Top 30 Woman 2018

Page 49

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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Shawn Emerson Simmons, PhD.................................. Environmental and Permitting Manager, ExxonMobil Chemical Company

2min
pages 162-163

Heidi McDonald Smith............................................... Chief of Staff, Texas Southern University

2min
pages 166-167

Maya P. Thornton....................................................... Director, Supplier Diversity, University of Houston HUB

1min
pages 168-169

Cindi Salas................................................................ Director, Purchasing and Logistics, CenterPoint Energy

1min
pages 160-161

Michelle Riley-Brown................................................. Executive Vice President, Texas Children’s Hospital

2min
pages 153-155

Tiko Reynolds-Hausman.............................................President and CEO, TKO Biz Solutions

2min
page 152

Stacey M. Parker-Blake .............................................. Director of Behavioral Health Services, Amerigroup Texas

3min
pages 150-151

Amber Newman........................................................ Chief Executive Officer, Boys & Girls Club of Brazoria County

2min
pages 142-143

Jalene Mack, Esq....................................................... Entertainment Attorney, Actress, Producer, Author, Playwright & Founder, Mack Performing Arts Collective Maria Emee Mendoza-Nisnisan ................................. CEO, Acacia Medical Research Institute LLC and Medical Practice Administrator: Royal Oaks Medical Home

1min
page 132

Constance Jones ....................................................... Vice President of Operations, Houston Minority Supplier Development Council

2min
pages 128-129

Mary Griffin .............................................................. Grammy-Nominated Artist and Owner, Mahogany Entertainment, LLC

2min
pages 118-119

Staci Taylor Fullmighter.............................................. Officer of Student Assessment, Houston Independent School District (HISD

2min
pages 116-117

Melissa Edwards ....................................................... Executive Director, Central South Texas, American Diabetes Association

2min
pages 76-77

Brenda Erickson ........................................................ Director, Corporate Supply Chain, ConocoPhillips and Board Chair, Women’s Business Enterprise Alliance

2min
pages 78-79

Gaynell Floyd Drexler................................................. Corporate Attorney and Community Advocate

2min
pages 74-75

Tiffany Massie Davis, MSN, RN................................... CEO, E-PIC Training Center, Inc

2min
pages 72-73

Barbara Harris Curtis ................................................. Founder and President, RARE Pearls, Inc

2min
pages 68-69

Helen Conte.............................................................. Senior Vice President/Group Manager – Business Banking, Comerica Bank

1min
pages 66-67

Dr. Betty N. Adams.....................................................Professor and Dean, College of Nursing, Prairie View A&M University

2min
pages 36-39

Ann Harris Bennett.................................................... Tax Assessor-Collector and Voter Registrar, Harris County, Texas

2min
page 58

Dannette K. Davis...................................................... Principal, Kay Davis Associates LLC

2min
pages 70-71

Cheryl D. Creuzot ...................................................... President and Chief Executive Officer, Wealth Development Strategies, LLC

3min
pages 44-45

Dr. Alma A. Allen........................................................State Representative, Texas House of Representatives, District 131

2min
pages 40-41

Merele Yarborough.................................................... Philanthropist and Community Service Advocate

2min
pages 49-51
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