d-mars.com Top 30 Influential Women of Houston
Merele Gail Yarborough Philanthropist and Community Service Advocate
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or more than 30 years Merele Yarborough’s passion has been her community service involvement. Her personal proverb is “the strength of one’s commitment gives birth to the realization of another’s dream,” and it has been her catalyst. Through her charitable efforts she has helped raise millions of dollars for community needs and scholarships Yarborough is a native Texan, born in Galveston. She grew up in Tuskegee, Alabama and admits to being a “small town girl at heart”. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing Education from Tuskegee University. Yarborough likes spending time with her son Leland, daughter in-law, Amy and their two beautiful children Leam and Lily Florence. She was truly blessed to have her mother, Florence, live with her until her passing in September of 2013 at the age of 104. She claims community outreach has played a major role in her life, but God, Family and Friends are most important. Through the years Yarborough has chaired numerous events, raising millions of dollars for worthy non-profit organizations. Most recently in August 2017 she chaired The Ensemble Theatre gala and helped raise over $400,000. She was honored to chair the 2016 For The Sake Of Art Gala benefiting the University Museum at Texas Southern University, honoring world renowned artist Kermit Oliver and art patron and philanthropist Mrs. Lawrence Marcus. This event raised $200,000 for the museum. For The Sake Of Art is a biannual wearable art competition which celebrates the vibrant talent of emerging artists and designers while highlighting the incomparable permanent collection of African and African American Art at the University Museum at Texas Southern University.
Merele Gail Yarborough Philanthropist and Community Service Advocate
benefiting the National Kidney Foundation and helped raised over $300,000. In 2013 she chaired their campaign launch of “Now You Know”, a national educational initiative for the National Kidney Foundation.
Focusing on her charitable efforts in education, she was honored to Chair the United Negro College Fund “Reveillon” Gala in 2012 helping to raise over $500,000 for the charity. In 2007, 2008 and 2017 she Chaired The Ensemble Theatre’s Black Tie Gala and raised $550, $375K and In 2010, 2011 and 2014 she chaired $400K respectively. Yarborough also the Kick Out Kidney Disease Luncheon volunteered with the March of Dimes and
supported their efforts. She was the 2005 and 2009 raffle chair raising $40K and $32K respectively and chaired the Best of Chef’s for Signature Chef’s, helping to raise $35,000. In 2016 she chaired the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary Reflection On Style Luncheon Kick Off Tea. In April 2018 she served as the honorary chair for The Perfect Connection Inaugural Autism Gala of Lights, and in May 2018 she co-chaired The Mad Hatters ParTea, a Hurricane Harvey relief benefit for community based non-profit Wharton SHARE in Wharton, TX. Top 30 Influential Women of Houston 2018
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