14 January 2022 | prestonhollowpeople.com
Person of the Year
2021 Newsmakers: Cindy Brinker Simmons’ philanthropy is in her DNA Neighbors Who Made Headlines
‘I JUST COUNT IT ALL A JOY’ SUPPORT HER CAUSES
Michael Hinojosa Michael Hinojosa, Dallas ISD superintendent (and alumnus), was already navigating the aftermath of a tornado that destroyed Michael Hinojosa three schools and damaged (COURTESY DALLAS ISD) several others when another disaster struck — COVID-19. The superintendent oversaw the district’s plan to go virtual suddenly as the pandemic hit the state. He then navigated efforts to make the return to school as safe as possible for staff and students — getting national attention as he defied Gov. Greg Abbott to mandate masks for the district.
Volunteer to help or donate to various Wipe Out Kids’ Cancer programs at wokc.org. Keep track of the programs and tournaments that honor Maureen Connelly-Brinker at mcbtennis.org.
By Bethany Erickson
bethany.erickson@peoplenewspapers.com
C
indy Brinker Simmons’ passion for philanthropy is pretty much genetic. But her desire to contribute to finding a cure for cancer came while she sat on a church pew, mourning the loss of her mother. “Everything my parents did was with the thought of blessing others,” Simmons said of her parents, restaurateur Norman Brinker and former tennis star Maureen “Little Mo” Connelly-Brinker. “Giving back is just really part of my DNA because of my remarkable parents, who really focused on the importance of investing in others’ lives and making a difference — being other focused and not self-focused.” Simmons work to combat childhood cancer and help families dealing with the rigors of pediatric cancer treatment through Wipe Out Kids’ Cancer is why Preston Hollow People chose her as our 2021 Person of the Year. It’s also why Simmons was awarded with the Governor’s Lifetime Volunteer Achievement Award this year.
My dad said to me, ‘You know . . . the greatest joy of having a few nickels to rub together is that you can give them away. Cindy Brinker Simmons Her parents embraced a culture of giving, she said, but it wasn’t until her mother died of cancer that Simmons had a mission — despite being the tender age of 12. Simmons’ mother, Maureen, was a world champion tennis player before a horse-riding accident cut her career short. But to get there, she had the help of generous people that helped fund her competition travel — something that spurred her to want to give back later, creating a nonprofit with friend Nancy Jeffett to promote and assist other promising young tennis players. “She was actually No. 1 in the world in 1952, ‘53, and ‘54,” Simmons said. “And she won Wimbledon three years in a row.” Maureen died of cancer at 34, six months
Clay Jenkins Love him or hate him, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins has been on the forefront of the county’s response to the pandemic — and often at odds with Clay Jenkins the state’s GOP leaders. (FILE PHOTO) Jenkins found himself butting heads with Abbott on numerous occasions, from local control of the pandemic response versus statewide quarterbacking from Abbott’s office, to mandating masks and vaccines. Some loved him for it, while others picketed in front of his home.
after starting the Maureen ConnellyBrinker Tennis Foundation. “I was 12, and my sister Brenda was 10,” Simmons said. “And I remember sitting in a very uncomfortable pew at my mom’s funeral, between my dad and my sister, so angry — so heartbroken, just so confused … it was such a loss for our family. “I sat on that pew as a preteenager, and I just thought that someday I’m going to do something to halt that scourge of a disease that claimed my mom’s life at age 34 — and I think that seed was planted in my head because I saw my parents helping so many people.” These days, Simmons and her sister not only honor their mother by continuing to support junior tennis through her foundation, but also their parents’ spirit of giving through a variety of philanthropic endeavors. “My dad said to me, ‘You know, money only allows you really two things: It allows you some freedoms and some options,’” Simmons said of her late father. “But the greatest joy of having a few nickels to rub together is that you can give them away. “It’s the joy of giving them away, and I just count it all a joy.” Read more of our conversation with Cindy Brinker-Simmons at peoplenewspapers.com.
Mark Cuban Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban ended 2021 by buying a whole danged town, but that wasn’t the only newsworthy endeavor by the Preston Hollow Mark Cuban resident. (COURTESY DALLAS MAVERICKS) In November, he was named to the Texas Business Hall of Fame. He also launched the Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company, which will offer an online pharmacy to reduce drug costs on 100 of the most prescribed generic drugs. He is also the chairman and CEO of AXS TV and an investor on ABC’s Shark Tank. Read about his foundation’s AI Bootcamps in this month’s STEAM section.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Cindy Brinker Simmons with her father, the late Norman Brinker; Little Mo stamp - Brinker Simmons mother, Maureen, was commemorated with a “Little Mo” stamp by the US Postal Service in 2019; Maureen Brinker was known as “Little Mo” Connelly during her stint as one of tennis’ elite. (PHOTOS: COURTESY WIPE OUT KIDS’ CANCER)
Jennifer and Peter Altabefs The couple who gives together is honored together — Jennifer and Peter Altabefs were honored with the Peter and Jennifer Altabef Texas Appleseed’s (COURTESY TEXAS APPLESEED) J. Chrys Dougherty Good Apple Award in recognition of their philanthropic work. Jennifer also was named one of TACA’s Silver Cup honorees for 2022. Both spend time and resources supporting an array of nonprofits, from the Dallas Theater Center to Big Thought, to SMU, to KERA, to Children’s Health, and many more. – Staff Reports
