’ spends her time helping, training and giving support to small and mid-sized organizations, especially those of color, while connecting them to other needed resources, especially during the pandemic.

Brenda Duckett – A retired educator and cancer survivor, Duckett chairs the Richardson ISD Foundation. She is a volunteer chaplain for the Methodist Richardson Medical Center and is currently on the board of the Network of Community Ministries, which supports the Richardson ISD. Duckett also is a member of Altrusa International, a community-based organization working multiple projects across Richardson, including providing housing to those with cerebral palsy.

Abigail Erickson-Torres – As chief executive officer for Bryan’s House, Erickson-Torres leads the nonprofit organization that helps to find medical and social care for families in need, especially for children with special medical, physical or domestic needs. Since taking the reins five years ago, Erickson-Torres and Bryan’s House have provided transportation, housing and medical services to thousands of families.

Rebecca Gruchalla, MD, PhD – A professor of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics and director of the Division of Allergy and Immunology at UT Southwestern, Dr. Gruchalla takes pride in her research and work, which includes an intense focus on inner-city children with asthma. She especially enjoys being able to connect with the children under her care.

Cyndy Hudgins – Hudgins’ lifetime of volunteerism includes serving as founding president of AWARE, an organization started in 1989 that has raised $13.5 million to fight Alzheimer’s disease and to help those who suffer the affliction. Hudgins also served on the board of the Dallas chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association for 25 years and the board of the national Alzheimer’s Association for 10 years.

Shelly Kirkland – After her involvement with a Department of Defense study to address brain injury and PTSD in military veterans, Kirkland was inspired to serve as the chief executive officer of Boot Campaign, a service nonprofit that works to provide life-improvement programs to veterans and military families through customized programs geared to their particular issues. Since taking over in 2016, Kirkland and the organization has served more than 600 veterans.

Linda Laughlin – Laughlin has touched many lives over the years, including patients at the T. Boone Pickens Hospice and Palliative Care Center. One of Linda’s special projects is ‘The Giving Garden’. The idea came to her when she saw flowers being thrown away but knew they could be salvaged. She organized a group of women who take turns providing flower arrangements each week for patients.

David Lodwick – Lodwick is a giver, including leading a weekly Bible study, serving as a Sunday school teacher, and chairing committees at his church. He also volunteers with Meals on Wheels, leads ESL classes and gives his time at Presbyterian Village North, a Forefront Living retirement community, and with the Men’s Conference at Mo-Ranch.

Jennifer Makins – The founder and director of STEM education at Parish Episcopal School, Makins and the school spend the summer months reaching out to Dallas ISD middle school students to expose them to STEM. When the pandemic struck Dallas, Makins and colleague Dave Cripps used Parish’s idle 3D printers to manufacture 500 face shields, as well as intubation boxes, for donation to local hospitals and others.

Michael Malone – Malone, an attorney, has given pro bono services and counsel to Presbyterian Communities and Services and Forefront Living, Habitat for Humanity, and Advocates for Community Transformation. Malone’s environmental focus includes board membership with the Botanical Research Institute of Texas, an organization currently working to assume management of the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens.

David Moore – An award-winning sports reporter for The Dallas Morning News, Moore is passionate about working with the homeless at The Stewpot, where he is serving his second term as chair of the Community Ministries Committee at First Presbyterian Church of Dallas. He played a leading role in elevating the ministry’s program to provide three meals daily at the Bridge Homeless Recovery Center.

Sharon Morrison – A successful commercial real estate professional, Morrison serves on the board of St. Philip’s School and Community Center in South Dallas, an organization that includes a school, senior center, food pantry and medical center on its campus. She also gives time to board work for the Girl Scouts and the Make-a-Wish Foundation and actively supports The Warren Center and the National Charity League.